Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-11-04
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their faces dOubtfuIIy. 'What the
Sam Hill does this mean?"
Only that we've got back, Timmons.
Why this frigid reception
well, this yere is respectable no
tel an amt goin' ter have it all
mussed up by no lynchin' party" the
landlords voice full OF regret. "Then
this we're gal she wrote me she'd gone
back East"
Westcott laughed.
STOW your crouch, old man, and
give us a hand. There win be no
lynching, because Lacy is In the hands
of the marshal. AS to this lady, she
never sent you that note. She was abb
Quoted by force and has just escaped.
Don't stand there like fool. III tell
you the story later. There's wound
ed man under the canvas there. Come
on and help me carry him inside"
Timmons, sputtering but impotent to
resist, took hold reluctantly, and the
two together bore the helpless Caven-
dish through the deserted Office and up
the stairs to the second floor, where he
was comfortably settled and a doctor
sent for. The task was sufficiently
strenuous to require all the breath
Timmons possessed, and he managed
to repress his eager curiosity until the
wounded man had been attended to.
Once in the hall, however, and the door
closed, he could no longer control him
self.
snow see we're, Jim Westcott," he
painted, one hand gripping the stair
rail, tive got ter know what's up
afOre I throw open this we're hotel to
yer free use this-away. AS a general
thing amt round huntin' trouble-I
reckon yer know that-but this we're
affair beats me. What was it yer said
about Bill Lacy?"
Hes under arrest, charged with
cattlestealing, abduction, conspiracy
and about everything else on the cal
endar. Brennan's got him, and like
wise the evidence to convict"
"GOod Lord Is that so?"
ut is; the whole Mendez gang has
been wiped out. Old Mendez has been
killed. The rest of the outfit, including
Juan Cateras, are prisoners"
Timmons' eyes were fairly popping
out Of his head, his voice mere
thread of sound.
"DOn't that beat hi" he managed
to articulate. Where's the marshal?''
'Riding herd at place they call
Sunken valley, about fifty miles south
of here. He and Moore have got ten or
twelve Mexicans and maybe three hum
dred head of cattle to look after, until
I can send somebody out there to help
bring them in. Now that's all you need
to know, Timmons; but I've got
question or two want to ask you.
Come on back into the Office"
Miss Donovan sat in one of the
chairs by the front window waiting.
AS they entered she arose to her feet.
Westcott crossed the room and took
her hand.
Hes all right" he assured her
quickly, interpreting the look in her
eyes. '"Tired from the trip, of course,
but nights rest will do wonders. And
now, Timmons," he turned to the be.
wildered landlord, sis that man En-
right upstairs?"
"The New York lawyer9 No, he
got frightened and left. He skipped
out the next day after you fellers got
away. Bill wanted him to go along
with him, but he said he was too sick.
Then he claimed to have a telegram
calm him East, but he never did.
reckon he must We got cold feet bout
somethin'-enyhOw he's gone
"And Miss La Rue?"
"Sure; she took the same train"
eager now to divulge all he knew.
"But that amt her real name-it's a
kind O. long name, an begins with G.
saw it in a letter she left upstairs,
but couldn't make it all out She's
married"
The eyes of Westcott and Miss Dom
ovan met. Here was bit of strange
news-the La Rue woman married, and
to man with long name beginning
with G. The same thought occurred to
them both, yet it was evidently useless
to question TimmOns any longer. He
would know nothing and comprehend
less. The girl looked tired, complete
ly worn out, and the affair could rest
until morning.
"Tal1e Miss Donovan to a ROOM"
Westcott said shortly, "and I'll run
upstairs and have another look at Cav
endish."
cat who?''
"Cavendish, the wounded man we
just carried in"
(To BE CONTINUED