New Britain herald., 1921-07-25

Lhey oeaons to any one eIse we know!"
 They talked the case over and Car roll announced that he intended to visit Esther Devarney. "She may know something about the ring"
 Connected her with it because you think it is his and is an engagement ring?'
 Perhaps. She will be worth talk ing to anyway
 Carroll directed Carter to drive to Mart Farnam's cabin. Farnum wAa at home.
 What you wantin' of me?" queried Mart. directly.
 Information you'll probably be promptly Tell me just exactly how think Conrad Heston is staying"
 At tho mention of the name, Car roll saw Mart's eyes narrow invol- muscles to twitching.
 Drive right back the way you come til you come to a cross-roadA get to his place you turn off the
 
 that there autymobile of yourn can go more'h . couple Of hundred yards up there. But jes' step up that road til you git to the river, an there you'll see it. It's the only house whereabouts"
 Carroll thanked him and they drove away. In the midst of grove of magnificent oaks with their gray draping of Spanish moss, they found tho cabin: | tiny affair which at best could not have contained more than two rooms One glance at the door was sufficient. There was heavy paddock on tho door and the lock was fastened. Obviously there was no ono inside Their knocks were unan- swered. And when they turned away Carroll set the pace. Cater had turned his car and wAs awaiting them.
 Back to the village we just came from. Carter, and drive as fast as the car will stAnd''
 They shot ahead, pumping danger ously over the corduroy roadbed. Sullivan glanced curiously at his chief. Whats the big idea ?'
 But Carroll didn't answer. When they reached a country store, he leaped to the ground and motioned Sullivan to follow. Once inside, he made his way to the telephone and gave the ring for the sheriff's office. Almost immediately Potter's gruff, good-natured hello" boomed back to him over the duavery wire.
 "sherin?"
 'Yes"
 ssT1,is js navjd rarrolJ''
 "Yes?"
 T want you to do mo a particular favor.'
 Its yours for the asking sir.''
 You and your men keep a sharp lookout If Conrad Heston comes into Karnak this evening, and especially if he tries to get away on the train arrest him, will you? I'll swear out the warrant as soon as I reach town"
 You think"
 T think he's likely to try get away this evening. Will you prom ise to hold him?''
 "Yes, sir," cane tho hearty re- sponse.
 Facing each other on the road again, Sullivan questioned: "why so, chief?"
 Playing hunch--that's all"
 Sullivan shrugged, You may be right. chief. And now-?''
 Miss Esther Devarney."
 They left Carter and the automo- bile near the little store, stared at curiously by many eyes as they made their way toward the Devarney cabin. They came upon it suddenly, set we'll back from the road under natural canopy of live oak branches.
 There was scraping sound, as of chair being dragged across the floor. and then Carroll started. A huge man; bearded, unkempt, deep of chest and broad of shoulder, lowered behind the little woman.
 'Who be ye?"
 Were friends of MT. Forrest"
 \ reckon you must be them two 'tectives I been ahearin' bout, eh?"
 Yes"
 "Thet bein' the case, whut you want with my darter?''
 What I'm after" said Carroll boldly, ''is to find out mething about Conrad Heston!"
 "Fust off, my gal has been too a1- fired friendly with that man not that there's been anything wrong. I'd killed him long ago ef I thought that.
 '"The trouble with my gal ain't nothin' more nor less than eddication. She rarned all they was to be taught in the district school right off quick an she kinder pestered us to send her to hnish at the Bonnet school down to Charleston.
 Well, she comes back here for good last year. Well, along come this Conrad Heston; an him an her hit it of fine from tn fust. I ain't a'blamin' of either of 'em. I reckon she had a good bit too much liberty to come an go like she wanted, an mebbe she was too much aroun' Fur ness lodge when he was thar.
 "But Heston come here to see her ma an me an he seemed a nice sort of a chap an I never thought of nothin' 'ceptin' that they was good friends until right recent Fart