Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-02-01
CHAPTER Nv. :sa
Two Hats on a Rack.

others leaned on ulIu WILL tno -
slDectation that in the absence OF Ma
loney he would take the lead.
In the morning he and Kate had
talk with his uncle on the subject.
Not content with this, he made the
whole party adjourn to the club
rooms so that he might see exactly
Where Luck had sat and the different
places the sheepman had stood from
1the time he entered until the poker
: players left.
Together Billie Mackenzie and Alec
Flandrau dramatized the scene for the
young people. Mac personated the
sheepman, came into the room, hung
up his hat, lounged over to the poker
table, said his little piece as well as
he could remember 1t, and passed into
the next room. Flandrau, Senior, TAX
Ing the role of Cullison, presently got
M. lifted his hat from the rack, and
went to the door.
With excitement trembling in her
voice, the girl asked an eager ques-
tlon. "Were their hats side by side
like that on adjoining pegs"
t"That's how I remember It,"
"Both gray hats?" Curly cut In.
SsaCan't be sure Of tnat. Luck's was
gray all right"
Curly looked at Kate and nodded.
.I reckon we know how Cass got Mr..
sCuuison's hat. It was left on the
rack"
.S"How do you meanT his uncle
asked.
.'Don't you see?" the girl explained,
her ewes shining with excitement.
"Father took the wrong hat. You
know how absent-minded he is some
times"
Mackenzie slapped his knee. 'Tll
bet a stack of blues you've guessed It,"
"There's-a way to make sure" Curly
said. "Fendrick couldn't wear Mr..
Cullison's hat around without the risk
Of someone remembering 1t later.
What would he do then?"
Kate beamed. "Buy another at the
nearest store"
"That would be my guess. And the
nearest store is the New York en-
porium. We've got to find out whether
he did buy one there on Tuesday some
time after nine o'clock in the morn
ing"
The girls eyes were sparkling. She
hustled with busineSsllke energy. I'LL
: 20 and ask right away"
"Don't you think we'd better let
Uncle Alec find out? He's not so
likely to stir up curiosity" Curly sug-
gested.
Within a quarter Of an hour Alec
Flandrau joined the others at the
hotel. "You kids are right at the head
Of the class In the detective game.
Cass bought brown hat. about $50
In the moning. Paid five dollars for
#. Wouldn't let them deliver the old
one but took it with him in paper
sack"
With her lieutenants fanking her
Kate went straight to the Office of the
sheriff. Bolt heard the story out and
considered it thoughtfully.
"You 1rin, Miss Cullison. You
haven't proved Fendrick caused your
fathers disappearance by foul play,
and you haven't proved he committed
the robbery. Point Of fact I don't
think he did either one. But 1t GER
tainly looks like he may possibly have
manufactured evidence"
Curly snorted scornfully. you're
letting your friend down easy, MIR.
Bolt. BY his own story he was on
the ground minute after the robbery
took place, How do we know he
wasn't there q minute before? For
If he didn't know the holdup was 60
ing to occur why edid lie bring SIr.
Cullison's hat with him punctuTed SO
neatly with bullet holes?"
"Hold your hawses a while, Flan-
drau, and look ut this thing reason
able, You're all prejudiced for Gull
lison and against Tendrick. Talk
about evidence! There's ten times as
much against your friend as there is
against Cass."
"Then you'll not arrest Fendrick?"
when you give me good reason to
do It," Bolt returned doggedly.
The four adjourned to meet at tho
Del Mar for a discussion of ways and
means.
"We'll keep a watch on Fendrlck-
see where he goes, who he talks to,
what he does. Maybe he'll make
break and give himself away Curly
said hopefully.
"But my father-we must rescue
him first"
.'As soon as we find where he is.
killing him wouldn't help Cass any,
because YOU and Sam would prove up
on the claim. But if he coul6H hold
your father q prisoner and get him t"
sign REIMBURSEMENT to him he would
he in fine position"
"lf we could only have Fcndrick ar
rcStc,l-"
"What good would that do? IF he's
guilty he wouldn't talk. And -if he
is holding vonr father SoucwhGEe in