The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-04-17
THE RED LOCK

She paused and seemed 10 be weigh
ing some thought before letting II fall.
-And this Doll Baker nyes-f" he
questioned. hardly able to hold the spur
from Graylock.
"Brickbat alley-that's next alley
down-fourth door on y'ur right
BE keerful. lad" she called. hopping
like some crippled old bird out 10 the
fence and halting him. for he was al
ready riding away. be keerful dis
Ike Z see any harm fall on y'u-
them's bad people"
II seemed to him that Graylock had
never stepped SO slowly. Hitching him
In front OF a small grocery on the
street. he looked az all the other hitch
racks In sight for Brownie-but
/ Brownie was not to be seen. Button
ing his hunting blouse about him SO as
TO hide the six-gun. he walked into the
alley.
The fourth door down on the right
proved TO be large. two-story. close
I ly-shuttered wooden structure standing
almost flush with the narrow side-
street known as Brickbat alley. There
was another building on the same lot.
"A business edifice OF brick. fronting on
the street proper and apparently occu-
pied by a saloon, and the two were
connected by sort Of covered porch.
All these facts the woodsman noted in
the second or two Of his approach.
He knocked al the weather-stained.
implanted door. Such long time went
by that he was Just on the point OF
knocking again, when there was shut
fling inside and approaching steps.
key ratified In the lock. the bolt clicked
back. the knob turned. woman APP
peared at the very narrow slit the door
was allowed 10 open and looked out al
him. She was a large woman. In good
flesh. and not bad-looking.
us this where Doll Baker liyesT
''Yes; won't ye come inf'
He entered. She closed the door.
turned the key in the lock--a fact that
he took due note of-and led the way
into another room slightly better light
ed. He noticed that both rooms were
rather showily and extensively fur
nished.
He took the chair pointed out TO him.
The woman, seating herself by small
table few feet away. eyed him COW
ertly.
And you are" he questioned. as
II continuing the inquiry begun at the
door.
Miss Baker-Doll Baker"
well. Miss Baker" he had 10 watch
his voice to keep II orderly and even.
I've got friend-that is, a lady
frlend-that come Z the city tday
from the country. I-come in t'day M
self. and I'd kinda like Z hunt 'er up
and ride home with 'er. l was toll she's
here"
Regarding the obvious blind Of the
sick brother, he said nothing, knowing
II was but trick OF the very resource
full Hopkins The terrible letter that
had Frustrated the old banker seven
days before was In Ken Collins own
hand and absolutely genuine. There
was no sick brother.
The woman sat for near a minute,
studying him out II the bafrilng Sits
Of her eyes-clothing; hands; face;
feet-in a way she did not think he
saw.
What kind OF looking girl was
your friend7" she questioned at last.
Medium size. fair, brown hair.
brown eyes-with smiles In 'em--and
remarkably small and purity hands and
feet"
"welI. she isn't here"
The gray-green eyes OF the woman
watched him covertly through their
narrowed lids He caught che look.
felt the caution.
"Where Is sheT'
Don't AJAX me-"
I'm avtsl sorry" he replied, 10
tones he tiSed hard TO mako meek and
dolefuL "Sne amt nothin' but tlst
raw country SRI. and / amt no,hin'
but fist a raw country boy. but we're
both from the same little town out
here a ways and l wanted Z see 'ey
awful bad b'fore she left-town"
The woman stir eyed him closely.
though her look seemed gradually 10
become more curions than dlstrustful.
until at last she appeared TO throw OF
all suspicion.
"well. Mr.-Country Boy she said,
with an air Of frankness and q twist
Of her face between a grin and
smile Il don't know one thing about
your-friend. and that's straight"
do y'u know Prof. Caleb Hopkins1-
The question caught the woman on
guard She started
~Never heard OF him. she hesi-
tated: finally sdded--~bu, you might
go on through and ask BILL
who's Biil7+
-Oh. friend OF mine-bounces bar
out front"
The man studied her. In bis eyes
there walked a hardness that the Fiat
woods had Learned 10 know.
-Miss--Doli Baker~-if cost him a.
effort 70 hold his voice even and calm
TIN right sorry Z say I'm dsubtin'
y'u.-
-Doubtfng mei- A tang Of hardness
slid into her weli-modulnfed tones
- f.rod M sfrofehf In her chair