The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-08-12
SYNOPSIS

CHAPTER IIT--Stella learns Of the W
Enright had drawn up, also OF John Cave
dish's infatuation for Celeste La Rue. chorl
girl, and that Enright Is a friend OF Il
La Rue girl. conversation Stella owe
hears between Celeste and John Cavendis
cOnvinCrs her Frederick CaycndIsh Is ally
the victim OF conspiracy engineered b
Enright secure his fortune. and that G,
leste knows where he is hidden. Ne
BeatOn, notorious gunman, is also mentiOne,
Celeste is about TO leave FOR Haskell, Color
ado. and Stella is ordered by Farriss {
proceed there at once.
CHAPTER N--At Haskell Stella, repre-
senting herself as newspaper writer, make
the acquaintance of Jim WestCott, Freder
lex Cayendlshs old partner. Westcott re
sents ihe interest taken in Stella by Beatou
whom he knows only as visiting New
Yorker, and worsts him in istic encounter
"All right. then," he said, "IIl go get
the drink; you can't bluff me-"
Westcott's knowledge Of the class
alone brought to him the mans pur-
pose. Beaton's hand was in the pocket
Of his coat, and, as he turned, appar-
emily to leave the room, the cloth
bulged. With one leap forward the
miner was at his throat. There was a
report, flash Of flame, the speeding
bullet striking the stove, and the next
instant Beaton, his hand still helpless
iy imprisoned within the coat pocket,
was hurled back across q card table,
the players scattering to get out of the
way. All the pent-up dislike In West
cott's heart found expression In ac-
tion; the despicable trick wrought him
to a sudden fury, yet even then there
came to him no thought Of killing the
Fellow, no memory even Of the loaded
gun at his hip. He wanted to choke
him, strike him with his hands.
You dirty coward" he muttered
Hereby. $50 you thought the pocket
trick was new one out here, did you?
Come. give the gun upl Oh! so there
is some fight left In you? Then let's
settle II here"
IL was a struggle between two big,
strong men-the one desperate, nm
scrupulous, brutal; the other angry
enough. but retaining self-control
Ihey crashed onto the floor, Westcott
still retaining the advantage of posi-
uon, and twice he struck, driving his
cienched fist home. Suddenly he be-
came aware that some one had ierked
his revolver from its holster and. al
most at the same instant hard hand
gripped the neck-band of his shirt and
tore him loose from Beaton.
Here now-enough of that, Jim."
said a voice sternly, and his hands
arose instinctively as he recognized
the CLEAN Of two drawn weapons
fronting him. Help Beaton up, Joe.
Now, look yere. Mr.. Bully Westcott,"
and the speaker shook his gun threat
eningly. "As It happens, you have
jumped on friend o. ours, an we
naturally propose to take a hand I'm
this game-you know mel"
Westcott nodded, an unpleasant
smile on his lips.
Il do, Lacy" he said coolly, "and.
that If there Is any dirty work going
on In this camp 1t is quite probable
you and your gang are In 1t. Now lis
ten; you've got me covered, and that
Is my gun which Moore has In his
hand. / cannot fight you alone and
but I can talk yet"
Il reckon yer can. If that's goin' ter
do yer eny good"
$50 the La Rosita Mining compapy |
Is about to be revived, Is IT? Eastern
capital becoming interested. I've
heard rumors of that for a week past.
WHAT'S the idea? Struck anything?"
Lacy. long. rangy fellow, with a
heavy mustache, end a scar over one /
eye, partially concealed by his hat.
brim, grinned at the others as though
at good joke.
mo, nuthin' particular as yet" he
answered; "but you hev', an reckon
thets just about as good. Tryin' ter
keep 1t dark, wasn't yer3 Never even
thought we'd caught on"
"Oh, yes, I did; you fiatter your.
selves. / caught one Of your stool
pigeons up the gulch yesterday. and
more than ten days ago Moore and
Edison made a trip into my tunnel
while ] happened to be away: thew
forgot to hide their trail. knew
what you were up to, and you can all
OF you look for fight"
'When your partner gets out here.
suppose" sneered Lacy.
"Hem be here"
"Oh, will he7 Well, he's b Of
! while coming. You wired him a
month ago. and yer've written him
twice since. Oh, I've got the cases ON
vou all right, westcott. I know Won
laven't got a cent left to 60 on with.
md nowhere to get any excent
through him." He laughed. .Ain,t
hat rightf Well, then. yer chances
ook mighty slim ter me Just at pres
mt. ol'-timer. However. there's no
lght on yet; viii yer behave yerself
m let this man Beaton alone Il Il
and yer back yer gunf"
'sThere Is no choice left me-"
"Sure; that's sensible enough; give I
to him, Moore"
He broke .Ae chamber. shaking the
out into his palm; then
anded the emptied weapon over to !
restcott. His manner was purposely
lsult1ng, but the latter stood with lips |
rmIy set, realixing his position.