The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-08-12

community, the searchers had discoN
cred no proof by this rifling Of he
bag.
Farriss' letter contained nothing o
interest except the fact that Enrigh
had also left for the West. He in
structed her to be on the lookout 70
him in Haskell, added a line or twt
Of suggestions, and ordered her to pro
ceed with caution, as her quest nigh
prove to be dangerous one.
Miss Donovan thought rapidly an(
clearly, more than ordinarily eager tC
solve this mystery. 1t was Frederick
Cavendish who had formerly been the
partner Of Jim Westcott. This was
| why no answer had come to the tele-
grams and letters the latter had sent
East. What had become Of them? Had
they fallen into the hands of these
others? Was this the true reason for
Beaton's presence In Haskell, and also
why the La Rue woman had been
. hastily sent for?
Westcott's discovery was not even
proven yet; its value had not been
definitely established; 1t was Of COM
paratively small Importance contrast
ed with the known wealth left by the
murdered man in the East. No, there
must be some other cause for this sud-
den visit to Colorado. But what? She
gave little credence to the vague sus-
picions advanced by Valois; that was
altogether too impossible, too melodra-
matte, this thought Of the substitution
Of some other body. No doubt there
had been crime committed. its object
the attainment of money, but without
question the cost had been the life Of
Frederick Cavendish.
The harsh clang Of the dinner-bell
from the porch below aroused her to a
sense of hunger.
Ten minutes later Timmons, guilt.
less Of any coat, but temporarily lay
ing aside his pipe as a special act Of
courtesy, escorted her into the dining
room and seated her at a table be-
tween the two front windows. Evil
IDENTIFY this was reserved for the more
distinguished guests-traveling men
and those paying regular day rates
for its only other occupant was an in.
dividual in check suit.
A waitress, a red-haired, slovenly
girl, with an impediment in her speech,
took her order and disappeared in the
direction Of the kitchen. and Miss
Donovan discreetly lifted her eyes to
observe the man sitting nearly op-
posite. He was not prepossessing,
yet she instantly recognized his type,
and the probability that he would ad-
dress her If the slightest opportunity
occurred.
The waitress spread out the various
dishes before her, and she glanced at
them hopelessly. As she lifted her
gaze she met that Of her vis-a-vls fair
ly, and managed to smile.
"Some chuck" he said in an at
tempt at good-fellowship. "but not
to remind you Of the Waldorf-Astoria."
II should say not" she answered,
testing one Of her dishes cautiously.
"But why associate me with New
York;"
"You can't hide those things In q
joint like this. When did you leave
New York;"
"Oh, more than a week ago." she
lied gracefully. :.
He stroked his moustache.
"Then l suppose you haven't much
late New York news? Nothing start
ling, mean?"
mo; only what has been reported In
the western papers. I do not recall
anything particularly interesting" She
dropped her eyes to her plate and
busied herself with piece of tough
beef. "The usual murders, Of course,
and things Of that kind"
There was a moments silence, then
the man laughed as though slightly Ill
at ease. Whatever brought a girl like
you down In heref"
She smiled.
"Fm feature writer; I'm doing a
series on the West for Scribbler's,"
she told him. II visit New Mexico
next, but I'm after something else be-
sides description of mountains and
men; I'm also going to hunt up an old
friend interested In mining. who told
me II ever I got out this way l must
look him up. He was continually sing
Ing this valleys charms. and so here
7 am. And I'm planning great sur
prise on him. And. Of course, I'm lit
orally drinking In atmosphere-to say
nothing Of local color. which seems
mostly to be men and revolvers."
The man opposite wet his lips with
his tongue In an effort to speak, but