The Lamar register., 1920-02-18
WiIIfonB Macleod Rdine

ne was nunerlnK cruelty, Dut ne or
fsred her courage rather than maudlin
sympathy. Hope seemed to now
through her veins at the meeting of
the eyes. Whatever a man could do
for her would be done by Curly.
They talked the situation over to-
ssther.
As 1t looks to me, we've got to fnd
cut two things-first, what has be-
come of your father and, second. who
cid steal that money. don't see It
yet, but there's some link between the
two things. I mean between the rob-
berry and his disappearance"
How do you meanf" Kate asked.
"we1l say the robbers were his enc
nies-some of the Soapy Stone outfit.
maybe. They have got him out of the
way to satisfy their grudge and to
make people think he did II. Unfortu-
.atsly there Is evidence that makes II
leok A. II he might have done 1t
what they call cerroborating testi-
nony."
What does Sheriff Bolt think1"
Curly waved the sheriff aside. at
dent matter what he thinks. Miss
Kate He says he thinks Luck was
mixed up in the holdup. Maybe that's
what he thinks. but we don't want to
forget that Cass Fendrick made him
sheriff and your father fought him to
q fareyou-well."
I'D like to talk with Bolt" the
ysung woman announced.
"AIi right" Mackenzie assented.
Tomorrow mo'ning-"
"No, tonight. Uncle Mae"
The csttleman looked at her In sur
prise. Her voice rang with decision.
nsr slight figure seemed compact with
sssrgy and resolution. Wa. this the
girl who had been in helpless tears not
ten minutes before?
"TII see II hes at his office. Maybe
he'll come up" Curly said.
NO. ri 60 down to the courthouse
II he's there"
At the ONCE of the sheriff Kate cut
10 essentials rs soon as the introduc-
Hons were over.
DO you think my father robbed the
". $. Express company, Mr.. Boltf'
she asked.
Her piainness embarrassed the Off
Ger.
Let. look at the facts. Mis-. Cui-
Iisen." he began amiably. Then you
tell me what you would think In my
rlsce. Your father needed money
nighty bad. There's no doubt AT all
about that Heres an envelope on
veieA 10 had written Q list of his
ssbts. You'll notice they run to just
little more than twenty thousand. I
found this in his bedroom the day he
dtsappeared. Turn that envelope over.
hiss Cullison. Notice how he has
written there half dozen times In
rev. 10000 and Just below IT twice.
W. d s. Ex. Co. Finally. the one
word. Tonight"
She read It all. read It with a heart
heavy as lead. and knew that there he
had left in his own strong, bold hand
writing convincing evidence against
himself. Still. she did not doubt him
In the least. but there could be no
question now that he knew OF the In
tended shipment. that absent-inindedly
he had Joued down this dats while he
was thinking about 1t In connection
with his own debts.
The sheriff went on tightening the
shaip OF evidence In voice that. for
all Its kindness. seemed tu her re-
morseless as fate "lt turnS out That
Mr.. Jordan of the Cattlcmau Nation
si bank mentioned This shipment to
your father that morning. Mr.. Cul-
lison was trying 10 raise money from
him. but he couldn't let Inn have II.
1very bank in the city refused him
lssn. Yet next morning hc paid of
two thousand dollars lie owed from a
poker game"
He must bay" borrowed the money
from some one" she said weakly.
That money he paid In twenty-dol
lar bills. The stolen express package
was In twenties. You know yourself
that this is "a gold country. Bills amt
50 plentiful"
The girls hand went to her heart
Faith In her father was a rock not to
be washed away by any amount of
Evidence. What made her vince was
The amount Of eircumstancial tssti-
nsAy falling into place so lnsxorably
asainst him.
rs that allf- she asked dsspairingly.
II wish II were, Miss Cullison. But
ifs not man came round the corner
qnd shot at the robbsr a. he was ss-
ts