The Arizona copper camp., 1920-08-07

THE STRANGE CASE OF CAVENDISH

llIHIuIhInEllEHIlIEulllIllnIIIiVlIIIII

She smiled.
I'm feature writer; Pm Going a.
series on the West for Scribbler's,"
she told him. 81 visit New Mexico
next, but Pm after something else be-
sides a description of mountains and
men; I'm ALSO going to hunt up an old
friend interested in mining, who told
me if ever 1 got out this way l must
look him up. He was continually sing
ing this valleys charms, and so here
I am And I'm planning a great sur
prise on him. And, of course, I'm lit
orally drinking in atmospheric 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
the girl vas busy eating and appar-
emily paid no attention. Her calm in
difference convinced him that her
words were entirely innocent, and his
audacity returned.
''Well," he ventured, e'do you agree
with this pfospeciOr friendT'
'The scenery, you mean?" glancing
up brightly. "Why, it is wonderful, of
course, and am not at all sorry hav-
ing made the journey, although it
hardly compares with Tennessee Pass
or Silver Plume. Still, you know, it
will be pleasant to tell Mr.. Cavendish
when l go back that was here"
He choked and his face seemed to
whiten suddenly.
"Mr. CavendishY' he gasped. "Of
New York? Not the one that was
killed?"
1t was her turn to stare across the
table, her eyes vide with horror, which
she simulated excellently.
'Killedl Has a man by that name
been killed lately in New York? 1t
was Frederick Cavendisll I referred
to-" Her pretense was admirable.
He was silent, realizing he had al
ready said too much.
ssTelI me-" she insisted, "has he
been killed? How do you know?"
Her earnestness, her perfect acting,
convinced him. . 1t was a mere coin
cidence, he thought, that this name
should have cropped up between them,
but, now that it had, he must ex-
plain the whole affair so as not to
arouse suspicion. He cleared his
throat and compelled his eyes to meet
those across the table.
'sWelI, 1 don't know much about it,
only what I read" he began, feeling
for words. "He was found dead in his
apartments, apparently killed by
burglar who had rified his safe"
She sat with her chin in the palm
OF one hand. watching him from be-
meath the shadow of lowered lashes-
but his eyes were bent downward at
his plate.
''Are you through?" he questioned
suddenly.
eyes; this-this awful news has
robbed me of all appetite"
Neither had noticed Westcott as he
entered the room, but his first glance
about revealed their presence, and
without an instant cf hesitancy the big
miner crossed the room and ap-
preached the table where the two
were sitting.
II hope do not interrupt" he said
pleasantly. had reason to suppose
you were unacquaintad with Mr.. Bea
ton here
"What reason?" her surprised tons
slightly indignant.
81 believe the gentleman so in
formed me. 1t Glanced that we had,
a slight controversy last night"
cover me?'
"Over his curiosity regarding you
who you were: your presence here.
I informed him that it was none OF
his business, and that if he mentioned
your name n'my presence again there
was liable to be trouble We scrapped
it out"
"You-you scrapped it out? You
mean there was fight over me-a
barroom squabble over me?"
"Not in barroom; in the hotel Of
flee. Beaton drew gun, and had tc
slug him.
But the affair originated over me-
my name was brought into it?" she in