New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-08-12

u WIS pretty nearly nine clOcl
when the editor went away. and Mr.
NorcroSS was just saying to me tina
he guessed we'd better knock off 70
the night, when We both heard a stel
door was pushed open and a maj
came in, making for the nearest chat
and Ringing himself into ii as II he'C
reached the limit. II was Colling
wood. He was chewing on a dead
cigar and his face WAS like the face
of a corpse. But he was sober.
Naturally, | supposed he had come
10 make trouble with the boss on Mrs
Shella'S account, and | quietly edged
open the drawer of my desk where
| kept Fred Mays automatic, so as
to be ready. He didn't waste much
time.
Il saw you rs | was coauing away
from HENDRICKS last night" he be-
gan. with a pickering rasp in h voice.
"bid YOU ~ up against the sun | had
loaded for youF"
Mr.. NorcruSS cut straight through to
the bottom Of that little complica-
ton al "A single stroke.
What Mrs. ~Colliugwood aid to me,
or what | said to her, can have 10
possible bearing upon anything that
you may have to say to me, or that
can consent to listen to, Mr.. Colling-
wood"
tn" dcrclict sat mp in his chair.
"But You've rot to keep hands off,
Just the same; al Hendricks, and in
this other business, too. If YOU don't,
there is going to he bios d on the
moon, Get me-
The boss never batted an eye. I'm
taking II for granted that YOU are
sober, Mr., COllingwood," he said. 'If
YOU are, you must surely know that
threats are about the poorest possible
weapons YOU cat use just now"
"Its "A plant, from start to finish :"
the man in the chair. Il haven't
done a id thing more than to cash
a few checks for-for eNpen. es, and
turn the money over To Bullock. Now
Hatch tells me that was working
with "A Spottrr-his spottcr-and that
he can send me up for bribery. It's
a lie. | don't know what Bullock did
with the money, and | don't want to
But you had orders to give it to
him when h" required il, didn't youY
N%orcrOsS cut in.
That's none Of your business. |
you To choke this man Hatch Off
# me ="
The boss had picked up his paper
lnifr. 81 don't know why you should
ONE to me far help" le said. you
been hand-in-gloye with these
'onspirators ever since you came out
lerc. Two days ago YOU knew that
hey had ser a trap for my special
rain ou the Strathcona branch-a trap
hat Was meant to kill me"
II was a random shot, and ! knew
hat Mr.. NorcroSs was just guessing
/ where it might land when he fired
t.. But it went home; oh, >ou Det II
home
"D-n YOU" gurgleG the hOunder.
alf starting 10 his feet. "Nhy shouldn't
want Ia see YOU killed? Haven't you
enough to mei"
"Not" the word was slammed at
i'm like "A bullet. And then: AS |
bid You In the beginning, we won't
u into any phase Of it that involves
IrS CollingwoOd, Get back into your
boat. Are you trying TO tell me
NV that Hatch is threatening you?"
Hes played me for n come-on. He ,
lys he's got the whole business down :
black and white. with afiidavits,
nj all that. lie had the nerve to ,
II mo less Than an hour ago that
"a burn me alive If | didn't toe the ,
ark" :
what does he want you to do?"
"lle wants Ine 10 stick around here
that he can use me against you. '
q knows how you're mixed up with -.