St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1922-07-22

over upside and down. Don't hurry.
But, man, what's there to think about?
thought you hated this guy-wanted
! to get rid of him.
mot that way. Cd, no! Darand,
I'll give you any sum in reason to let
him 60 without bringing me into 1t.
You can arrange It,"
Jerry slammed down fist heavily
on the table. II can, but won't Not
( If you was to 60 ffty-ffty with me to
your last cent I'm goin' to get this
fellow. See? I'm goin' to get him
good. He'll be crawlin' on his hands
and, knees to me before Tn through
with him"
/ "What good will that do you? I'm
offering you cold cash just to let the
truth get out-that Collins was trying
to kill him when he got tit.r
"Nothin' dom. I've been layin' for
this boob. I've got him now. Tn goin'
to turn the screws on and listen to him
holler."
| Bromfield's valet stepped into the
room "NIr. and Miss ,Vhitford to see
you, SIR
ss
Annie Mllltkan nodded her wise lii
tie head. "Jcrry's gonna frame him II
he can. He's laid the wires for 1t.
That's lead pipe"
"Sure," agreed Muldoon. It'll bet
he's been busy all night fxin' up his
story. Some poor diyvles he'll bully
rag into swearin' lies an others he'll
buy. Trust Jerry for the crooked
stuff
We've got to tell the TRUTH" said
Beatrice crisply, pulling on her gloves.
"And We'll do 1t. too. a pack Of lies
can't stand against four of us all look
| ing for the TRUTH
MuldOOn. who was on n ht duty this
month and therefore had his days free,
guided Whitford and his daughter to
Maddock's. AS they reached the
house an express wagon was being
driven away. Automatically the IL
cense number registered Itself in Tins
memory.
The policeman took key from his
pocket and unlocked the door. The
three went up the stairs to the desert
ed gambling hall and through 1t to the
| rear room.
"From what Lindsay says, the bullet
holes ought to be about as high as his
armplts" said Wkitford.
"'Slim' must "a been standin' about
here" guessed Muldoon, Illustrating
his theory by taking the position he
meant. "The bullets would hit the par
tition close to the center, wouldn't
they?'
Beatrice had gone straight to the
plank wall. They're not here" she
told them.
story the fellow was aiming straight
Mt it,
"Well, they're not here. See for your
self"
She was right. There was no evil
dence whatever that any bullets had
passed through the partition. They
covered every inch OF: the cross wall In
their. search.
Lindsay must have been mistaken"
decided Whitford, hiding his keen dis
appointment 'This man Collins
couldn't have been firing In this direc-
ton. OF course everything was con-
fusion. No doubt they shifted round
In the dark and" n
He stopped, struck by an odd ex-
preston on the face Of his daughter.
She had stopped and picked up small
fragment of shaving from the floor.
Her eyes went from it to plank In
the partition and then back to the thin
crisp Of wood.
"What is it, honeyT' asked Whit
ford.
The girl turned to Muldoon, alert in
every quivering muscle. ''That express
wagon--the one leaving the house as
we drove up-dld you notice lt2''
Number 714," answered Tim,
promptly.
Can you have 1t stopped and the
man arrested? Don't you see? They've
rebuilt this partition. They were taxi
ing away in that wagon the planks
with the bullet holes"
Muldoon was out of the room and
going down the stairs before she had
finished speaking. 1t was quarter
of an hour later when he returned.
Beatrice and her father were not to be
seen.
From back Of the partition came an
eager, vibrant voice. Is that you, Mr..
Mulhcon? Come here quick. We've
found one Of the bullets In the wall"
The policeman passed out of the
door through which Bromfield had
made Ills escape and found another
small door opening from the passage. |
It took him into the .cubby-hole Of a
room in which were the wires and In
struments used to receive news of the |
rnceS
"What about the express wagon7'
asked Whitford IL
well get it. Word is out for those
on duty to keep an eye open for It.
Where's the bullet7'
Beatrice pointed 1t out to him.
There 1t was, safely embedded in the
plaster about five feet from the
ground.
"Durand wasn't thorough enough. |
He quit too soon,' said the officer with
a grin. Crooks most always do slip
up somewhere and leave evidence be-
rv