Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-09-30

apartments. According to Enright
this was not part of their scheme, but
merely an accident of which they took
advantage. How true this is will new
er be known unless we discover Caven-
dish, and learn his story. Now, if he
is alive, where has he been concealed,
and for what purpose? Another thing
begins to loom up. The mere hiding
of the man was all right so long as the
conspirators were not suspected. But
now when they are aware that they
are being followed, what is likely to
happen? viii they become desperate
enough to kill their victim, hoping thus
to destroy absolutely the evidence of
their crime? viii their vengeance al
SO include Miss Donovan?"
"Not unless they can get you out of
the way first" decided the marshal
grimly. "That is Lacy's most impor-
tant job-you are more dangerous to
them now than the girl. That meet
ing today was preaTranged, and Bea-
ton was expected to land you. That
was why he hid behind the curtain,
but something caused him to make a
false move; they never expected you
to put up that sort O. fight, Jim, for
nobody knew yer in this camp fer
fghtin' man. But what's yer theory
bout Cavendish? Let's leave the dead
man in New York go, an get down
ter cases."
81 figure it. out like this, Dan. /
believe Fred got my telegram, and de-
cided to come out here at once with
out telling anybody what his plans
were. All he did was to make a will,
so as to dispose Of his property in
case anything happened. His employ
| ing Enright for that job unfortunately
put the whole thing in the hands of
| this crowd. They were ready to act,
and they acted. Beaton must have
taken the same train, and the two men
got friendly probably they never knew
each other in New York, but, being
from the same place, it was easy
enough to strike up an acquaintance.
What occurred on board is all guess
work, but sudden blow at night, on
an observation platform, at some
desert station, is not impossible; or it
might be sickness, and the two men
left behind to seek a physician. Here
was where Lacy must have come in.
! He goes east occasionally, doesn't heT
"Sure; come to think Of it he was
in New York bout three months ago
on some cattle deal, AN heard he had
an agent there sellin' wildcat mimi
| stock. There amt no doubt in my
mind but he knew some o. these fell
lers. They wouldn't "a planned this
unless they had some cache fixed out
we're in this country-that's plain as
a wart on the nose But whar is it?
| I'll bet yer that if we ever find Caven-
dish, Wen tind the girl along with
him; an what's more, that spot amt
liable ter be more'n fifty miles from
Haskell"
"What makes you think that?"
"'Cause this is Lacy's bailiwick, an
thar amt no man knows this country
better'n he does. Then, why should
Enright an his crowd come yere, I'M
less that was fact? They must have
come for something; that lawyer amt
yere on no mimi deal; an no more
has Beaton been layin' round town fer
a month dom nuthin' but drinkin'
whisky. The whole blame outfit is
right here in Haskell, and they
wouldn't be If this wasn't headquar-
tiers. That's good common sense, amt
it? What made yer ask me bout Pas
cual Mendez this mornin? You don't
hook the Mexican up with this affair,
do yer?"
sadie told me she heard Enright
speak of him at breakfast; that was
all she heard, just the name"
sadie? oh, the red-headed wait
ress at Timmons', you mean? Big
Tins girl?"
Eyes; she was the one who saw Miss
Donovan forced into the wagon, and
driven Off"
"And they took the old Shoshone
trail; out past Hennessey's ranch?"
80 she described it. Does that
mean anything?"
Brennan did not answer at once, sit
sting silent, his brows wrinkled, staring
through a creyasse of the rock up the
stream. Finally he grinned into the
anxious face of the other
DANCED If l know" he said drawl-
ingly. maybe it does, and maybe
again it don't. I was sorter putin
this an that together. never got hold
ov any proof, but Lacy has shipped a
| pile o. cattle out o. Villa Real al
though why he should ever drive his
cows there across TIE desert instead
o. shlppin' them here in Haskell or
Taylorville, l never could understand
That's the principal reason I've got for
thinkin' he an Mendez are in cahoots,
an if they be, then the Mexican must
have some kind O. a camp out there
in the sand whar he hides between
raids; though, damn If know whar it
can be-" He paused refiectively. It'll
be like hunting a needle In the haystack,