The Lamar register., 1920-02-18

belonged to her father. His personal
ity was stamped all over 1t. She even
recognized a coffee stain on the under
side OF the brim. There was no need
OF the initials l.. G. to tell her whose 1t
| had been. A wave Of despair swept
over her. Again she was on the verge
of breaking down, but controlled her
/ self as with n tight curb.
You say the robber had on his hat,
| and that somebody shot at him. Who
ever il was must know the man wasn't
| father"
Gently Bolt took this last prop from
/ her hope. HE is almost sure the man
was your father"
A spark OF steel came into her dark
eyes. "who Is the man7'
His name Is Fendrick."
"Cass Fendrick?" She whipped the
word at him, leaning forward in her
chair rIgidly with her hands clenched
on the arms Of 1t. On- could have
guessed that the sound Of the name
had unleashed a dormant ferocity in
her.
Yes. I know he and your father
aren't friends. They have had some
trouble For that reason he was very
reluctant to give your fathers name"
The girl famed Reluctant Don't
you believe H. He hates father like
poison" A flash of inspiration came
! to her "Cass Fendrick Is the man you
want, and he is the man | want. He
robbed the express company. and he
has killed my father or abducted him.
/ know now. Arrest him tonight"
II have to have evidence" Bolt said
quietly.
Il can give you n motive. Listen.
Father expected to prove up yesterday
on his Del ORC claim. II he had done
so Cass Fendrick's sheep would have
/ been cut on from the water. Father
had to be got out of the way not later
Z than Wednesday. or that man would
/ have been put out of business. He was
very bitter about II. He had made
threats"
I "It would take more than threats
to get rid OF the best fighting man In
Arizona. right in the middle of the
! day. in the heart of the town. without
a soul knowing It"
He was trapped somehow, of
course" Curly cut in. For he was
sure that In no other way could Luck
3 Cullison have been overcome.
"If you1i only tell me how. Flan-
[ drau." Bolt returned.
81 don't know how, but wen find
I out"
] II hope so"
Kate felt his doubt. and IT was like
I a spark tn powder.
"You ought to know father couldn't
have done this. There is such a thing
as character. Luck Culllson simply
couldn't be thief"
Mackenzles faith had been strength.
ened by the insistent loyalty OF the
girl. That's right, Nick. Let me tell
/ you something else. Fendrick knew
Luck was going to prove up Thursday.
He heard him tell US at the Round
Up club Tuesday morning"
The sheriff summed up. you've
proved Cass had interests that would
be helped II Mr.. Culllson we're re-
moved. But you haven't shaken the
evidence against Luck"
We've proved Cass Fendrlck had
to get father out of the way on the
very day he disappeared. One day
later would have been too late. We've
shown his enmity. Any evidence that
rests on his word is no good. The
truth isn't In the man."
Maybe not, but he didn't make this
evidence"
Kate had another inspirational flash.
He did-some of 1t. Somehow he
got hold Of fathers hat. and he manu-
factured a story about shooting II from
the robbers head. But to make his
story stick he must admit he was on
the ground at the time of tho hold
up. 10 he must have known the rob-
berry was going to take place"
Bolts shrewd eyes narrowed to
| smile "You prove to me that Cass
had your fathe9's hat before the hold
up. and I'll take some stock in the
gtorYn