The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1920-10-07
CHAPTER ~.
Iws hats On q Rack.

One casual remark Of Mackenzie
had given Kate clew. Even before
she had explained It. Curly caught the
point and began to dig for the truth.
For though he was almost boy, the
others leaned on him with the ex.
pectation that in the absence Of Ma.
loney he would take the lead.
In the morning he and Kate had q
talk with his uncle on the subject.
Not content with this, he made the
whole party adjourn to the club
rooms so that he might see exactly
where Luck had sat and the different
places the sheepman had stood from
the time he entered until the poker
players left.
Together Billie Mackenzie and Alec
Flandrau dramatized the scene for the
young people. Mac personated the
sheepman, came into the room. hung
up his hat, lounged over to the poker
table. said his little piece as well as
he could remember It, and passed into
the next room. Flandrau. Senior. TAX
ing the role of Cullison. presently got
up, lifted his hat from the rack. and
went to the door.
With excitement trembling in her
voice. the girl asked an eager ques-
ton. "Were their hats side BY side
like that on adjoining pegsr'
That's how I remember It."
Both gray hatsr' Curly cut in.
Cant be sure Of that. Luck's was
gray all right"
Curly looked at Kate and nodded.
II reckon We know how Cass got Mr..
Collisions hat. II was left on the
rack"
How do you meanr his uncle
asked.
Don't you seer the girl explained.
her eyes shining with excitement.
"Father took the wrong hat You
know how absent-minded 10 10 some
times."
Mackenzie slapped his kasA '.IU
bet . stack Of blues you've guessed It"
There's q way to make sure" Curly
said. "Fendrick couldn't wear Mr..
Collisions hat around without the risk
IL
What would he do thenT'
Kate beamed. "Buy another At the
nearest store"
THAT would be my guess. And the
nearest store ID the New York en-
porium. We've got to nnd out whether
he did buy one there on Tuesday some
time after nine o'clock In the morn
Ing"
The girls eyes were sparkling. She
hustled with businessliks energy. "rll
70 and ask right away"
Don't you think we'd better let
Uncle Alec ind outi He's not 10
likely to stir up curiosity" Curly sug.
gested.
Within Q quarter Of an hour Alec
Flandrau Joined the others At the
hotel. "You kids are right at the head
Of the class In the detective game.
Cass bought . brown hat. about Q 40
In the mo'ning. Paid hve dollars for
II. wouldn't let them deliver the old
one but took It with him 10 . paper
suck"
With her lieutenants thanking her
Kate went straight to the once Of the
sheriff. Bolt heard the story out and
considered II thoughtfully.
"You win. Miss Culiison. You
haven't proved Fendrick caused your
fathers disappearance by foul play.
and you haven't proved he committed
the robbery. Point Of fact ! don't
think he did either one. But /, Ger.
tainly looks like he may possibly have
manufactured evidence"
Curly snorted scornfully. you're
letting your friend down easy. Mr.
Bolt. BY his own story he WAS on
the ground . minute after the robbery
toDk place. How do we know he
wasn't there minute beforei For
II he didn't know the hoidup was 20
Ing to occur why did he bring Mr..
Culllson's hat with him punctured 70
neatly with bullet holssf''
"Hoid your hawseA q while. Elan.
drau. and look at this thing reason.
able. You're all prejudieed for Cul.
lison and against Fendrick. Talk
about evidence! There's ten times %
much against your friend ~ there 10
against Casa"
'"Then you'll not arrest Fendrickr'
"When you give me good reason to
do H." Bolt returned dogsedly.
The four adjourned II meet at the
Del Mar for . discussion Of ways and
msans.
"ws'll keep 4 watch on Fendrick-
nee where he goss. who he talks to.
what he does. Maybe he'll make .
break and give himself away" Curly
said hopefully.
But my fathsr-ws must rescus
him drst."
AS soon % No an1 where he ID.
Killing him wouldn't help Cas- any.