The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1920-07-09
The Strange Case of Cavendish
By RANDALL PARRISH
AuMoro Tn DeUHsO My L1aot ae Nora.,E Etc

fellow went down in the darkness.
| lay there. motionleSs.
An instant, painting breathless,
scarcely yet comprehending what had
occurred, the victor stared at the
huddled figure. his arm drawn back.
Then he became aware of excitement
within, the sound of voices. the tramp
of feet on the floor. the sudden open
ing of door. A CLEAN of light shot
out. revealing the figures of men.
With one spring he was across the
shapeless form on the ground. and
had vanished into the darkness be-
yond.
Lacy was first to reach the uncon-
scious body. stumbling over it in the
black shadow. as he rushed forward,
revolver in hand. He cursed, rising 10
his knees. and staring about in the
silent darkness
There's man lying here-dead,
likely. Bring a light No the fellow
is alive. Dammit its Moore. Here
you-what happened?"
The fellow groaned. opened his eyes,
and looked about dazedly.
'There-there was a fellow at that
window there. II saw him from be
low, and crept up behind but he
turned around just as l struck"
HE was at that window, you say?"
YES: kneelin' down like he was
loollin' into the room. Oh. Lord :"
Lacy crunched over 70 the side of
the shack. and bent down TO get a
better view. His fingers came in con
tact with the knife which upheld the
sash, and he plucked it out, holding 1t
up into the beam of light passing
through the rent in the torn curtain.
He stared at the curiously carved
handle intently.
That's Jim Westcott's jack-knife.
He's been listening to all we said.
Now we are up against it."
whats that?" The question came
from Enright still at the corner of
the house. unable TO tell what had
happened.
"Westcott has been here listening to
our talk. He pried up the window
with this knife, so he could hear
Moore caught him, and got knocked
out"
"He-he heard our talk in-in
there" repeated the dazed lawyer, his
lips trembling "And-has got away?
Good heavens man, where has he
gone? After the sheriff."
Lacy stared at him through the
darkness, and burst into a roar of IN
restrained laughter.
who? Jim WestcOtt? The sher-
iff? Well. hardly at this stage of the
game. That's your way down East, no
doubt. but out in this country the
style is different. No. sir; Westcott
isn't after any sheriff In the first
place he hasn't any evidence. He
knows n thing or two, but he can't
prove it; and if we move faster than
he does Wen block his game-seeT"
what do you mean?''
Lacy leaned forward. and Kissed his
answer into Enright's ear.
Put Cavendish where he can't get
at him. There's no other chance. If
Jim Westcott ever finds that fellow
alive our goose is cooked. And we've
got the advantage know where
the man is"
"And Westcott doesn't"
Exactly, but he will know. He'll
comb these hills until he finds the
trail-that's jim Westcott Come on
back inside. both of you, and Til tell
you my PLAN
The door closed behind them. shut
ting out the yellow glow, and leaving
the hillside black and lonely.
Miss Donovan did not go down to
supper. BeatOn waited some time In
the Office, his eyes on the stairs. but
she failed to appear, and he lacked