The Lamar register., 1920-02-11

Culltson.
Don't know as recognize It," he
lied, not very readily. Not to know
1t. Why?"
Thought perhaps you might know
1t. The hoIdup dropped it while get
ting away"
Mackenzie's eyes flnched. Dropped
1t. How was that?"
"a man happened to come along San
Miguel street just as the robber swung
to his horse. He heard the cries of
the men inside. guessed what was do
ing, and exchanged shots with the mis-
creant. He shot this hat off the fel-
lows head"
"Who was the man that shot the
robber?"
"Cass Fendrick."
But he didn't claim to recognize the
holdup?"
Not for certain. lie guessed a man
whose initials are the same as those in
that hat"
"If you mean Luck Cullison. it's
id lie." exploded the cattleman.
He was furious with himself. for he
felt now that he had been unsuspect-
ingly helping to certify the suspicious
of the sheriff. Like an idiot, he had
let out much that told heavily against
his friend.
81 hope so. What about this hat,
with the two holes shot through the
rim?"
"Shol We all wear hats Just like
that. Look at mine" Billie held it
out eagerly.
Has yours an l.. C. stamped in the
sweat bandf" Bolt asked with smile.
II know you amt his friend, Nick.
But you want to be fair to him even II
he did oppose your election" Macken-
zie laid an appealing hand on the knee
of the man seated opposite him.
I'm sheriff of Papago county. II
doesn't make any difference VINO
worked for or against me. Billie. I
was elected. and I'm going to enforce
the law. By the way, I've got to pay
for some supplies this morning. Can
you cash a check for hundredf'
81 reckon sos" Mackenzie drew from
his pocket the roll Cullison had fiven
him two hours before. He peeled ave
twenties from It, The sheriff observed
that the prevailing denomination was
the same.
Get these from Luckf" he asked
carelessly.
The cattleman stared at him. and
the suspicion grew on him that he had
been trapped again.
why do you askr'
Because IL happens the bills stolen
from the w. x 5. were all twenties."
From the office of the sheriff Mac
kenzie wandered to the club In search
Of Luck. He was thoroughly dispIrited.
both dreaded to meet Luck. and yet
was anxious to do so.
CullisOn had left the club. but Alec
Flandrnu was still there. Billie drew
him into a corner. and learned that
Luck had just settled with him.
Anyone see him give 1t TO you.
Alecl"
mo. He took me upstairs to the
library and paid me-"
"In billsT'
"Yes-ln twenties."
For Gods sake. don't tell anybody
thnt." In dozen jerky sentences the
owner Of the Fiddleback told Flsndrau
OF the suspicious of the sheriff
Together they went in search Of
Luck. But though they looked for
him all day. he was not TO be found.
The last that had been seen of him
Luck was walking along the plaza
toward the hotel. not a hundred and
fifty yards from the latter. dozen
men had spoken to him in the distance
Of n block. But he had not been seen
TO reach his hotel. He had not called
for his room key. Somehow he had
vanished. and none could tell how or
where.
To Bolt his disappearance was as
good as confession of guilt. He
searched Luck's room at the hotel.
Among other things. he found an old
envelope with interesting data pen
ciled on II.
Before nightfall the word was whis-
pered all over Saguache that Luck
Cullison, pioneer cattleman and for
mer sheriff, was suspected OF the w.
& S. express robbery and had fed TO
save himself from arrest. At first men
marveled that one so well known and
so popular, one who had been so prom
inent in affairs. could be suspected of
such a crime, but as they listened to
the evidence and saw II fall like
blocks of a building into place. the