The Washington times., 1934-12-15

"Sari?"
"Nick Sari. It came to me last
night as I lay out on the deesrt
what I've got to do. I'll goad him
into trying to get me just as
he got Bruce-but this time I'll
make him do his own shooting"
TOO risky" Barnes shook
his head. Much too risky.
Sari's the most dangerous thief
in the border country. And how
do you know it was Sari's gang?"
Getting Evidence
Every sign points that way.
I tell you Sari alone would have
anything to gain from Bruce's
death. Listen. Do you know
what happened to the man
who had charge of surveying
Sari's irrigation work?"
Barnes shook his head.
''He was found dead in San
Francisco alley three months
ago."
Well?
Dicks low pitched voice sank.
Bruce spent the last day of his
life surveying not far from that
dam"
A quiver of horror passed
over Barnes face.
HE kept his survey notes in
a leather-bound book" Dick
went on. That last day he
sent a boy back to the ranch
with his transit-the book he
put in his pocket. He had it
when he left your ranch that
night"
Barnes mind darted back to
the PROSTATE body and the un.
buttoned coat. Then it was
taken by the man who killed
him-Why?"
Because it told a tale that
Sari wants to keep hidden"
what tale?"
'That's one of the questions
my nights on the desert haven't
answered. But I can tell you
this. My whole plan in going
East six months ago was to
watch Nick Sari. Bruce and
were certain he was playing an
underhand game with father,
SO we split forces. Bruce stayed
here to keep track of what hap.
pened in the border country
while I went back to watch
Sari himself"
Barnes nodded.
II hoped to find out enough
about Sari's methods to show
him up before the Verde
ranchers," Dick went on. Some
times I think Nick suspected.
He felt things Tightening. and
before long I found my mail
had been examined and twice
my apartment was gone through.
Then the last night that I
spent East, Sari. much against
his will, laid out all the papers
on the irrigation work. I'd
never been able to get sight of
the plans and survey. for Sari
kept them in his safe. While
I was walking to father in
the other office, I could see
him laying out the papers, and
I saw him put one of them
back in his desk drawer. That
paper was a letter in Bruce'S
handwriting and attached to it
was a column of survey notes.
That letter had been written
to me. Everything but the
figures and a few words were
torn away.
Net TightenS
"I believe that letter brought
about Bruce'S death. While
Sari was in the other office
with father. I copied the sur
vey figures as they lay in the
desk drawer. then left my
thumbprint in the corner plain
enough for Sari to see."
But ;Ihy?"
Dicks eyes flared. II was
fed up with fencing. I wanted
action. Will. the only way to
deal with Sari's kind it to let
him know you're dangerous
force him into something hasty.
I'll prophesy right now that as
soon as Dad gets back Sari will
find an excuse to come here to
find out how much know
and that's exactly what I
want"
Again Barnes shook his head.
TOO dangerous business with
q killer like Sari. Look" Rails
ing his left arm. Barnes threw
back his coat. disclosing be.
meath the flannel shirt a faint
outlin of an automatic in a
shoulder holster.
IT havn't worn one of these
for a good many years, but