Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1920-05-13

message, and all of them were plainly
In the same hand. He could make out
only one thing. that someone was try
ing to give the sheriff information In
a guarded way.
He was still puzzling over the thing
when a boy came with a special deliv-
cry letter for the sheriff. Bolt glanced
| at 1t and handed the note to Curly.
"Another billy doc from my anxious
friend"
This time the sender had been in
too much Of a hurry to print the
words. They were written In a stitf
hand by some uneducated person.
"THE JACK OF TRUMPS, TODAY"
mind If l keep theseT Curly
asked.
"Take 'em along"
Fandrau strolled back to town along
Ell Moline street and down Main. He
had just crossed the old Spanish plaza
when his absorbed gaze fell on a sign
that brought him up short. In front Of
a cigar store stretched across the side
walk a painted picture Of a jack Of
hearts. The same name was on the
window.
Fifty yards behind him was the Sill
yer Dollar saloon, where Luck Cullison
had last been seen on his way to the
Del Mar one hundred and fifty yards
in front of him. Somewhere within
that distance Of two hundred yards
the owner Of the Circle @ had van
ished from the sight Of men. The
evidence showed he had not reached
the hotel, for a cattle buyer had been
waiting there to talk with him. His
testimony, us well as that Of the hotel
clerk, was positive.
Gould this little store, the Jack Of
Hearts, be the central point Of the
mystery? In his search for informa-
ton Curly had already been in it, had
talk with Mrs. Wylie, the proprietor.
She was a washed-out little woman
who had cnce been pretty. She had
protested with absurd earnestness
that she had seen nothing of MI. Gull
lison. A single glance had been enough
to dismiss her from any possible sus-
picion.
Now Curly stepped in a second time.
The frightened gaze Of Mrs. Wylie
fastened upon him instantly. He OBJ
served that her hand moved instinc-
lively to her heart. Beyond question
she was in fear. A flash of light clari-
fed his mind. She was a conspirator,
but an unwilling one. Possibly she
might be the author of the anonymous
warnings sent Bolt.
The young vaquero subscribed for a
magazine and paid her the money.
Tremblingly she filled out the receipt.
He glanced at the slip and handed it
back.
"Just write below the signature of
the Jack Of Hearts, so that I'll re-
member where I paid the money If
the magazine doesn't come" he sug-
gested.
She did so, and Curly put the re-
ceipt in his pocket carelessly. He
sauntered leisurely to the hotel, but
as soon as he could get into a tele-
phone booth his listlessness vanished.
Maloney had returned to town and he
t%elephoned him to get Mackenzie at
once and watch the Jack Of Hearts
in front and rear. Before he left the
booth Curly had compared the writ
ing of Mrs. Wylie with that on the
sheet that had come by special de-
livery. Beyond question the same
person had written both.
Certainly Mrs. Wylie was not warn-
ing the sheriff against herself. Then
against whom? He must know her
antecedents, and at once. Calling up
a local detective agency, he asked the
manager to let him know within an
hour or two all that could be found
out about the woman without alarm
ing her.
"Wai a moment. I think we have
her on file. Hold the phone" The
detective presently returned. Eyes.
We can give you the facts. VIII you
come to the Office for them"
Fifteen minutes later Curly knew
that Mrs. Wylie was the divorced wife
Of Lutte Blackwell.
lie returned 10 the Lei Mar anu
sent his name up to Miss Cullison.
With Kate and Bob there was also in
the room Alec Flandrau.
The girl came forward lightly to
meet him. "Have you heard some
thing?" she asked quickly.
eyes. Tell me, when did your IA
Their last meet Lutte Blackwell so far
as you know?"
The owner of the Map Of Texas an
swered the question of his nephew.
HE met him the other day. Let's
see. 1t was right after the big poker
game. We met him downstairs here.
Luck had to straighten out some no.
tons he had got"
"How?"
Flandrau, Senior, told the story Of
what had occurred in the hotel lobby.
"And you say he swore to get even2"
"That's what he said. And he
looked like he meant 1t, too"
"What is it? What have you found
out?" Kate implored.
n. k-Jl .Lz.k A.. 80