The Jasper news., 1920-06-10


hat IN your possession an the time"
"Does that prove I did Il myselff'
Looks funny you happened to be
right there while the robbery wasetnk-
ing place and that you had Luck's
hat with you
The sleepy tiger look lay warIiy In
tho sheepman's eyes. That's what
the dictionaries call coincidence.
Eucky."
I've notion II will take some ex-
plalning."
"ConfidentlalIyr
'Confldentially what7"
"The explanation You won't use II
against mef"
"Not IL you weren't in the hold
up"
Il wasn't. This is the way II hap
pened: You know Cullison was GO
ing to prove up ON that Del Oro claim
on Thursday. He had me beat. l
couldn't see any way out but to eat
crow and offer compromise. 1t was
Up to me to hunt Luck up and see
what he would do. His hat gave me
an excuse to call. So l started out
and came round the corner Of San
Mateo street just in time to see the
robber pull out. Honest, the fellow
did shape up little like Luck. Right
then l got the darned fool notion of
mixing him up In It. threw his hat
down and shot a hole In 1t, then un-
locked the door Of the express Office
carrying the hat in my hand. That's
all there was to It."
"Pretty low-down trick, wasn't It, to
play on an innocent man7"
"He was nguring to do me up. I
don't say II was exactly on the square,
but was sore at him clear through.
I wanted to get him into trouble"
Bucky reflected. looking at the long
ash on his cigar. "The man that made
the raid of the W. & 8. shaped up like
Luck. you say1"
"In general way"
The ranger looked quietly at Fen
drIck. "who was the man. Cassr
II thought / told you"
"You did. But you lied. It was a
moonlight night. And there's an arc
light at that corner. BY your own
story, the fellow took his mask OF as
h, swung to his horse. You saw his
face just as distinctly as l see yours
now"
"No. reckon not" Fendrlck
grinned.
meaning you won't tell3"
''rhat's not how put II. Bucky.
You're the one that says recognized
him. Come to think of 1t. Tn not sure
the fellow didn't wear b's mask till he
was out of sight"
II am. The mask was found Just
outside .he office where the man
dropped 1t before he got into the sad
dle."
"Sop
That's not all. Curly and found
something else, too-the old shirt from
which the cloth was cut. And have
witness who saw man shove that
old shirt down In the barrel after tear
ing piece off,"
"Your witness got a name, Bucky7"
"Ill not mention the name now. II
II became too well-known something
might happen to my Witness"
Fendrick nodded. you're wise
there. She wouldn't be safe, not II
certain man happened to hear what
you've just told me-"
81 didn't say 'she,' Cass."
"No, l said It. Your witness is Mrs.
wylIe."
maybe. then, you can guess the
criminal, too. I'll ask you a question.
Can you tell me where ! can find q pa
rolled convict named Blackwell2"
Fendrick shook his head. Don't
know the gentleman. A friend of
yoursT
The officer rose, not one whit less
aminble. II didn't expect you to tell
me. That's all right. I'll find him.
But in the meantime I'll have to lock
you up till this thing Is settled"
From his inside coat pocket. Fen
drick drew sealed envelope, wrote
the date across the front. and handed
II to O'Connor.
"Keep this. Bucky, and remember
that gave 1t to you. Put II In safe
place, but don't open the envelope till
give the word. Understand"
"What's back of 1T"
"It isn't intended that you should
know yet. I'm protecting myself. That's
ALL"
Fendrick rose. and the. two men
passed into the street
CTo BE coNTINUEDO