The Arizona copper camp., 1920-09-11

w SouIunC neIp wondering what you
was doing out here. You are in the
newspaper business, aren't your"
Yes" realizing further concealment
was useless, "but on my vacation. /
thought explained all that to Mr. Bea-
ton. I am not exactly a reporter. /
DO feature-stuff."
Whatever that is"
"Human-interest stories; anything
unusual; strange happenings in every
day life, you know"
Murders, and-and robberies."
Occasionally, If they are out of the
ordinary" She took a swift breath
and made the plunge. "Like the Fred
!. erick Cavendish case-do you remem-
Der thatr'
Miss La Rue stared at her across the
darkening room, but If she changed
color the gloom concealed it and her
voice was steady enough.
NO. she said shortly, 'I never read
those things. What happened?"
"Oh, nothing much. He was rich,
and was found dead in his apartments
at the Waldron- evidently killed by
burglar. The case is probably forgot
ten by this time. Let's speak about
something else hate to talk shop
Miss La Rue stood up, and shook out
her skirt
That's what say; and it seems to
me it would be more social if we had
something to drink. You amt too nice
to partake of cocktail, are youP
Good! Then wen have one. what's
the hotelkeeper's nameY
'Timmons''
'Do you suppose he'd come up If I
pounded on the fioor?'
Miss Donovan slipped off the bed.
81 don't believe he is in the Office
He went up the street just before dark.
You light the lamp while I'll see if L
can find the Chinaman out in the hail."
She closed the door behind her,
strobe noisily down the hall, then ST.
lently and swiftly retraced her steps
and stopped silently down to where
crack yawned in the lower panel. That
same instant match f1ared within
the room and was applied to the wick
Of the lamp. The narrow opening gave
only glimpse of half the room-the
wash-stand, the chair, and lower part
Of the bed. She saw Miss La Rue drop
the match, then open her valise and
go through it, swiftly. She found
nothing, and turned to the wash-stand
drawer. The latter was empty; and
was instantly closed again, the girl
staring about the room, as though at
her wits end. Suddenly she disap-
peared along the edge of the bed, be-
yond the radius of the crack in the
door. What was it she was doing?
Searching the bed, no doubt; seeking
something hidden beneath the pillow,
or mattress.
Whatever her purpose, she was gone
scarcely moment, gliding silently
back to the chair beside the window,
with watchful eyes again fixed on the
closed door. Miss Donovan smiled and
Strengthened up well satisfied with
her ruse. 1t had served to demonstrate
that the ex-chorus girl was far from
being as calmly Indifferent as she had
assumed and it had made equally evil
dent the fact that her visit had an OBJ
ject-the discovery of why Miss Dono-
van was in Haskell. Doubtless she
had made the call at Enright's sugges-
tion. Very well, the lady was quite
welcome to all the information OBJ
tanned. Stella opened the door and the
eyes of the two met.
'The Chinaman seems to have gone
home" the mistress of the room said
quietly. "At least he is not on this
floor or in the Office, and could see
nothing of Timmons anywhere"
"Then. I suppose we don't drink"
complained Miss La Rue. swell,
might as well go to bed. There amt
much else to do in this jay town.
! She got up and moved toward the
door.
''If you're only here viewing the
scenery, guess you won't remain
long"
mot more than a day or so. / am
planning ride into the mountains be-
fore leaving" pleasantly. 81 hope
shall see you again."
'sYou're quite liable to-" an ugly curl
to the lip, 'maybe more than you'll
want. Goodnight"
Miss Donovan stood there motion.
less after the door closed behind her
guest. She was conscious of the sting
in those final words, the half-expressed
threat, but the smile did not desert her
lips. Her only thought was that the
other was angry, irritated over her
failure, her inability to make report
to her masters. She looked at the
valise on the floor, and laughed out
right, but as her eyes lifted once more
she beheld her travelling suit draped
over the head-board of the bed, and in
stantly the expression of her face
changed. She had forgotten hanging it
there. That must have been where
the woman went when she disap-
peared. 1t was not to rummage the
bed at all, but to hastily run through