The Jasper news., 1921-06-16

| unarmed as am, and stamp on your
lying lips.r
But Cranston only laughed and tied
Lennox's feet with a cord from the
window shade.
He went to work very systematical-
ly. First he rlfled Lennox's desk In
the living room. Then he looked on
all the mantels and ransacked the
cupboards and the drawers. He was
taunting and calm at first. But as the
moments passed, his passion grew up
on him de no longer smiled. The
rodent features became intent; the
eyes narrowed to curious, bright sllts
under the dark lashes. He went to
Dams room, searched his bureau
drawer and all the pockets of the
clothes hanging In his closet. He up
set his trunk and paved among old
letters in the suitcase. Then. stealing
like some creature of the wilderness,
he came back TO the living room.
Lennox was not on the dlvan where
he had left him. He lay Instead on
the floor near the fireplace; and he
met the passion-drawn face with entire
calmness. His motives were perfectly
plain. He had just made n desperate
effort TO procure Dams rifle that hung
on two sets of deer horns over the fire.
place, and was entirely exhausted
from 1t. He had succeeded in getting
down from the couch. though wracked
by agony, but had been unable to lift
himself up in reach of the gun.
Cranston read his intention in one
glance. Lennox knew It, but he sim
ply didn't care. He had passed the
point where anything seemed to mat
ter.
"Tell me where 1t is," Cranston or
dered him. Again he pointed his rife
at Lennox's wasted breast.
"Tell you where what is? My
money!"
"You know what I want-and It
isn't money. mean those letters that
Failing found on the ridge. I'm
through foollng, Lennox. Dan learned
that long ago, and it's time you learned
1t now
Dan learned it because he was sick.
he isn't sick now. Don't presume too
much on that"
Cranston laughed with harsh scorn.
But that isn't the question. said
I've wasted all the time I'm going to.
fou are an old man and helpless; but
I'm not going to let that stand in the
way Of getting what / came to get.
They're hidden somewhere around this
house. I've watched, and he's had no
chance to take them into town. I'll
give you-just five seconds to tell me
where they're hidden"
"And / give you," Lennox replied,
"one second less than that-to 20 to
hip
Both of them breatheG hard in the
quiet room. Cranston was trembling
now' shivering just little in his arms
ana shoulders. Don't get me wrong,
Lennox," he warned.
And don't have any delusions In re-
gard to me, either" Lennox replied.
i've stood worse pain from this acci-
dent than any man can give me while
yet live, no matter what he does. II
you want to get on me and hammer
me In the approved Cranston way, /
can't defend myself-but you won't
get civil answer out Of me. I'm used
to pain. and / can stand 1t. I'm not
used TO fawning to a coyote like you,
and can't stand it."
But Cranston hardly heard. An idea
had famed in his mind and cast red
glamor over all the scene about him.
1t was instilling poison in his nerves
and madness in his blood, and It was
soaring him, like fire, in his dark
brain. Nothing seemed real. He sud.
denly bent forward, tense.
That's all right about you," he said.
but you'd be little more polite IL II
was SnowbIrd-and Dan-that would
have to pay"
Perhaps the color faded slightly In
Lennox's face; but his voice did not
change.
They'll see your footprints before
they come in and be ready" LennOx
replied evenly. 'They always come In
by the back way. And even with a
pistol. Snowbird's match for you"
'Did you think that was what ]
meantf Cranston scOrned. II know a
way to destroy those letters. and III
do. it-in the four seconds that / said,
unless you tell. I'm not even sure I'm
gOin' to give you chance to tell now !;
it's too good n scheme. There won't
be any witnesses then to yell around
In the courts. What II choose TO set
IRE to this housef"