White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-04-09
THE SHERIFFS OF COUGAR
"A Story of the Mountains"
BY ROBERT J. PEARsALL

BY ROBERT J. PEARsALL

! don't see how you It's all law.
less, seems like. If they'd hung those
men, that would have been lawless,
too. And even il you're elected, too.
And even if you're elected, where'll
be the law? I wish there was some
| thing else, something bigger she
CROPPED, some other power We can't
go on like this; we'll get to be just
savages."
well, we framed up a sort of set
of rules last night" replied Arnett
rather uncertainty. That's why it
took us so late = it was near mid
night
"And you came home alone again"
with swift return of anxiety.
why, yes. l can't let 'em think
Pm afraid. But-what's the matter?"
Ar1Yett had also heard the stamping
Of feet outside the cabin, but he had
not, like his wife, seen Helme's face
through the window. Some swift in
stinct Of danger made her turn death
ly pale; but for all that, when the rap
ping came, she was before her hus-
band to the door.
Helme stood on the threshold, his
| fact expressionless, with Clark and
the deputy behind him. He bowed and
removed his hat, not ungracefully.
Your husband in, ma'am i. Oh,
how dye do, Arnett?"
Now Arnett understood his wife's
pallor. He himself knew that Helme
and his deputy had not come there
as friends. Their call puzzled him;
but Clarks presence with them was
more puzzling still, and somehow
more ominous. He invited them in
CURLY.
Come in"
The three men finished the bust
ness Of scraping the mud from their
boots and entered. Clark extended
his hand to Arnett with worried and
embarrassed look. Arnett took 1t, but
kept his eyes on Helme, who stood
looking around the room searchingly.
What's up, Clarke" inquired Ar
nett.
Helme heard the question and an
swered it himself.
Official business, Arnett. Sorry,
but I've got to put you under arrest
for awhile" He picked Arnett's re-
volver and belt from the back of a
chair, and after hesitating an instant
dropped it out of reach behind the
stove.
Clark, take care of him, will you?
Come on, Jack, you and nell search
the house. Don't be scared, ma'am.
We just got to take look If your
husbands innocent it'll be all right"
Her husband was innocent mad it
was all wrong. Helme's very cour-
tesy made Mrs. Arnett more certain
that trap had been set and sprung.
But she could not do else than to
step aside and let Helme pass.
Hurry up, Jack; the grounds melt
in all the time" said Helme to his
deputy; and they instantly began
shifting the scanty furniture and
searching the flooring and the walls
for signs of planking recently re-
moved. They even shoveled the Goals
from the cookstove in the kitchen and
sifted the hot ashes. When they start
ed into the third room Arnett inter-
posed:
Wait bit You're sheriff and l
guess you got the right but
You got some rights, towel,
guess that's correct. Clark, you tell
him what it's all about. Maybe he
doesn't know already and maybe he
does. I'm not sayin' yet"
He passed through the door into
the remaining room of the cabin, and
as Arnett followed him, Clark began
in low voice:
Its for Washburn's murder. They
found that letter, you know-what am
l sayin'? o. course you don't know.
l found letter in the fireplace that
made 'em suspect
Murder! Washburn killed." Ar
nett, sensing some deliberately con-
trived and deadly plot, wah holding
so hard to his self-control that his as
tonishment seemed weak and perhaps
feigned. And Clark did not under
stand the woman's cry:
Murder! l knew it. John, | told
you so. Oh, they'll find-they'll find
whatever they're looking for. oh,
John, John, why did YOU
(To Be Continued)