Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-06-25

I've found that the body's been I'M
covered-and men are already search
IN for clues. And moreover think
they've found them" He paused.
weighing the effect Of his words. His
eyes glittered with cunning. Rat that
he was he was wondering whether the
time had arrived to leave the ship. He
had no intention of continuing to give
his services to a man with rope
moose closing about him. And Grams
ton, knowing this fact, hated hi-a as
ne hated the huzzard that would c,aim
him ID the end, and tried to hide his
apprehension
60 on. Blat it out" Cranston or
dered. "Or else 20 away and let me
sleep"
1t was a bluff; but it worked If
Gibbs had gone without speaking,
Cranston would have known no sleep
that night. But the man became more
fawning.
I'm tellin' you, fast as I can" ne
went on, almost whining. 81 went to
the cabin, just as you said. But
didn't get a chance TO search it"
'Why not?" Cranston Numbered.
His voice re-echoed among the snow
wet pines.
IN tell you whyi Because some
one else-evidently cop-was al
ready searchin' it. Both of us know
there's nothin there, anyway. We've
gone over it too many times After
a While he went away-but ! didn't
turn back yet. That wouldn't be Jim
Gibbs. I Swallowed him. just as you'd
want me to-, And he went straight
back TO the body"
Yes" Cranston had hard work
curbing his impotence. Again Gibbs
eyes We're full of ominous specula-
tions.
He stopped ut the body, and it was
plain he'd been there before. He went
crawling through the thickets, loollin'
for clues. He done what you and me
never thought to do-lookin' all the
way between the trail and the body.
He'd already found the brass she'll YOU
told me TO get. At least. it wasn't
there when l looked. after he'd gone.
You should've thought of it before.
But he found somethin' else a whole
lot more important-a roll OF papers
that Hildreth had chucked into an old
pine stump when he was dyin It was
your fault, Cranston, for not gettin'
them that night. This detective stood
and read EN- on the trail. And you
know-just as wen as l do-what
they We're"
"D-n you, went back the next
morning. as soon as l could see. And
the mountain lion had already been
there. ! went back lots of times since.
And that shell amt nothing -but all
the time ! supposed | put it in my
pocket. You know how it is--a fellow
throws his empty shell out by habit"
Gibbs eyes grew more intent. What
was this thing? Cranston's zone, in
stead Of commanding, was almost
pleading. But the leader caught him
self at once,
Il don't see why I need to explain
any Of that to you. What I want to
know is this: why you didn't shoot
and get those papers away from him."
For an instant their eyes battled.
But Gibbs had never the strength Of
his leader. If he had. 1t would have
been asserted long since. He sucked
in his breath, and his gaze fell away.
It rested on Cranston's rifle. that in
some manner had been pulled up
across his knees. And at once he was
cowed. He was never 50 fast with
gun as Cranston.
Blood on my hands, eh-same as
on yours" he mumbled, looking down.
"'Shat do you think I want, a rope
around my neck? These hills are big.
but the arm Of the law has reached up
before, and it might again. You might
as well know first as last Pm not goin'
to do any klllin's to cover zip your
murders"
"That comes of not going myself.
You fool--if he gets that evidence
down to the courts you're broken the
same as me-"
"But I wouldn't get more'n year
or 50. at most-aud that's a heap diff
ferent from the galloEs, ! did aIH at
hlni--
"Ect you Just lacked the CUTS To pub
the trigger
= lid, and ! amt ashamed Of it.
But besiles-the SHOWS are here pow
and he won't be able TO even Eet word
to the valleys for six months, II yg1
want him killed so bad, DO it yeur-
self
This was a thought indeed. on The
other hand 0n1rsssr murder might not
10 necessary. Months would pass be-
fore the road would he open and f.
ne meantime Cfauston would have
thousand chances 10 steal haes Ae
accusing letters. He q Int believe for
an Instant chat the man Gibbs had
seen uas "a detective. lie had kept
sds close watch over The roads fol
aat
IS tai chap IN outing clothes
.7er.--lrairll and rfeso--EgreuE