The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-01

der is an oncommon Iayout-an they need a gardeeen. You understau'. oT boy, we're to look out fer 'eu," he said batting his horse caressingIy. The dog. trOtting at his side. whiued and Ieaped to his leg. 'Eh. Cap, jeaI- ous? Well, I mean you too. There. that will do"
 Reaching h.s cabin. Stimer lighted his pipe tilted back his chair. and smoked in silence. The doE laid ifs head on it's masters knee and went to sleep
 CTINFTEE Y.
 Just a Spur
 yyhaIey's dugout was built Into the side of a hill overlooking a stretch of level valley. 4 lone cottonwood tree shadowed a well a few yards to the left There was no other veEeJa- ton, and a space abOuC the cabin had been baked to the hardness of cement by the suns rays and the passage of the miser's feet On either side of the door were two square openings, in which had been set panes of glass. The rear of the room was dug into the rocks of the hillside.
 Powell and his posse hicched their horses some distance from the cabin, and, spreading out. scanned the ground and herbaEe as they circled the habitatiou. They found no clue or tracks of any kind safe the ho0f prints of Peters horse. made the day before. The sheriff concluded that the murderer had been afott and with the men entered the dugout. Tho coroner examined the dead man. gTv- ing it as his opinion that he had been dead some days. Then Powell and his deputies began search Of Whaley's clothes and the contents OE the room. No money or papers were found, save a few Charred bits in a heap of ashes in the fireplace. The perDetratOr of the crime had evidently taken every preCautiOn to destroy any clue that might lead to the discovery of his identity or that would throw any light on the secret of the recluse's possessions or past
 Powell thought if there had been a cache 1t would likeIey be found buried in the dirt floor. The few pieces of furniture were removed to the outside and they went over the floor carefully; also digging into the rear wall The work was fruitless. Up 10 this time the dead man had not been disturbed Now. the sheriff directed that the cot be pushed to one side. It was done and where it could be reached by a person on the bed, was q square hole a foot wide. It was empty. A revol- yer lay On the edge. The receptacle
 
 Well" said Powell. disapp Oiuted, of we ever know what the or man had in his cache. we'll have to find his murderer"
 An seems ain't no clue were" satd a deputy. An whoever it was he's had plenty time to make a. getaway"
 The men stepped into inc open. standing about irroso1utely. making speculative remarks. Kicking about Ra Tn r1 turn up something that would help them to a solution Of the mystery
 linen Bud Peters stopped and pick eF something from the ground. He held it out to Powell.
 'Reokfu' this might "a been drop ped ry he 'sasein2''
 T. was a spur, the strap of which was unbuckIed.
 Powell dropped 1t into his pocket.
 'NTtght be a starter,' he said Ia- conicauy.
 stfner moved. opened his eyes. and looked out the window. A grayjsh brown ttnge oversuread the sky-, against which long compact cloud Iav like moored schooner. Ii was T1T o'clock-his hon~ 10 rise But he was in no hurry. He eat uy late last night. and had not slept well after
 Something has disturbed the quiet If his life He was conscious of new though-s and epecuIations- Only yes -e~d4v hi- horse. dog. cattle. the sky, prairie and river. constituted his world r was assing. ard he loved it. Now. as he looked at me 1-trdItng day. none Of these engaged his houghts. His inner eye saw Tom. Prth and grandpa
 The east opened like a mighty over turned caldron of paint. pouring a flood of color OCT plain and sky. The schooner. it's keel tipped with crlm- son. laden with a cargo Of gold. broke from it's mooring and. sheu-t.nted sails unfurIed Hoated off to untried haveus.
 There was 2. rnovaraent at the door. Stin7er turned on the bed. Cap stOCC. lust within the door. wagg.ng his tall He lifted his head. his eyes bright in greeting. making peculiar throat noises.
 '"weII, CaD--h5nk I'm lazy? Gitrin' hungry atn't you. oP feuow?" The dog took q step into the room. stopped and whined dubtousIy. Sttnner chuck led. "CaD. yer tinid as a girl You want me to Da- you. don't you. or fellow? Come here. then. an don't be bashfuI- Act like her shame or r1e.'
 Cap trotted to the bed. Sttner puy out his hand and strOked his shaggy nnane, twisted his ears. and wreucned his head back and forth roughly. The dog looked a mute protest but ac- cepted the punishment unfinchingry.
 "OP fellow. BI've you'd let me cut off her head without a whlmper,'- said S-imer. giving the dogs ear a enaI twitch and spr-ugiHg from the bed
 Copyright. 1922. Thompson Feature
 SerVice)
 To Be Continued Tomorrow.