Evening star., 1928-05-20

knew Cnat something was wrong
What made me decide it could
i not explain. No specific thing
yet I felt the electric impress
sion that mischief was afoot. If not
afoot, then imminent.
Perhaps the silence was responsible
The interior of the tawdry little bank
ing house was SoundleSS. No clicking Of
typewriterS no faint claSlling of adding
machines, Scarcely a pen scratched or
= foot Scraped in the dusty areas be-
hind the glass partitions.
And a similar silence hung over the
town.
Behind me, In the street, blazing
Arizona sun beat down. In the heat of
early afternoon, few living things
stirred.
Quiet, quiet. oceans of quiet. And
there stood while six pairs of eyes re-
garied me.
I think there were Ska blonde at a
fiat-topped desk behind the railing at
my left; a youngiSh man, peering
through a grilled aperture marked
Teller: squat, Seedy little man, who
paused midway of corridor space be-
hind the teller's cage and seemed to
clutch tightly cash tray in his hand;
a brunette, who raised her face from
ledgers at my right and showed it white
as paper; two or three other persons.
identities vague. laboring down the
length Of the room, and all possessing
eyes.
What on earth was the matter?
The blonde spoke first because she
was nearest.
What do you want?"
1t startled and nettled me. the way
she asked it. Queer greeting, it seemed,
for a prospective patron. not to mem
tion harmless tourist: as though had
no right there; as though a bank
ostensibly open for public business, re-
Sented strangers.
I'm looking" said I, for a man
named Stecman."
Col Darius Stedman?"
''Is he colonel? I wasn't aware"
''There's two Stedmans named Darius
the colonel and his son."
II want to see the president of this
bank Which one is the PRESIDENT"
The colonel. What DO you want
Private business, I'll explain to him
personally"
THE blonde had leaned forward. She
surveyed my figure from head to
foot. Four or five other people In
that bank, say, and scarcely move
ment among them since had crossed
that threshold. 1t made me self-con-
Scious. glanced down my duster-coa
10 see what was wrong. Nothing, ap-
parently. I unbuttoned 1t. pulled it
open.
The blondes posture relaxed.
"An the same. you'll have to tell me
.rHax@ Ef
Today, especially"
I'm touring through the East" 1
explained New England friends asked
me to stop OF here in Mercer and have
3 word with Darius Stedman. It
couldn't have been the son"
NO, probably not. If it's Junior
you're after. doubt II youn see him"
Hes away-or sonlething?"
He was shot last Thursday down in
the basin"
The blonde had disclosed this. appar-
entity. to get such reaction as showed on
my face. But the news of the death
meant nothing TO me. My expression
treasured her
whats your name?" came the query.
told her.
wait minute"
The banking room was not large.
Certainly our voices carried the length
Of 1t. Before the blonde had moved from
the desk an elderly man came from
somewhere behind.
who's lookin' fur me2" he demanded
curly.
He was big-bodied. He came for
ward grim1y, a certain challenge in his
manner His hair was sparse and IRON
gray. his eyes steely, his paw ample. His
collar was designed for comfort, and his
dark suit rurnpled. Much tobacco ash
dappled his vest. Every inch of him
was bellicose. however-the sort that
hunched his shoulders and dug his chin
down deep in his chest
Are you Col Stedman?" asked him.
He nodded. coming forward toward a
gate IN the intervening railing. / saw
a mammoth six-Shooter stuffed in be-
tween his belt and his stomach.
My homes In Vermont" told him
when had given him my name.
Judge Amos Farmer. banker In my
town. asked me to include Mercer in
my trip and look into some investments
his bank holds down here. Is there
ANYTHING about me that is not as it
should be-"
That your roadster-out there by
the curb?"
The gray one. yes
The distance was considerable. yet
knew those keen eyes were deciphering
my license plates.
Whats the name o. the town."
"PartS-PaT1s, VT"
"And the name Of the bank?"
THE Peoples National"
Come back to my Office. Throw
your coat on that chair Glad you look
IL OF. Last feller who came in here
wearin' one O. them things had a port
able arsenal underneath It'll"
So that was II! Because OF my diiSter
they thought me a bandit.
I'm not a bandit" I said laughing.
''WaaI, the folks here Is squeanliSh-
with these rlIrnors around"
What runlors?"
MY son vas picked of down in the
Basin last week. Stray bullet might
"a done II. Then. ag'in. it mightn't.
The Stranger boys has reckoned TO
git me ever since / killed OF Chet.
Understand Hal Stranger was let Out
O LeaVenworth last week. Two an
two make four in lots o. places besides