The Washington times., 1934-12-29
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Aren't we bound to be
SEEM"
"Of course we are. But it
happens that Dad wants his
boundaries surveyed, and we
can Let them believe we're do
ing that. We won't have to
run that survey many miles to
find out what I want, and
then" Dick hesitated. Il
may be able to tell you some
thing of interest to your scan.
dal-loving old newspaper"
Barnes dark eyes were on
him, as if speculating what he
might mean, but as Lowell said
nothing more, he reached in
his pocket and, taking out an
empty cartridge, dropped it in
Dicks hand.
Empty Shell
II had this in my office
when your father was here. It's
the shell I found beside Bruce's
body. Nora thought you should
have it."
Curiously Lowell raised the
little brass cylinder between his
fingers. It had been used in
a .38 caliber automatic, per-
haps the most common type of
side arm on the border, and
as he held it Dick shook his
head. ANY one of a hundred
guns might have used this cart
ridge-it would fit my own"
Turning it slowly, he exam
lned its smoothly FURNISHED
sides, then studied with minute
care the deep indentation made
In the cap by the firing pin
OF the killers automatic.
Without a word he handed it
to Stub. asking, What do you
make of it?"
For a time Stub scrutinized
the shell, then shrugged his
shoulders.
Look closely at the mark of
the firing pin" Dick persisted.
Instead Of being a clean hole.
one side is notched. like a
Jagged triangle"
With a low exclama ton Stub
nodded. You're right. The gun
that fired this shell had a nick
out of the firing pin" He
looked up hopefully. will that
help you?"
1T isn't likely. We can't ex-
anime every automatic on the
border-and if we tried it. the
murderer would get sid of his
gun long before we reached him.
No, I'd rather work it out along
different lines. Still" Dick
hesitated. "It's curious" He
put the cartridge in his pocket,
and rising, turned to Barnes.
If you're going into Verde,
I'll ride over with you"
Together they walked to the
barn, where Dick saddled, and
soon the two friends were
trotting down the dusty road
toward town.
At the bank they separated
and Lowell, entering. drew from
the teller 5000 in $40 bills, then
rode slowly out toward the Mex
lean Quarter.
Since early days it had held
itself separate and distinct from
the town. this Mexican Quarter
of Verde. Here, at least, the
march of progress and ravages
of passing years alike brought
little change. Low. sprawling
adobe Shacks, patched, crumb-
ling mud walls, and innumer-
able dogs that scratched lazily
in the shade - all this must
have been much as in those far
off days when the first adven-
turous settlers had given the
town of Verde it's family de-
riSive name. Sunlight and red
adobe clay, children and dogs
sprawling beneath the very feet
of his horse, a winding, dusty
road that led out toward the
desert-this was the quarter.
Unchanged
. Dick rode with head bowed
as if in thought, then reaching
a narrow lane, he turned
sharply to the left. and dis
mounting. tied MS mare to a
i0w fence. Here, seemingly. the
poverty and disorder had been
more successfully held at bay,
for small shaded homes with
: well kept gardens replaced the
baked adobe clay and told OF
somewhat more prosperous cir.
,cumstances in this section OF
the Quarter. Toward the near
est Of these vine-covered cot