The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-07-31


Wen lay quiet and try the Young lad!
out. Beaton here can give her an in
PRODUCTION to Miss La Rue. and the
rest is easy"
| Westcott's purpose in visiting the
| La RoSita mine was a rather vague
one. His thought had naturally asSo
ciated Bill Lacy with whatever form
| of deviltry had brought Beaton To the
neighbOrhOOd of Haskell, and he felt
| convinced firmly that this special
| brand of deviltry had some direct con
| nectiOn with the disappearance OF
| Frederick CavenGiSh just what the
connection between these people might
doubt. but as Miss Donovan was seek
ing this information at the hotel, all
that remained for him to do at pres
emf was an investigation of Lacy. The
careful review of all Miss Donovan
had told him only served TO increase
his confidence that his old partner
still lived. No other conception seemed
possible, or would account for the
presence of Ned Beaton in Haskell or
the hurried call for Miss La Rue. Yet
it was equally evident this was not
caused by any miscarriage of their
original plans. Apparently every de-
tail of the crime which meant the win
ming of Frederick CavendiSh'S fortune
bnpn fo I'll Il
out The money was already prac-
tically in their possession. and not the
slightest suspicion had been aroused
1t had been a masterpiece of criminal
ingenuity. so boldly carried out as to
avoid danger of discovery.
Every step had been taken exactly
in accord with the original outlines.
except possibly that they had been
hurried by Cavendsh'S sudden deter.
mnation to return West and his will
disinheritinG John These had com
PEELED earlier action. vet no radical
change in plans as the machinery
was already prepared and in position.
Luck had been win the conSpiratorS
draw up the Will
Enright. Beyond doubt his were
thu brains dominating the affair. The
whole foul thing lay before WeStcott's
imn"ination in its diabulical ingenuity
-Enright's legal mind had left no
loGrhole. He intended to play the
game absolutely safe, 50 far at least.
as he WIS personally concerned.
The money WAS 70 30 legally 10 John
without the shadow of a suspicion
resting upon it; AID then-WeIl. lie
knew how to do The rest already he
had firm grip on a large portion.
Yes, all this WAS reasonably clear:
what remained obscure was the fate
of Frederick Cavendish.
Nestc0tt came back from his mus
ings to this one important question.
The answer puzzled him. If the man
was dead why should Beaton remain ut
Haskell and. insist on Miss La Rue's
joining him? And if the man was
alive and concealed somewhere in the |
neighhorhood. what was their present |
object? Had they decided they were |
rlsking too much in permitting him to /
live? Had something occurred to |
make them feel it safer to have him
out of the way permanently? What |
did Bill Lacy have with the
gang?
Westcott rose to his feet and began
following the trail up the canon. He
was not serving CavendiSh nor Miss
Donovan by sitting there. He walked
'apIdly. but the sun WAS nearly down
~ the time he reached the mouth of
lis own drift.
While waiting word from the East
which would enable him to devotion
he claim. Westcott had thought it best
o discontinue work. and hide. as best
he could. from others the fact that he
lad again discovered the lost lead of
'ich ore. To that end. after taking out
enough for his immediate require
nehts IN the form of nuggets gath
red from single pocket. which he
lnd later negotiated quietly at town
Town the railroad. he had blocked ND
he new tunnel and discontinued opera
ions. He had fondly believed his So
ret secure, until Lacy's careless words
lad aroused suspicion that the latter
night have seen his kilograms to Cav
ndish. His only assistant, a Mexican
'hO had been with him for sometime
on guard at the bunkhouse
nd. so far as he knew. no serious Of.
ort had been made to explore the drift
y any Of Lacy's satellites. Now. as
e came up the darkening gulch and
runched his way across the rock pile
efore the tunnel entrance, he saw the
heerful blaze of fire in the Mexi.
ans quarters and stopped to cues
ion him.
"SenOr-yOu
Eyes. Jose" and Westcott dropped
n bench. Anything wrong? You
pem nervous"
NO. senior. ] expected you not To-
light; there. was man there by the
* tree at sunset"
"One Of the La ROsita gang likelv
'on't fight them, Jose Let them poka
round inside If they want to: they
ont lind anything but rock. Cor q
lfa tharo I'm |