The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1921-06-16

returned empty-handed, but evidently
not empty-minded.
"Iye found that the body's been UNI
c~Overed-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 gllttered with cunning. Rat that
he was, he was wondering whether the
time had arrived TO leave the ship. lie
had no intention of continuing to give
his services 10 a man with a rope
moose closing about him. And Grams
ton, knowing this fact, hated him as
he hated the buzzard that would claim
him In the end, and tried to hide his
apprehension.
Go on. Blat 1t out" Cranston or
dered. "Or else go away and let me
sleep"
II was a bluff; but II worked. II
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" he
went on, almost whining. 81 went TO
the cabin, just as you said, But l
didn't get a chance to search it,"
why not?" Cranston Numbered.
His voice re-echoed among the snow
wet pines.
an tell you whyl Because some
one e~lse-evidently a cop-was al
ready searchin' II. Both of us know
there's nothin' there, anyway. We've
gone over 1t too many times. After
a while he went away-but | didn't
turn back yet. That wouldn't be Jim
Gibbs. | Swallowed him, just as you'd
want me TO. And he went straight
back to the body"
"Iesg Cranston had hard work
curbing his impotence. Again Gibbs
eyes were full Of omlnous specula-
lions.
He stopped at the body, and II was
plain he'd been there before. He went
crawling through the thickets, lookin'
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 shell you
told me 10 get. At least, it wasn't
there when l looked, after he'd gone.
You should've thought of 1t 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'. 1t was
your fault, Cranston, for not gettin'
them that night. This detective stood
and read 'em on the trail. And you
know-just as well as l do-what
they were"
"D-n you, / went back the next
morning, as Don as / 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 II in my
pocket. You know how 1t is-a fellow
throws his empty shell out by habit"
Gibbs eyes grew more intent. What
was this thing? Cranston's tone, in
stead of commanding, was almost
pleading. But the leader caught him
self at once.
II don't see why / need to explain
any Of that TO you, What l 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.
IL racta6 an Cpa .,Ao xHox H.
some manner had been pulled up
across his knees. And at once he was
cowed. He was never so fast with a
gun as Cranston.
blood on my hands, eh-same as
on yoursT' he mumbled, looking down.
what 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 II might again. You might
as well know first as last I'm not goin'
to do any killin's to cover up -FOUR
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 l wouldn't get more'n a year
or so, at most-and that's a heap diff
ferent from the gallows. did aim at
him."
But you just lacked the CUTS to pull
the tfiggerw
II did, and l amt ashamed Of II.
But besides-the SHOWS are here now,
and he won't be able 20 even get word
to the valleys for six months. II you
want him killed so bad. do 1t your
SELF"
This was a thought indeed. On the
other hand, another murder might not
be necessary. Months would pass be-
fore the road would be opened. and In
the meantime Cranston would have a
thousand chances to steal back the
accusing letters. He didn't believe for
an instant that the man Gibbs had
seen was a detective. He had kept
too close watch over the roads foi
that.
"A tall chap, In outing clothes
dark-haired and clean-shavenr
"YesY'
syVaarS a ton hat 81