Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-09
CHAPTER XXXII
I'll. Mako. m Ilia HtoaA

Sir Of his uncle's death, it seemed to
lin that he had been at times incred :
NV. stupid. Nowhere did this accent
iSsslf 40 much as in that part Of the
tsnrle which related to Esther Mclean.
From time to time Kirby saw Cole.
Ne was in and out Of town. Most of
4 kiS time was spent running down fuint
trails which spun themselves out and
became lost in the hills. The champion
Foush rider was indcnitahy resolute
N Els intention Of finding her. There
hat her little sister was lost to her
ior always. But Sahborn never shared
this feeling.
"You wait. I'll find her." he prom
,sed. "An' II l can lay my hands on
tho man that's done her meanness,
i'l certainly give them hospital sharks
a lob ratchin' him up His gentle
ewes had frozen, and tho cold, hard
llght In them was almost deadly.
Kirby could not get IL out OF his
fead that James was responsible for
thc disappearance of the girl. Yet he
could not find O motive that would jus.-
, tify % much trouble on his cousins
part.
lie was at q moving picture house
on Curtis street with Rose when the
q. explanation popped into his mind. They
were watching an old fashioned melo-
drama in which the villains letter is
laid at the door of the unfortunate hero.
Kirby leaned toward ltosc in the
darkness and Whispered. Lets CO."
"Go whcre?" she wanted to know in
surprise. They had seated themselves
not FIVE minutes before.
"Tvc got a hunch. Come
She rose, and on the way to the aisle
brushed past several irritatcd ladies.
Not till they were standing on the side
walk outside did he tell her what was
on his mind.
81 want to sec that note from my
uncle you found in your sisters desk,
be said.
She looked ut him and laughed a lit
lie. "You certainly want what you
want when you want it! DO your
huncSap often take you like that-right
out Of Il perfectly good show you've paid
goilr money to sec?'
"We'ye made mistake. 1t was
secin' that fellow in the play that put
me wise. Have you got the note with
you?'
"No. It's at home. lrycu like we'll
70 and get it, =,
They walked up TO the Pioneers
Monument and from there over to her
boarding place.
Kirby looked the little note over care
fully. "What chump I was not to
look at this BEFORE. he said. My
uncle never wrote it,
"Ncycr wrote it?'
Not his writin' a-tali.'
"Then whose is it?'
II can make darn good guess.
Can't you?"
She looked at him, eyes dilatcd. on
the verge of discovery. "1ou mean
81 mean that J. C. might stand for
at least two other men We know
>, Your cousin james,
= More likely Jack.
His mind beat back to fugitive memo
fies Of Jacks embarrassment when Es-
Tiers name had been mentioned in con-
ncction with his uncle. Swiftly. his
brain began to piece the bits of evidence
be had not understood the meaning OF
before.
"Jack's the man. You may depend
on it.. My uncle hadn't anything to do
with Il. We jumped at that conclusion
too quick" he went on.
"You think that shc's--with him."
"NO. She's likely ont In the country
or in some small town. He's havin'
her looked after. Probably an attack
q conscience. Even II y" sesnsh az
the 9e'il, nc ism hchrtiesS. =, ..
III we could be sure she all r'sne.
But VIC can't
Rose turned on him wistcul face,
EST.sted py emot,on. ~nn' 10 I I,ln not'
HHirby. I'm her sister. Shr all We got.
Nant you DO something:
Gu try.
she noticed the hardening OF ths lenh
!sw, the tightening OF the muscles Us
te BACK teeth cicnchcd. ;,
Il, Don't--dont do an!thins-rasn'
'"I Hor arsScu. SSna vos.o1 ,;rhnr y, b;s arm
rba;r o uana @ rrs'e,t ''sm,i smiiod =" rr;mlv @ a.
W "no,'t 't' worrr orrt. Niehhn 'I III csii vo, IN
lntcr t tnn;,St Mtfny nwd r remor+ nro"ress @ ' op
u. W. 'o",yh. anu t'p''t p.'s.sso'
49,, Lie walkSa 10 thc nearest a'ug s'oLc
snd snd ussa e., the telephone freely. AZ tnS
shu shhu OF nttecn minutes ne stepped out OF
son,o n oooua. ms cGus,n yaen m was ,uTrs uT,s
be was S nnm VIZ" 49, az of ,s sotti;n" ,n L;s
uncle's Affairs - ~
kim fnnna it,, .hor. ,,or s,o,o,.
rnnhar' ,uau" was nMtt,u" n,t ,n. On hJs coot e.
ieaws hrt 1.ni, Hutus uns st;i, iii -, bis Tcst
H. ,ooLod "t ur %aIN rroJ mas s''' at "'' oesA'
Was TINT ur' 1"m'ie, I",, ielcrboncd mo q" bc
SS. "Yes "
II told Won I'd LET Won know when I