The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1920-03-11
CHAPTER ~.
Two Hats on a Rack.

ndu given nate Clew. Even De1Ore
she had explained 1t. Curly caught the
point and began to dig for the truth.
For though he was almost a boy, the
others leaned on him with the ex-
pectation that In the absence of Ma
lOney he would take the lead.
In the morning he and Kate had a
talk with his uncle on the subject.
Not content with this, he made the
whole party adjourn to the club
rooms so that he might see exactly
where Luck had sat and the different
places the sheepman had stood from
the time he entered until the poker
players left.
Together Billie Mackenzie and Alec
Flandrau dramatized the scene for the
young people. Mac personated the
sheepman, came into the room, hung
up his hat, lounged over to the poker
table. said his little piece as we'll as
he could remember it, and passed into
the next room. Flandrau, Senior, TAX
ing the role Of CullisOn, presently got
up, lifted his hat from the rack, and
went to the door.
With excitement trembling in her
voice, the girl asked an eager Ques-
tion. "Were their hats side by side
like that on adjoining pegs?"
"Thats how remember It."
"Both gray hats?" Curly cut in.
"Can't be sure Of that. Luck's was
gray all right"
Curly looked at Kate and nodded.
II reckon we know how Cass got Mr..
Culllson's hat. 1t was left on the
rack"
"How do you mean?" his uncle
asked.
'Dont you see7" the girl explained.
her eyes shining with excitement.
"Father took the wrong hat. You
know how absent-minded he Is some
times"
Mackenzie slapped his knee "Ill
bet n stack of blues you've guessed It,"
"There's way to make sure" Curly
said. "Fendrick couldn't wear Mr..
Cullison's hat around without the risk
Of someone remembering 1t later.
What would he do then?
Kate beamed. Buy another at the
nearest store"
THAT would be my guess. And the
nearest store is the New York en-
porium. We've got to find out whether
he did buy one there on Tuesday some
time after nine o'clock In the morn
ing"
The girls eyes were sparkling. She
hustled with businesslike energy "Tll
go and ask right away"
Don't you think we'd better let
Uncle Alec find out? He's not so
likely to stir up curiosity" Curly sug-
gested.
Within quarter Of an hour Alec
Flandrau joined the others at the
hotel. "You kids are right at the head
Of the class In the detective game.
Cass bought brown hat, about 8 80
in the mo'ning Paid five dollars for
1t. Wouldn't let them deliver the old
one but took It with him In a paper
sack"
With her lieutenants fianking her
sheriff. Bolt heard the story ont and
considered 1t thoughtfully.
"Yo'i ,Tin, Miss Cullison. You
haven't proved Fendrick caused your
fathers disappearance by foul play.
ana you haven't proved he committed
the robbery. Point Of fact i dop't
think he did either one. But 1t GER
tainly looks like he may possibly have
manufactured evidence"
Curly snOrted scornfully. You're
letting your friend down easy, Mr..
Bolt. BY his own story he was on
the ground minute after the robbery
took place. How do we know he
wasn't there minute before? For
II he didn't know the holdup was go.
Ing to occur why did he bring Mr.
Cuuison's hat with him punctured so
neatly with bullet holes2"
Hold your hawses a while, Elan.
drau. and look at this thing reason.
able. You're all prejudiced for Cul.
lison and against Fendrick. Talk
about evidenced There's ten times as
much against your friend as there is
against Cass."
"Then you'll not arrest Fendrick2 p
when you give me good reason to
do IT," Bolt returned doggedly.
The four adjourned " meet at the
Del MDr for 81 discussiop NJ xuoyo md