The spectator., 1920-05-14

 his strong jaws clamped.
 He was there that day" the girl continued. She plucked up courage to refuse him what little she had left because she needed 1t for the rent. He got hold of her arm and twisted 1t. Father heard her cry and came in. Blackwell was behind the door as 1t opened. He struck with loaded cane and father fell unconscious. He raised 1t to strike again, but she clung to his arm and called for help. Before he could shake her off another man came in. He wrenched the club away"
 "FendrickT' breathed Curly.
 "She doesn't know. But the first thing he did was to lock the outer door and take the key. They carried father down into the cellar. Before he came to himself his hands were tied behind his back"
 And tben?"
 "They watched him day and night. Fendrick himself did not go near the place--if it was Fendrick. Blackwell swore to kill Mrs. Wylie if she told. They held him there till tonight. She thinks they were trying to get father to sign some paper"
 The relinquishment, of course. That means the other man was Fen drick"
 Kate nodded. "Yes."
 Curly rose. The muscles stood out ir, io, Ia
 We'll rake the Rincons with a fine tooth comb. Don't you worry. I've al- ready wired for Bueky O'Connor to come and help. We'll get your father out of the hands of those hell hounds Won't we. Dick?"
 The g'rfS eyes admired him. lean hard-bitten Westerner, with eyes as unbllnking as an Arizona sun and with muscles like wire springs. His face still held its boylshness, but 1t had lost forever the Responsibility of few months before, She saw in him an iron will shrewdness. courage and resource. Out of ten thousand men there were none whose voice drummed on her heartstrings as did that of this youth.
 
 Two men sat in a log cabin on oppo- site sides of cheap table One of them was immersed in newspaper. His body was relaxed, his mind apparently at ease. The other watched him inadvertently. His fingers caresscd the handle of a revolver that protruded from the holster at his side. He would have liked nothing better than to have drawn il and sent a bullet crashing into the unperturbed brain of his pris- oner.
 There were reasons of policy why it were better to curb this fascinating desire, but sometimes the impulse to l kill Surged up almost uncontrollably. On these occasions Luck Cullison was usually "deyilings him, the only diver sion that had been open to the ranch man for some days past. From time to time as Luck read he | commented genially on the news. Blackwell merely scowled. Given his way, Cullison would not be here 10 read the Sentinel. But the brains Q! the conspiracy had ruled otherwise and insisted, too, upon decent treat ment. With one ankle securely tied to Il leg of the table there was no danger in freeing the hands of the cattleman, but his hosts saw that never for an in- stant were hands and feet al liberty to- gether, For this man was not the one with whom to take chances.
 Cullison read on:
 Lieutenant OCOnnor of the Ari- zona rangers left town today for a short trip into the hills where he eX- poets to spend few days hunting Hunting what, do you reckon? or hunting who, should say. Ever meet Bucky O'Connor Blackwell? No, I reckon not. He's since your time. A crackerjack, tool Wonder if Bucky ain't after some frienG> of mine?"
 shut up," growled the other.
 Sure you'll shut up--when Bucky lands on you" retorted Luck cheerful ly. Then, with sudden whoop: Hello. here's personal to your ad- uItSS. i.lSltll. liN AlANAlhN VI iss N- serve notice that what occurred at the Jack of Hearts is known. Any violence hereafter done to him will be paid for to the limit. No guilty man will es- cape So the boys are getting busy, I figured they would be-"
 The former convict leaned forward angrily. "Lemme see that paper"
 His guest handed 1t over, an index finger pointing out the item. Large as life, Blackwell, No, sir. You ce'- talnly didn't ride herd proper on that opportunity"
 Don't be too sure it's gone, Mir Sheriff"
 They've got you dead to rights Read that personal again. Learn 1t by heart. The friends of l.. C. give warning You better believe they're rounding up your outfit. They know I'm alive. They know all about the Jack of Hearts. Pretty soon they'll