The Jasper news., 1920-05-27

no danger Of breaking down. 'Yes, Il
| this man Is in It he would not stop
at less than murder. But l don't be.
live II. know father Is alive. Cass
Fendrlck is the man we want. I'm
sure Of It."
"First thing is to search the Jack
Of Hearts and see what's there. Are
you with me, Uncle Alec7"
~ sure am. Curly" and he reached
for his hat.
Curly turned at the door with his
warm smile. by the way, I'VE got
some news l forgot. 1 know where
your father got the money to pay his
poker debts. Mr.. Jordan OF the Cat
tlemen's National made him a per
sonal loan. He figured 1t would not
hurt the bank because the three men
Luck paid It to would deposit II with
| the bank 'agnin."
"By George, that's what we did; too,
every last one Of u.s." his uncle ad-
mitted.
EVERY little helps" Kate said, and
her little double nod thanked Curly.
Maloney met them in front Of the
Jack Of Hearts.
"Dick, you 60 with me inside. Uncle
Alec, win you keep guard outsider"
mo, bub, won't. knew Luck
before you were walking bowlegged," 7"
the old cattleman answered brusquely.
Curly grinned. "All right. Don't
blame me IL you get shot up.".
Mrs. Wylie's startled eyes told tales
when she saw the three men. Her
face was ashen.
I'm here to. play trumps, Mrs. Wy
lie. What secret has the Jack Of
Hearts got hidden from usT' young
Flandrau demanded, his hard eyes
fastened to her timorous ones.
I'LL don't know what you mean" /"
mo use. We're here for business.
Dick, you stay with her. Don't let
her leave or shout a warning"
he passed into the back room,
which was kind Of combination liv-
Ing room, kitchen and bedroom. A
door led from the rear into a back
yard Uttered with empty packing
cases, garbage cans and waste paper.
After taking a look around the yard
he locked the back door noiselessly.
There was no other apparent exit from
the kitchen-bedroom except the one
by which he and his uncle had en-
tered from the shop. But he knew
the place must have a cellar, and his
inspection Of the yard had showed no
| Aa0 Oh ka
Navajo rug that covered the floor and
found one Of the old-fashioned trap
doors some cheap houses have. Into
this was fitted an iron ring with which
to lift II.
From the darkness below came no
sound. but Curly's Imagination con-
ceived the place as full of shining
eyes glaring up at him. Any bad men
down there already had the drop on
them. Therefore neither Curly nor
his uncle made the mistake OF draw
Ing weapon.
I'm coming down, boys" young
Flandrau announced In a quiet conf
dent voice. "The place is surrounded
by our friends and 1t won't do you a
whole lot Of good to shoot me up. I'd
aivise you not to be too impulsive."
He descended the steps, his face
like stone wall for all the emotion II
recorded. At his heels came the older
man. Curly struck a match, found an
electric bulb above his head and
turned the button. Instantly the dark
ness was driven from the cellar.
The two Flandraus were quite alone
In the room. For furniture there was
a table, a cot which had been slept In
and not made up, and a couple OF
rough chairs. The place had no win
dOws, no means of ventilation excep,
through the trap door. Yet there were
evidences to show that Il had recently
been Inhabited. Half-smOked cigars
Uttered the floor. A pack of cards lay
In disorder on the table. The Sentinel
with date line Of that day lay tossed
In corner.
MAKE anything out Of itP the
older Flandrau asked.
Hes been here. but they've taken
him away. VIII you cover the teIe
phoningI Have all the ranches mott
fed that Luck is being taken into the
hills, so they can picket the trails"
How do you know he is being taker
thereT"
Il don't know. guess. Blackwell
is In it. he knows every nook of the
hills. The party left here not two
hours since, looks like"
Curly put the newspaper in his pock
ct and led the way back to the store.