The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-12-23

Fred Cavendishf"
Certainly; Of New York; who do
you think we were talking about?'
"Tve had no chance to think. ]
claim my name Is Cavendish, and II
is; but I've never once said l was
Fred Cavendish Of New York. IL you
must know, | am Ferdinand Cav
endish of Los Angeles"
Westcott permitted the mans head
to rest back or the floor, and he arose
to his feet. He felt daZed. stunned,
as though stricken n sudden blow.
"Good Godr' he exclaimed. what
can all this mean? You came from
New York clty?"
yes; l had been there a month at
tending to some business"
"And when you left for the coast,
you TOOK the midnight train on the
New York Central?"
"Yes. I had intended taking an
earlier one, but was delayed"
"You bought return tickets at the
stationY"
"No; 1 had return tickets; they had
to be validated"
"Then your name was signed to
them what is your usual signature?"
/, "F. Cavendish."
81 thought so. Stella, this has all
been a. strange blunder, but 1t is per-
fectly clear how 1t happened. That
man Beaton evidently had lever seen
Frederick Cavendish. He vas simply
informed that he would leave New
York on that train. He met this Cav
endish on board, perhaps even saw
his signature on the ticket, and Gull
tivated his acquaintance. The follow
never doubted but what he had the
right man."
The marshal of Haskell came out Of
the bunk-house, and closed the door
carefully behind him. He was rather
proud Of his nlghts's work, and felt
quite confident that the disarmed Next
cans locked within those strong log
walls, and guarded by Moore, with q
loaded rifle acress his knc,, would re-
main quiet until daylight. Naturally,
and ordinarily, Mr.. Brennan was con-
siderable Of a cynic. but just now he
felt In a far more genial and sympa-
thetic mood.
"Jfm's some man." he confided to
himself, unconsciously speaking aloud.
"An' the girls a nervy little thing-al.
mighty good lookin', too. 1 reckon it'll
cost me a months salary fer a weddin'
present, SO maybe the jokes on me-"
His mind reverted to Mendez. Five
thousand on the old cuss." he NUT
tered gloomily. "an' somebody else got
the chance to pot him. Well, by hooky,
whoever 1t was IRE did a good job
1t was tibet shotgun cooked his goose.
judgin' from the way his face was
peppered. Five thousand dollars-Oh,
h-f"
His eyes followed the outline Of the
valley, able to distinguish the darker
silhouette of the clifs outstanding
against the sky s%prinkled with stars.
Far away toward the northern extrem-
ity q dull red glow indicated the pres
ence of q small fire.
"Herders," Brennan soliloQuized. his
thought instantly shifting. Likely ID
be two, maybe three ov 'em out there
an then there's them two on guard a
the head o. the trail. ! reckon they're
wonderin' what all this yere shootin
means; but faint probable they'll kicl
up any fuss yet awhile. We can handle
them all right, II they do. Hullo. there
What's comm noww
1t was the thud Of q horses hoofs
being ridden rapidly. Brennan dropped
to the ground, and skurried out Of thu
light He could perceive nothing Of thu
approaching rider, but whoever the fel
low was he made no effort at secrecy
he drove his horse down the bank and
into the stream at a gallop. splashet
n0lsily through the wa .er, and cam,
Looping up the nearer incline. Almos
In front OF the bunk-house he seemet
suddenly struck by the silence ant
CLEAN Of lights, for he pulled his pom,
up with a jerk, and sat there, starinl
about. To the marshal. crouchinI
against the earth. his revolver drawn
horse and man appeared . grotesqu'
shadow.
"Hulloi" the fellow shouted. "What'
up? Did you think this was Christ
mas ever Hey. there-Mendez; Cate
ras."
The little marshal straishtened N
and took q step forward; the ligh
from the cabin window giistened wicl
edly on the blus steel II his gun bal
ri.
HANDS un Hnf" 10 aid quietly. I
Z voice Carrying conviction. None .
that-don't pay VIII ~ Iaks you
loft hand m unboe13o y0nr bolt
said ~ IN Nov 6zs0 = thto .
dirt
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