The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-10-17


he pulled up before IT. Elisha espied
| through Its doorway not only Peter
Mc6rath, the blacksmith, but also the
rotund figure of Artle Nickerson. the
sawyer Falls station agent.
Warts insidei Amt that luck?" he
remarked. laundering out OF the car.
Ihey went In and after the usual
greetings Elisha stated his Grand
McGrath took the handouts AMI
badge to the light and examined them.
"Humphl Looks as If you'd been
In some sort of a scrimmage," he COM
mented. But Ill start on em straight
away. | amt busy on nothin' that
can't be put aside
Elisha and Eleazer strolled over to
box and sat down TO wait.
How are yon, Art7H Elisha In.
| CURED. Didn't you have a nephew
or a cousin ISOLATED with police
force somewheres?"
"Bennie, you mean? oh yes. He's
policeman out In Chicago. Just now
he's laid up In the hospital, but he
'spects to be out again fore long. Got
shot through the arm a couple of
weeks ago. Winged by stray bullet
while chasin' up guy that had broke
into store. The shrimp hit him.
Luckily he didn't kill him. Ben
thought he got off pretty easy"
Elisha's smile faded
These tellers that's at large now
don't give hang who they murder"
went on the station agent affably.
They're a desperate crew. They'd as
soon kill you as not. Bonnie landed
his man, though. He's done great
work on the force. Been shot three or
four times while on duty. 'Tain't a
calm | myself would choose, but he
seems to get big kick out of it,
Elisha, pale to the lips, suddenly de-
cided he had heard enough of Bonnie
and shifted the subject.
"Spose you're still goin' round in
the same ole treadmill over at the sta
ton, Art he observed
Yep. Same ole rut. I've had,
though, bit more telegraphin' to do
OF late than formerly. Know a Teller
over to Wilton named Heath? He's
sent Off several wires
Both Elisha and Eleazer straight
ened up.
Heath. Yes. indeed. He's stoppin'
In town for a while"
so | gathered. Lives In New York
at one of them big hotels He sent a
wire to his wife. Leastways, / figger
twas his wife. He signed himself
Lovingly, Stanley, an addressed 1t to
Mrs. Stanley Heath"
You don't say! That's news to
me- Elisha cried. He darted d glance
at Eleazer.
Artie, gratlfied at seeing he had
created sensation, beamed broadly.
Course | amt permitted to d.
vulge messages that 90 through my
hands. They're confidential But for
that | could tell you somethin' that
would make your eyes pop outer their
sockets
"Somethin' about Health"
"Somethin' he said In telegram"
Elisha had an inspiration
"S'pose was to ask you officially7'
he suggested. "Spose It's important
for me TO know what was In that mes
sage? S'pose demanded you tell me
In the name of the law? I'm askin'
you as sheriff of the town OF Wilton"
"Oh, that's different. The wire was
just sent to friend. The part that as.
tonished me wns It's beginnin. IT ran
somethin' like this
"'Safe on Cape with my lady. Shall
return with her later.
what interested me-" droned Artie.
was who this lady could be. Heath,
apparently, is a married man. What
business has he taggln after some Will
ton woman an totin' her back to New
York with him when he goes?"
HE amt got no business doln' It,"
Eleazer shouted Hes blackguard
that's what he Is! But don't you
worry, Arte. He aln't goin' to put
no such scurvy trick over on any VIII
ton woman. Me an 'Lish'l see To that.
How much more tinkerin have you got
to do on them trnkets. Pete? The
sheriff an me Is In a. hurry to get
home
You'll have to give me good half
hour more"
"That'I mean we won't fetch up at
Wilton til after dark" Eleazer fretted
There's no use goin' up In the air
an riln Pete all up, Eleazer,' Elisha
interviewed. Wen just have to be
patient an put off what we was plan.
min to do until Tomorrow reckon
mornn'll he a better time, anyway.
Certainly twill do just as we'll"
"Mebbe,'' Eleazer grumbled. Still,
I'm disappointed. Wal, that bein' the
case, s'pose you an me step over to
the drug store while we're hnngin'
round an do them errands we men
toned"
Elisha agreed.
A faint flush had crept back into his
cheeks and his eyes had regained their
light of hope.
He had wrested from Fate another
twelve hours OF life, and life was
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