Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-07-31

head. That's ALL
He stopped to think.
"And yet the simplicity is hideousp y
he said.
Brena glanced toward all that re-
manned of Jim Hennepin of Virginia
the blackened fieshless relics of his ex-
istence.
HE deserved 1t, perhaps" said
Peter pointing. HE tried to cash in
his knowledge"
"You told me last night of the su-
perstition of buried treasure here" she
said. "You mean that?"
mo, not exactly" said Peter. 81
picked up the trail in the house where
Parmalee took you. Two old books I;
and maps of this country and Of this
place were missing from both. One
Parmalee took when he went away.
The other? Well, began to wonder
about the other"
"You thought 1t must have been
used-before."
Eyes. 1t had been used and prob
ably destroyed. 1t was used by one
man to toll another to his DEATH"
Brena leaned forward.
81 began to be sure, Brena, when l
found that expert knowledge pro-
nounced that the writing on 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 it
was because your Endorsement was on
it. wasn't sure, Brena-of anybody"
81 understand" she said. 81 under
stand. And the scrap of paper was
part of the bait?"
Peter raised his hand as If to say
way. at was chance too that led me
to the motive for Kidding the world of
Hennepin. That miserable man had
become a 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. / have had a clew from an old
account book sifted to the bottom"
"And Jim Hennepin knew"
"Knew and began merciless black
mail, threatening ruin. r can see him
now, Unsuitable, hungry, losing In spec
ulations, asking for more, bounding a
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
place from which he would never come
back.
ITO 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 how?" she asked.
ut is all therefore in the sand
a record" he said. "a CHASTITY record.
Seven years have gone, but in this
deep fine dust, Brena, there still re-
mains the story"
He paused; he lit 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 away? Left Jim Hennepin
hereY
"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 file--one man
led the other two. will show you. 1t
is In the sand-a record and good
guess"
He was silent and he broke his ST.
lence with cry.
Il can see Observation-Disclosures
ing. realizing, seeing far away the little
galloping specks in the pale moonlight
with the treacherous man upon the
leader--a tiny bobbing figure. ! can
hear the curses hurled after them.
And he-the one left-alone under the
moon, alone under the sun. alone I'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.