The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-10-21

over him. The wounded man breathed
heavily. the dull stare i'm his eyes
changing TO a look Of bewildered in
telligence.
Where am II" he asked thickly.
"Oh, yes, ! remember; ! was shot.
Who are yOu?"
81 am Jim Westcott; do you remem-
Der me?"
The searching eyes evidenced 10
sense of recollection.
NO" he said. struggling to make
the words clear. IL never heard that
name before
Miss Donovan came forward, the
lamp in her hand, the light shining
full In her face.
but you told me you were Mr..
C~avendish." she exclaimed, "and Mr..
Westcott was an old friend of his
surely you must remember?"
He looked up at her. and endeav-
ored to smile, yet for the moment did
not answer. He seemed fascinated by
the picture she made, as though some
vision had suddenly appeared before
him.
II remember you" he said at
last. "You-you are Miss Donovan !;
I'll never forget you; but | never saw
this man before-I'm sure Of that"
"And | am equally convinced as to
the truth of that remark" returned
Westcott, "but why did you call your
self Cavendish?"
Because that is my name-why
shouldn't ~
"Why, see here, man." and West
colts voice no longer concealed his
Indignation. you no more resemble
Fred Cavendish than | do; there is
10 a feature in COMMON between
you"
Fired Cavendish?
Certainly; of New York; who do
you think we were talking about?'
"rye had no chance 10 think. I
claim my name is Cavendish, and 1t
is; but I've never once said | was
Fred Cavendisb of New York. If you
must know, l am Ferdinand Cav
endish of Los Angeles"
Westcott permitted the mans head
to rest back on the floor, and he arose
to his feet. He felt dazed, stunned,
as though stricken a sudden blow.
Good Cod" he exclaimed. "What
can all this mean? You came from
New York clty?'
Yes; l had been there a month at
tending to some business"
"And when you left for the coast,
you took the midnight train on the
New York Central?"
Yes. had intended taking an
earlier one but was delayed"
You bought return tickets at the
station?"
mo-; l had return tickets; they had
to be validated"
"Then your name was signed TO
them what is your usual s~ignature?"
81. Cavendish.'
II thought so. Stella. this has all
been a strange biunder, but II is per-
fectly clear how 1t happened. That
man Beaton evidently had never cen
Frederick Cavendish. He was simply
Informed that he would leave New
York on that train. He met this Cav
endish on board, perhaps. ever saw
his signature on the ticket. and cub
tivated his acquaintance. The follow
never doubted but what he had the
right man."
The marshal Of Haskell came out OF
the bunk-house. and closed the door
carefully behind him. lie was rather
proud of his nights's work, and felt
quite confident that the disarmed Mexi-
can locked within those strong log
walls, and guarded by Moore, with a
loaded rifle across his knee. would re-
main quiet until daylight. Naturally,
and ordinarily. Mr.. Brennan was con-
siderable of a cynic. but just now he
felt In a far more genial and sympa-
| thetic mood.
"Jim's some man." he confided to
himself. unconsciously speaking aloud.
AN the girls a Merry little thing-als
mighty good lookin'. too. I reckon it'll
cost me a months salary fer a weddin'
present. so maybe the jokes on me-"
His mind reverted TO Mendez. "Five
thousand on the Old cuss," he NUT
tered gloomily. IAN somebody else got
the chance 10 pot him. Well, by hooky,
whoever 1t was sure did a good Job
It was thet shotgun cooked his goose.
judgin' from the way bis face was
peppered. Five thousand dollars-oh,
h-lw
His eyes followed the outline of the
valley, able to distinguish the darker
silhouette Of the cliffs outstanding
against the sky s~p-iEkled with stars.
Far away toward the northern extrem-
ity a Gull red glow indicated the pres
ence Of a small fire.
"HericrS." brennan so~liloouized. his
thought Instantly shifting. Likely TO
be two maybe three ov 'em out there :
mn then there's them two ON guard al
the head o. the trail. I reckon tfey're
wonderin' what all this yere shoot.n'
mems but 'taIr't probable they'n kick
M any fuss vet awhile. We ran handle
them all right. u they do. Huil0y 1he5s!
What's comm now1s
Il was the thud or 4 hopse7s hoofs
heinz ridden rnnldlv. Brpnn~. <eov>r,c1