Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-10-10

ford-No. l don't believe it"
rs he the man to miss a chance that
Jay at his hand? The main chance for
him? The chance to hold a man like
Chris Quinnion in the hollow of his
hand, to make him do his bidding, to
get him just such work as he is doing
pow? Answer me! Is Bayne Trevors
above deal like that?"
Bud Lees answer was silence.
And there is one other thing" went
pn Judith swiftly, known to no one
but Emmett Sawyer, whom told, and
me and Chris QuinniOn. In fathers let
ter he told me that a man had paid
him some money the day before, and
that he was going to drive to Rocky
Bend to bank it. That money, several
hundred dollars was never banked. 1t
was not found on his body. Where
did it go?"
Even that doesn't incriminate
Quinnion, you know"
mo. The rest is pure guesswork on
my part. GuesswOrk based on what
know. Not enough to hang Chris Quin-
nion, Bud Lee. But enough to make
me sure. He's working at Trevors'
game right now. If we can prove that
1t is Trevors' game it will go to show
how worthless his alibi was"
"Well?" called Quinnion the third
time. what about 1t? We amt goin'
to wait all night"
Tell him." whispered Judith, her
hand on Lees arm, "tO come and get 1t
if he wants it! One Of us can hold the
cabin against the two Of them while
the other slips out in the dark and
rides back to the ranch-house for help.
If we're in luck, Bud Lee, We'll corner
the bunch Of them before daylight!
Its the only way" she insisted. IF
we gave them the money they'd want
Bill Crowdy next. If they got CroWdy
away with them into the mountains l
am not sure they could not hide until
they got him safe in Trevors' hands.
Then we'd have the whole fight still to
make, sooner or later. It's our one
bet, Lee!"
And Bud Lee, seeing no better way
ahead for them, blew out the candle,
forced Judith to stand close to the
rock chimney Of the fireplace, took his
station near her, and answered Quin-
nion, saying shortly:
Come ahead when you're ready.
We're waiting"
Quinnion's curse, the crack of his
rife the flying splinters from the cab
In door, came together like one i'm
placable menace.
And now, Bud Lee" cried Judith
quickly, II don't mind telling you, not
seeing the end Of the string we are
playing, that you are man to my lik-
ingw
MY hats off," said Lee, with grave
simplicity and in any old kind Of
fight a man wouldn't want a better
pardner than l can reach now, putting
out my hand. He'd want-just thor
oughbred! And now, little pardner,
let's give them-fits!" !"
Crouching in the dark, reserving
their own fire while they waited for
something more definite than the bark
of a rife to shoot at, their hands met.
1t came about, quite as matters often
do, that at the three-miled ediStant ranch
headquarters it was one who knew
comparatively little of the ways Of
this part of the world who was first to
suspect that all was not we'll with Ju-
dith Sanford To Pollock Hampton her
failure to appear at dinner was signiti-
cant.
He learned from Mrs Simpson that
In the afternoon Judith, after a hur-
ried lunch, had taken her rifle and rid
den away. Where? Mrs. Simpson did
not know.
Hurried lunch?" said Hampton.
"Took her rifle, did she?'
His eyes had grown very serious as
he stared down into Mrs. Simpsons
concerned face
Hampton sent to the mems quarters
word for Carson and Lee to come to
the house.
He strobe up and down the Office,
the frown gathering upon his usually
smooth brOws. Plainly If something
had happened to Judith the present
responsibility lay upon his shoulders
as next in authority.
Here | am" announced Carson
briefly. what is it?"
81 am a little worried, Carson" said
Hampton, about Miss Sanford. I'm
afraid"
Afraid? Afraid of what? You don't
think she eloped with your Jap or
stole the spoons, do you?" snapped
Carson. He had been interrupted at
the crucial point in a game Of crib
bage with Poker Face and the cattle
mans weak spot was cribbage He
glared at Hampton belligerently
"Where Is Lee?" questioned Hamp-
ton sharply. why didn't. he Gomez"