The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-11-18
CHAPTER XIII.
A Needle in q Haystack.

the reputation Oh DeluB us qulCh VI WI
as of trigger finger. Startled as he was
by that sudden apparition appearing
before them in the dark road, and at
being addressed by a woman's voice,
the mention Of the name Cassidy gave
him an Instant clue. There was but
one Cassidy in camp, and that indl-
yidual's reputation was scarcely of a
kind to recommend him In the eyes OF
the law. If any woman sought that
fellow In this out-Of-the-way spot, 1t
was surely for no good purpose. Bren-
nan leaned forward over his saddle
horn, lowering his voice confidentially,
and managing to achieve a highly
m%eritorious brogue.
"Sure, Oi'm Cassidy" he admitted
grouchily. How liver come yer ter
guess thot?"
"You were expecting to meet Mr..
Enright, weren't your That was what
Bill Lacy told you. He was to ex-
plain to you just what you were to
do"
Brennan mumbled something indis-
tinctly, now thoroughly aroused to
the situation.
"Well, Mr.. Enright couldn't come,
and Lacy Is over across the creek yet,
hunting down Ned Beaton's murderer.
l am Miss La Rue" h hurried on,
almost ~breathlessly, land I've brought
you Lacy's note, which you are to give
to that Mexican-PaScual MendeZ.
You understand? You are to give II
TO him, and no one else. Lacy said
you could kill your horse, If neces-
sary, but the note must be there by
daylight tomorrow. Here-take It"
Brennan thrust 1t into an inner
pocket, and cleared his throat. There
was no small risk in asking questions,
yet, unless he learned more, this in
formation might prove utterly use
less. The note to Mendez meant little
until he discovered where that bandit
was to be found.
"Shure now, MISS" he said i%nslnuat-
ingly. MIR. Lacy must hev' STINT more
instructions long with We then them.
All Their word thet liver come ter me
wus ter saddle oop, ride down here
an mate this man Enright. l don't
aven know fer shure whar OF Mendez
is-likely 'nough he be in Mexico"
"In Mexico!" Indignantly. "Of
course not. Lacy said you knew the
trail. It's a place they call 'Sunken
valley'-out there somewhere" and
Brennan could barely distinguish the
movement of her arm desertward.
TITS across that sand fiat"
"ShOshonef"
"Yes; / couldn't remember the
name. That's all 1 know about il,
only Lacy said you'd been there be-
FORE"
"Shure, MISS" assured the marshal
softly, clearly realizing that he had
already gone the limit, and that any
further questioning must lead newt
ably to trouble. 'If 1t is Sunken val
ley Pm ter ride ter, thet's aisy."
"Then it's good night"
She vanished up the side trail, as
though the wind had blown away a
shadow. Brennan gathered up his
reins, Strengthening his body in the
saddle. He glanced back toward the
dim shade Of his companion, chuck
ling.
"SOme bit of luck that, jim"
doesn't seem to me we know much
more than we did before" westcott
answered gloomily. "Only that this
chap Mendez Is at a place called
Sunken valley. / never heard of 1t;
did your
"No; I reckon It's no spot the law
has ever had any use for. I've sup.
posed all along them Mexican cattle
thieves had a hidden corral somewhat
In this country; but nobody has ever
found It yet. Right now, thanks to
this Miss La Rue, I've got a bunch
that we're goin' to make the discOv.
cry, and put Bill Lacy and OF Mendez
out OF business. But there's no sense
of our gassin' here. We got a right
smart bit o. ridin' to do afore day.
light"
aHow about the note she gave your
sven wait a while to read that. !
DOM want to strike no light just yet
Maybe It had best be kept till day.
break"
The men rode steadily, and mostly
IN silence, q large part OF the way side
nv side. The animals they bestrode
were fairly mated. quite capable OF
maintaining their gait for several
hours. and needing little urging. The
nirht gloom enveloped them complete
": their strained eyes were scarcely