The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1920-07-02

draw up the win.
Enright. Beyond doubt his were
the brains dominating the affair The
whole foul tEing lay before Westcott's
Imagination in its diabolical ingenuity
-Enright's legal mind had left no
loophote He intended TO play the
game absolutely safe. so far. at least.
rs he was personally concerned
The money was to 60 legally TO John
without the shadow of suspicion
resting upon it; and then-welI he
knew how 10 do the rest :.already he
had firm grip ON a large portion
Yes, all this was reasonably clear
what remained obscure Was the fate
of Frederick Cayendish.
Westcott came back from his mus
ings TO this one important question.
The answer puzzled him. If the man
was dead why should Beaton remain at
Haskell and insist on Miss la Rue'S
Joining him? And if the man was
alive and concealed somewhere in the
neighborhoOd. what was their present
object? Had they decided they were
risNing too much in permitting him to
make them feel it safer to have him
ont of the way permanently? What
connection did ELL Lacy have with the
gang?
Westcott rose to his feet and began
following the trail up the canon. He
was not serving CavendiSh nor Miss
Donovan by sitting there He walked
rapidly, but the sun was nearly down
by the time he reached the mouth of
his own drift.
While waiting word from the East
which would enable him 10 develop
the claim. Westcott had thought it best
to discontinue work, and hide as best
he could. from others the fact that he
had again discovered the lost lead of
rich ore. To that end, after taking out
enough for his immediate require
ments in the form of nuggets gath
cred from a single pocket, which he
had later negotiated quietly at town
down the railroad, he had blocked up
the new tunnel and discontinued opera
lions. He had fondly believed his Sc
cret secure, until Lacy's careless words
had aroused suspicion that the latter
endiSh. His only assistant. a Mexican.
VINO had been with him for some time.
remained on guard at the clubhouse
and, so far as he knew. no serious eff
fort had been made TO explore the drift
by any OF Lacy's satellites. Now, as
he came up the darkening gulch and
his way across the rock pile
before the tunnel entrance, he saw the
cheerful blaze of a fire in the Next
cans quarters and stopped to ques-
ton him.
"Senor-you :"
Eyes, JOSE" and Westcott dropped
on a bench. Anything wrong? You
seem nervous"
mo, senior. I expected you not to-
night; there was a man there by the
big tree at sunset"
Zone of the La Rosita gang likely.
Don't fight them, Jose. Let them poke
around inside if they want to; they
won't find anything but rock. Got a
bite there for me?"
Isl. senior, aplenty."
'All right, then; I'm hungry and
have a bit of work ahead. Put it on
Jose"
The Mexican did as ordered, glazing /
across at the other between each I
nouthful of food, as though not exact I
V at ease. Westcott ate heartily, I
without pausing to talk.
you hear yet Senior Cavendish?" /
lose asked at last.
no" Westcott hesitated an in /
slant, but decided not to explain fur
her. He mus be away, / think"
What you do if you no hear at ala"
Wen go on with the digging our
selves, Jose. It'n pay wages until
an interest capital somewhere to
.ome in on shares"
Westcott stared into the fireplace;
hen the gravity of his face relaxed
nto a smile.
Things are growing interesting,
ose," he said cheerfully. IF I only
new just which way the cat was
bout to jump I'd be somewhat hap
Ter. There seemed to be more light
han usual across the gulch as l came
going On?"
"They have put on more men, senior
"a night shift Last night l went in
ur drift clear to the end, and put my
ar to the rock 1t was far away, but
hear"
mo, no, Jose: that's impossible.
Why. their tunnel is over a hundred
ards away; not even the sound of
ynamfte would penetrate that dis
ance through solid rock. You heard
our heart beat"
NO, senior" and Jose was upon his
set .gesticulating. 1T was the pick
rrike, strike, strike; then stop an ,
egin. strike, strike. strike again. ,
ear. / know"
Then they must be running a d.
literal. hoping to cut across our vein
Jmewhere within their lines"
And will that give them the right,
enorT'
Westcott sat. his head resting on one
and, staring thoughtfully into the dy-
Il fire. Here was threatening COM
nation of forces.
81 am not sure. JOSE" he answered. :
owly. 1.-The mining law is full OF ]
1irks. although, of course. the first 7
scoverer of lead is entitled TO fol-
w tits his The trouble here is. :