Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-06-17

hampton. Then Tom Baker betrayed
where his thoughts had been.
HE was surely right, MI. T1dd-right
as q man could bel" he declared. From
Lamater to Melhampton, the way he
pointed out, there isn't q scrap OF land
that couldn't be bought for an old song"
"Unless-" Mr.. Tidd ventured.
unless the owner happened to know
what was afoot. You don't chance to
have heard, MIR. T1dd. whose property
Lamater Moor might be?"
The bank manager shook his head.
That's what I've been asking myself
all the way down." he confessed. III
there's any one knows round here it's
Lawyer Martin, and It's his day In Mel
hampton"
Wen ask the question:" Mr.. Tom
Baker proposed. 'Ittl cost us only that
much breath"
They drew up outside the offices of the
local lawyer. Mr.. Martin was in and glad
to see them. The question they pro-
pounded obviously surprised him.
"Lamater Moor" he repeated, leaning
back In his chair. We'll, Tom, I can tell
you as much about hat as any one. The
whole moor was bought some five years
ago by a small syndicate on the other
side of the county, who thought they
might do something with the peat. 1t
was a new process they had In mind
They we're going to build q factory. but
1t didn't come of, for some reason or In
other. I don't know what's become OF
the syndicate. but I car tell you the
name OF the secretary"
Who might he be?" Mr.. Baker in
quired.
His names Tye-Richard Tye Of High
street, Barnstaple," the lawyer conflded
Hes a member of my profession, but ]
don't know much about him. I don't
even know whether the s~yndicate's been
wound up. You could find out every
thing from him.. What's the idea?"
Tom Baker shook his head.
tits just a small interest Mr.. Tidd and
! had in hat matter of peat" he con-
fded.
There's no money in it," Martin
warned them.
I'm inclined to think you're right
mind to ask the question. Would six and
eight-pence-?"
"Get out. you rascal" the lawyer
chuckled. you wait until you get you,
yearly bill and you'll see what I charge
you for this"
TITS but a step across to the Mel
hampton Arms" Tor Baker suggested.
The lawyer sighed, pulled down his
rolled top desk, and reached for his hat
You're the client I was waiting for
he admitted.
Mrs. Dowdswell was not in the mos,
pleasant humor that evening
"A good customer, n of the best
gone on recount Of the prying ways OF
some peopleI" she declared, a little tartly
In response to inquiries.
Has hat chap Smith gone, then?'
Tom Baker demanded.
Left half an hour ago." Mrs. Dowds'
well replied. Said he'd been very COM
Portable, but he was a quiet man, leading
q harmless life, n he objected to peo-
pie who asked him questions. No ofenst
meant. MIR. Baker, but he seemed to thinl
that you'd followed him up to Lamatel
Beacon this afternoon"
He was very much mistaken" the
bank manager interviewed. Tom Bake
and / were the first. He came afterwards.
THAT may be, sir" Mrs. Dowdswel
sighed. II am sure 1t was quite innocent
like II you was a bit curious about the
gentleman. but anyway he's packed w
and gone"
do you know where TOP"
H asked the way to Dunmoor. II sc
be that he goes there, he'll be sorry thai
he ever left the Northampton Arms
There's no comfort In the place, n q,
for the cookingl Why. my kitchen maidi
a better hand at 1t than Mrs. Leary."
well. I'm heartily sorry II we drove
him away through asking a few simple
questions" MIR. Baker a~pologized. "Ane
II an extra drink for the good Of tn,
house, yourself included. will help mat
ters-vell, 1t won't do us any harm.
don't acknowledge to being q morta
curious person, but I'll admit i had
fancy to know what his business was"
III there'd been a railway here / coulc
have understood it," Mrs. Dowdswell OBJ
served, AZ she filled the glasses. He wa