The Ely miner., 1930-02-14
The Desert Moon Mystery

had to draw. lot more than usual to
keep his voice steady. "lIis door is
locked. He doesn't answer when
pound on It."
Miss Macdonald said, ~ have an
excellent pass key. Let's 90 up and
try It."
Curiosity dragged me along with
her and Sam, though every bone In
my body protested.
Miss MacDonald's key unlocked the
door. The three of Us went into the
room.
The blinds were tightly drawn. The
electric fan was whirring and buzzing
away In the gray gloom.
Miss Macdonald crossed the room,
quickly, and snapped up the blinds
Sam walked TO the bed where Can
neziano was lying huddled up under
the covers looked the other way.
heard the rattle OF Sans pipe as
II fell on the floor. I heard the rustic
of Miss MacDOnalds quick movement
| heard queer, thrOaty note that she
uttered. Something dragged my hot
aching eyes open. looked toward
the bed. | saw CannezianO's swollen,
discOIored face. saw the deep vel.
low throat, WITH great brutal bruises
at its base.
/ felt Sans strong hands on my
shoulders, pressing me down into a
chair. | heard myself saying, shrilly,
over and over, "What are we going to
do? What are we going to do?"
1t was Miss MacDonald's voice, cold
and clear as spring water that brought
me to my senses. "We are going to
find the murderer on the Desert Moon
ranch"
Sam said, you're d-n right we
are. Anc we are going to nave half
dozen he-men detectives on this place
by tomorrow night"
"very WE'LL" Miss Macdonald an
swered. "Will you telephone. at once,
for the coroner. Mr.. Stanley"
"H-lw Sam said.
had my face covered; but there
was hollowness in that oath of
Sans that told me. palmer than any
looking at him could have told me,
that he was frightened; scared to the
marrow of his bones.
1t took Miss Macdonald, though. to
understand the reason for his fear.
"Yes, Mr.. Stanley" she said, 'these
men, when they come this time, In
spite of their friendship for you, are
not going to be as easily satisfied as
they were last time. They were able
to blink at one murder. They can't
keep on blinking. They dare not
even In Nevada"
"Who wants them to blinkY Sam
bluffed.
"You do. We all do. for the
present."
Sam did not answer that He stood.
and looked stupid.
"WOn't you listen to reason" she
urged. "before you 90 downstairs to
telegraph for other detectives? II.
when the coroner and the others ar
rive today. you confess that no prog.
ress has been made. they will un.
doubtedly step In and take matters
into their own bungling hands.
think that they would make an arrest
That would be fatal. now. For | am
positive that they would arrest an In,
nOcelt person. and that the guilty per-
son would then have an excellent Op-
pOrtunity for escape.
81 have a certain reputation, Mr..
Stanley, and these men-particularly
the sheriff-respect it. Ii you will
keep me on this case. l will tell them
that | am making definite progress
That believe | shall he able to turn
the criminal over to the state within
a comparatively short time"
"Would that be the truth?" Sam
demanded.
She hesitated "If you mean. Is
that what ! believe now-my answer
is yes. may be wrong have. at
least, very definite suspicion. have
no proofs"
"You wouldn't" Sam questioned.
"giVe these men that assurance If you
knew that | was going to get some
men detectives up here to work with
your
81 couldn t." she said 81 can speak
only for myself. Please give me
my chance. Do you realize what
II means to be tried for a
murder, even II one is acquitted?
am not asking this for myself.
wouldn't stOOp TO beg for anything
for myself as am begging for this.
now. ! am sure you mean 20 be d
fair man. Be fair to me. and to all
of the innocent people here on your
ranch. | don't say that other detec-
tives might not be able to discover
the murderer. | do say that am cer-
tain they would do iireparable harm
before they succeeded"
"If you stayed" Sam had the cheek
to question. "and worked along with
them-that was my idea-cOuldnt
you prevent heir doing any tarm"
81 could try to. | will try to- If you
insist But am doubtful of my sue
cess. Consciously, OF unconsciously
they work against me. because | am
woman. You don't know them as do.
You don't know their methods, as
do. If you feel that you must have
others here. working on the case. al
low ME to sent, at my own expense,
for my own assistants: the girls whom
I have trained"
"We don't need any more girls
around here" Sam said. at is pretty
certain that we do need some one TO
protect the lives of all of us on this
place"
"When you telephone for the cor
oner," she said, won't you telephone