The Coolidge examiner., 1935-09-27

way be Ind gone. Al hacienda
near Mexico City. peon In the en-
ploy % Carlos Salamanca had dart
I'D out from behind n pomegranate
tree one moonlight night after Jim
had taken four thousand dollars
from his master. bur Jim had bro
ken the wrist ~ the hand that heiS
the knife ar had KEEP, the knife
as n souvenir of n close call
she sat Up and clasped her arms
about her knees and eazei with
burning. dry eyes down at the dark
tlow of the creek. What wou'a that
strange aunt of hers. Dad Jlia's sis
ter. have thought II she had told
her that there had been another
reason. besides his failing heart
for Jim Creuohles sudden decision
90 returnf Perhaps some DAY she
would tell Sophronia about Ceralf
Lucas Some day. when his COO
power over her and her capltulatlor
20 him was only an evil dream. shs
might tell Suphroula that II was
really from Gerald Lucas that shs
had fed that Jim. knowing Gerald
for what be was. had been over
come hy the knowledge thar Silver
was In lore with him. and had
blamed himself for exposing her te
the corruption of his own life
Silver Grcnoblc. as she las under
thc willow tree. was conscious Of
q great WEAKNESS. she knew deep
ly thn, change Was coming. per
yasiye and calm. into her being.
Roddy willard brought his car te
the curb in front 81 Torson's place.
turned OF the lights aud stepped
down.
At the end of the lunch counter
Duke Melhank lounged. rolling
cigarette In his pale. freckled hands
His red hair famed.
"A cup of coffee. Lena" Roddr
said 10 the elder Torson girl as she
greeted him with q smile.
Then he turned 20 speak 10 Duke
Time you were In bed. Duke" he
remarked pleasantly. This tall
soft hulk OF n fellow was beneath
contempt. beneath anger. even for
Sophronla's sake. although he had
been spreading gossip about Phro
MES niece ever since his famous
visit 10 Chicago earlier In the sum
mer.
you been away Duke said as
be slumped down upon n stool
Duke checks up on us. Lena.
Roddy smiled. We've got TO watch
our step"
"No." Duke objected. 4 was just
thlnkln' you amt heard. maybe.
about old Jim Crcnoble"
Gentleman JimT'
sure Him | seen when I wa
20 Chi last month. | could
told them be wouldn't come TO nc
good end"
Anything happenedT~ Rodi,
asked. There was a certain leer
ing knowingness about Duke that
hlled him. as always. with distaste
Plenty lie got himself shot las
night"
My Cd" Roddy exclaimed
who shot hlmi-
-Felia named Raws0n. Il was
The police got him. Killed him
when he was tryln' 20 make his
getaway. Some o. them guys can
shoot. no foolln :"
"Poor old Jim Roddy said 70
himself "Sophronla will take tha,
pretty hard. I'm afraid"
Duke laughed mirthlessly. Not
SOS you'd notice H."
you've seen herr
Il seen her. all right. all right.
And how She was down TO meet
the train tonight"
You mean - they sent the
BODY"
Dukes hands played together
Not exactly. The one that came
IN tonight wasn't what you'd call
dead one. oh, LennG I'll tell the
worldl II was JirH's daughter. Her
seen that night In Chi with a big
shot by the name o Lucas"
as she heref"
"She's out 70 the farm. II that's
what you mean. But that oughtn't
10 worry you none. She won't be
stayln' long In these parts. II I
know anything. Her kind don't be
long round here" He chuckled.
i've got her number, all right. all
right !"
But Roddy did not hear the In.
nuendo. Dukes disclosure had
flashed Ike lightning across his
mind. He tossed a coin on the c0un.
ter. seized his hat and made for
the door.
Driving home, he realized that he
was as near to panic as he had ever
been In his life. What would this
girls coming mean? She would
undoubtedly sell her land for cash.
II was not likely that a couple of
hundred a year rental would inter
est her. Five years ago the land
might have come into the possession
Of the Willards. had II not been
for Jim Grenoble's obstinacy. In
stead the money that might have