The Lamar register., 1920-03-03
CHAPTER vi.
cass FendrIek Makes a Call.


Kate was In her rose garden super
intending the stable boy as he loos-
ened the dirt around the roots Of some
of the bushes. She had returned to
the Circle C for a day or two 10 give
some directions In the absence of her
father. Buck and the other riders
came to her for orders and took them
without contempt. She knew the cat
tie business. and they knew she knew
It. To man they were proud Of her,
of her spirit. her energy. and her good
looks.
The rider who cantered up to the
fence. seeing her In her well-hung
corduroy skirt, her close-fittlng blouse.
and the broad-r trimmed straw hat that
shielded her dark head from the sun.
appreciated the fitness of her sur
roundings. She. too. was a flower OF
the desert. delicately fashioned. yet
vital with the bloom OF health.
At the elatter OF hOofs she looked
up from the bush she was trimming
aud at once rose to her feet. Beneath
their long Iashes her eyes grew dark
and hard. For the man who had
drawn to hnlt was Cass Fendrick.
From the pocket Of his shirt Ire drew
crumpled piece OF stained linen.
"Tye brought back your handker-
| ehieT.- -sftss f;gil,san."
what have y56 d5ne with my fa-
therT
He nodded toward the Mexican boy
and Kate dismissed the lad. When lie
had gone she asked her question again
In exactly the same words.
| He swung from the horse and threw
the rein to the ground. Then, saun-
tering to the gate. he let himself In.
You've surely got a nice posy gar
den here. Didn't know there was one
like II In all sunbaked Arizona"
She stood rigid. Her unfaltering
eyes. sioe-black in the pale face, never
lifted from him.
Il want you TO tell me what you
have done with my father"
He laughed little and looked at
her with eyes that narrowed like
those OF eat basklng in the sun. He
had something the look OF the larger
members of the cnt family-the soft
long tread, the compact ripping mus
cles Of u tame panther, and with these
he threat that always lies behind It's
sleepy wariness.
You're n young lady OF one idea
No use arguing with you. | reckon"
Not the least use. I've talked with
Mrs. wylle."
lie raised his eyebrows. do know
The ladyf"
"she will know you. That is NOR,
10 the point"
Did she say she knew meg he
purred.
"She viii say It In court-lf 1t eyei
comes to that"
Just what viii she say. IL yol
pleaseY'
Kate told him In four sentences will
y singing dlrectness that was the out
standing note of her. that and a fine
self-forgetful courage.
"Is that all7 Comes to this then
that she says heard her scream. raj
in. and saved your fathers life. 4
that a penitentiary offenseF
You helped the villain take hi
body into the cellar. You plotted witt
him to hold father a prisoner there.
Says that, does she-that she over
heard US plottingF"
"Of course she did not overhes
what you said. You took good care o
that. But she knew you were consplr
ing"
Just naturally knew 1t withou
overhearing.' he derided. And o
course II was In plot l must hav
been the-spot good deal o
the time Hung round there a-plenty
| expectT'
He had touched on the weak spot o
Mrs. Wylie's testimony. The man VIII
had saved Culllson's life, after Ion
talk with Blackwell. had gone out q
the Jack Of Hearts and had not re
turned so far as she knew. For he
former husband had sent her on "a
} errand just before the prisoner wa
taken away and she did not know VIII
had heIuad him