Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-07-30

man to toll another to his DEATH"
Brena leaned forward.
81 began to be sure, Brena, when
found that expert knowledge pro-
nounced that the writing on a check
made out by the one man who led the
other to his death here was written
by the same hand that, with an at
tempt to disguise, had written the
words, "This Sign," on the scrap Of
paper Jim Hennepin left with you and
that you gave me. I'd better tell you
that when / first took that check 1t
was because your Endorsement was on
1t. wasn't sure, Brena-of anybody"
II understand" she said 81 under
stand. And the scrap of paper was
part of the bait?"
Peter raised his hand as IL to saw
that he wished to go on In his own
way. ut was chance too that led me
to the motive for Kidding the world of
Hennepin. That miserable man had
become menace. He knew too much.
He knew of long series of embezzle-
mentS from a certain estate In Texas.
A capitalist had bought vast quantities
OF something-on speculation-and his
agent after his death deceived the ex-
ecutors as to the extent of his hold
ings. l have had clew from an old
account book sifted to the bottom"
"And Jim Hennepin knew?'
Knew and began a merciless black
mail, threatening ruin. l can see him
now, Unsuitable, hungry, losing in spec
ulations, asking for more, bounding q
man who was balancing between sue
cess and failure and always limiting at
bankruptcy and the penitentiary."
Peter went on. He told of the prob
ability that Compton Parmalee. the
bounded man, physical coward, but
resourceful and ingenious, had come
upon an old volume describing this lost
city OF the desert. There were tradi-
lions OF vast wealth hidden there.
Parmalee had pretended to the posses
sion of knowledge confirming it. He
had shown old letters, the scrap Of pa
per with the Kuk-ul-can symbol. He
wanted to take the blackmailer to a
place from which he would never come
back.
To kill him?" asked Brena.
no" replied Peter. "He hadn't the
courage. He feared that. he feared
the work. He feared the result. He
had better way"
And howT she asked.
1T Is all therefore in the sand
record" he said. "a CHASTITY record.
Seven years have gone, but In this
deep fine dust, Brena, there still re-
mains the story"
de paused he Lit a cigarette; went
on. He said, There around the en-
trance are. the marks of horses hoof-
prints-almost lost-but still readable
three horses, two saddled and one
carrying the packs. They came in two
horses abreast, and the pack horse
led behind. Two men In the saddles
Night came on. One man slept. The
other crept to the animals and he
rode away"
Rode awayi Left Jim Hennepin
4 here?"
"Yes, beyond hope-no horse, no
water"
"How do you known"
Because, Brena, when the three
horses went out into the desert their
footprints are in single dle-Cne man
led the other two. will show Yea. It
is in the sand-a record and a good
guess"
He was silent and he broke his 81
lence with q cry.
IT can see him-Hennepin-
ing. realizing, seeing far away the little
galloping specks in the pale moonlight
with the treacherous man upon the
leader-a tiny bobbing figure. I can
hear the curses hurled after them.
And he-the one left-alone under the
moon, alone under the sun, alone m
der the moon again-without drop
rushing out into the desert, only to be
driven back to the shade after weary
marches dragging through the sand.
hunting among the rocks, crazed with
thirst, gone mad, cursing, differing
mad-his tongue black-the end-per-
haps thought of you-the curr'
He looked up at Brena; he set his
jaw.
"Pm sorry" he said. ''But / can
see it so clearly-the terrible retribu-
ton in this place of silence. His
screams echoing back from the rocks.
his curses rising into this thin pale
blue sky and the vultures swing over
head"
Seven years ago." she whispered.
Eyes, seven years. And four years
of torturing fear-that was the pay of
the one who rode away"
Compton Parmalee?"
She said 1t without any external
sign Of emotion.
Eyes" said Peter. "He had succeed
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