The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-10-09

parted. however hurriedly, without
leaving him some message? Uncon-
sciously he still held the letter In his
hand when the waitress came In with
his breakfast. She glanced about to
make certain they were alone and
leaned over, her lips close to his ear.
SIS that the note they say that New
York young lady leftT'
Eyes, Sadie" in surprise. "WhyT
"Well, she never wrote It, Mr.. West
cott." hurriedly placing the dishes be-
fore him, "that's ALL Now don't yer
say word to anybody that l told
yer; but she didn't go East at all she
wus took in wagon down the desert
road. saw 'em take her"
"You saw them3 WhoT'
well, / don't just know that, 'cept
It was Matt Moore's team, an he wuz
drivin' it. l didn't see the others so
over the kitchen, an bout one o'clock
l woke up. thought heard a noise
outside, an got up an went to the
winder. l couldn't see much not
'nough so could swear to nuthin' !;
but there was three or four men out
there just across that little gully, you
know, an they had woman with 'em
She didn't scream none. but she was
tryin' ter git away; wunst she run,
but they caught her. | didn't see no
wagon then: 1t was behind the ridge,
reckon. After while II drove off
down the south trail, an q little later
three men come up them outside stairs
back into the hotel. They was mighty
still bout 1t, too"
"You couldn't tell who they were?"
'They want like nuthin' but sbad-
ders; it was purity dark night. Say
did you ever hear tell Of Mexican
named Mendez?'
well, rather; he's cattle thief, or
worse. Arizona has big reward out
for him, dead or alive"
That's the gink, | bet yer; has he
got a hangout anywhar round this
country?"
mot so far as know What makes
you suspect this?"
Sadie leaned even closer, her voice
trembling with excitement, evidently
convinced that her information was Of
utmost Importance.
you know the Teller they call En-
right, / reckon he's lawyer?"
Westcott nodded.
"Well, he was dom most of the talk.
board yonder, pretendn' ter clean II
up. Nobody thought | was in eaI dis
lance, but got hold ov a word now an
then. He kept tellin' 'em bout this
Mexican, who's friend of Bill Lacy.
an | Judge has q place whar he hangs
out with his gang somewhat in the big
desert"
"Was anything said about Miss DON
ovan?v
Not by name; they was too smart
for that but that was the direction
Matt Moore drove off last night
there's Enright comm downstairs
now; won't yer hay some more cakes.
sir?"
Westcott pushed back his chair and
rose to his feet. He had extracted
all the information the girl possessed,
and had no wish to expose her to sus-
picion. There was no longer doubt
in his mind as to the fate of Miss Don
ovan. She had been foreibly abducted
by this gang of thieves, and put where
her knowledge could do them no harm.
But where? The clue had been given
him. but before 1t could be of any
value he must learn more of this
Mexican, Mendez The fellow had
always appeared rather mythical
character, but now became suddenly
real. The marshal might know; if
not. then he must choke the truth out
of Lacy. Determined to make I'll.
efTort, lie muttered swift word of
thanks to Sadie and left The room.
From the open doorway Wesfcott
took careful survey of the street. al