Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1922-12-22
CHAPTER vll--contrued.


g
"Where was II the three of you
went on Sunday in the runabout, Cap.
tain West7 asked Sexton.
ITO q house over I'm the factory dis
trict; some charity case that Coolidge
was interested ln--the widow of one
of his employees, believe.
Ibid you see the people7"
"No, / didn't go in; waited outside
in the car: II was no affair of mine.
Why?" he asked In surprise.
Because, sir, Miss Natalie seemed
like different person when she got
back. Not In looks. or nothing like
that. I don't mean. bur In the way
she talked and acted. Nothing suited
her all the rest of the day. You
know how she was to you, sir. Well
she was Just that snappy with all of
us, even after we brought the body
back to the house. And she wouldn't
look at HIM. sir. not even after he was
dressed proper and laid out"
II hardly believe" said West
thOughtfully. you can attribute her
state Of mind to anything that oc-
CURED on that trip. Indeed she was In
high spirits all the way home"
II can't help that. sir" Sexton In
sisted blindly. ut was something that
happened yesterday what set he.
wrong. an IL l was you, sir, I'd find
out what happened in that house first
OF all. Could you find the placer
''Yes, 1 think SO. I'll look IL up, al
though don't have much faith In your
theory" He glanced at his watch. "I'll
60 out there now. You come back here
about five. and we will talk over any
discoveries l may make"
"And what shall | do, sirf"
Both were standing. West with hand
on the knob of the door. The light In
his eyes hardened.
Nothing occurs to me now, Sexton,
unless you can find an excuse to return
to Fairlawn. after something you have
forgotten, let us say. II we can learn
what Miss Natalie proposes doing IL
might furnish clue"
''Very well. sir. and am to be here
at Ave o'clockT
Yes. at FIVE; l will leave word with
the doorman to show you in at once"
West picked up taxi-cab for the
trip, bidding the chauffeur TO drive TO u
certain section Of the city, and then
up and down the various streets UNI
I'll told to stop. His conversation with
Sexton had greatly strengthened his
conviction that this was a murder,
and he had determined to ferret out
the truth If possible. Yet, thus nr
there was nothing to build upon, no
clue, no motive, no suspicion as to
who had perpetrated the deed. He
simply faced a blank wall, In which no
entrance was apparent, yet there must
be one. II he was only fortunate
enough to stumble upon II. Deep down
In his heart West was conscious that
he possessed a motive In this search
far more worthy than mere curiosity.
That motive was Natalie Coolidge. He
smiled at the thought, yet confessed
It true. In spite Of her curt dismissal,
his memory of the girl centered about
those earlier hours Of their acquaint-
ance. Something mysterious had &C.
Cured TO make her change so quickly,
and he was unwilling TO condemn her
before learning the real reason.
Iae chauffeur drove slowly up and
down obscure streets for half an
hour before West recognized familiar
surroundings, and motioned for him
10 draw up against the curb. He
had discovered the place sought, hut
from the street II exhibited no signs
of occupancy, nor did any knocking at
the front door bring response from
within. He clrcled the building. Every
door was locked, but, as he passed
along the other side to regain the taxi,
a man emerged from the next house,
and hailed him.
Say, what're yer snoopin' round
there tori Lookin' for somebodyr
"Yes, the parties who were here
Sunday What's become OF them?"
Hobart, you meanf'
rs that his manner ! met him down
town, and he told me to come here
West explained rapidly. I'VE had q
deal on"
"Ob, yer did. aey," leaning his erms
on the fence. swell. Jim Hobart was
the name he Civ me. That's my Aouse