The Coolidge examiner., 1936-05-29


West. But if the state police re-
port that the gun which West had
been packing fired the bullet which
killed Cash, then We'll know that
any effort we make to hang the
thing on him won't be wasted. Does
that make sense?"
Ezra nodded emphatlcally.
I'D say it did sound sensel
Now, turning to his safe,--
"here's the bullet | took out of poor
old Cash's brain. I'll get these
things right off to the police.
Meantime, we've got to lay low
and wait and watch. What other
plan have yOu?"
Young frowned and scratched HIS
temple.
None. Finding the murderer is
one thing; finding the cash is an
other. If it's only just commenced
to come into circulation, we NAV
expect more of it. If West has
it, he's too smart to keep it around
his place. I'd say, offhand, he's
the sort that would cache 1t in the
bush somewhere. The important
thing, as l see it, is to try to get
line on his hiding-place for the
money before he suspects us of
being busy on the Downer matter
at all.
"And the situations getting aw-
fully tight. Mans got a chance,
it seems, to commence selling big
tracts of stuff with logging rights,
under the prescribed plan, re-
served. She can't give title until
she's negotiated another payment
on the contract with West. 1t looks
to me as though he had waited for her
to do the work and now's going to
step in and skim the cream"
Young, we've got no time to
lose. Who'd have thought
Ezra exclaimed, rising, and as he
stood up letting his voice rise as
well-"who'd have thought that
we'd ever get enough in the way of
suspicion to start digsin' into the
DOwner case again? Young, I sure
am glad you came down the Mad
Woman day before yesterday" :"
And on that, Frank Bluejay, who
had been standing in the waiting
room, one ear against the panel of
that closed door, made his way on
moccasined feet to the entry, and
disappeared in the darkness.
Later that night Tod West had
his report from the breed.
II couldn't hear noting ontil the
las" he said. THE Doc he said
then they was startin' diggin' up
the Downer case again."
SIS that all?" West put the ques
tion sharply.
"All 1 could hear. They made a
lot of talk before, but they said
it so low" --.-'
"Well, that means nothing, then"
But his voice shook and in the dusk
he could see the other look at him
intently.
"You keep after this Young,
Frank. 1 want to know everything
he does everything, under
stand"
Bluejay made no response for
moment. Then he muttered:
Il don't like that man, Tod. He's
one damn fool. He's strong as
hel. He amt scared of noting"
"And he's got you scared?"
Nav, he ain got me scarf ~
boastfully. Maybe so he'll get
himself into trouble with me yet,
eh?"
"Yes, maybe" growled West. "But
you watch him; you're on the pay
roll to watch him, remember"
The breed walked away and West
turned within. Alone there, he wiped
the clammy sweat from his
face and stood motionless a long
time. He did not like the word that
Frank Bluejay had brought back
from town, nor had he liked the
way the breed looked at him when
his voice shook
He turned to the cupboard and
took down a fresh bottle of whisky;
then, after a moment of indecision,
put it back resolutely.
mot too much of that" he
growled, and began to pace the
floor, calling on all his resources
for clear thought and careful poise
This Young was evidently benz
on remaining in the country. But
why was he running to Ezra? And
what did he know about the Down
er case? A persistent, arrogant
devil! He was the one man West
could recall who had claShed with
Frank Bluejay and not shown at
least some hesitation. He was the
only man he knew who had pat fear
into the breeds heart.
At that he paused, squeezing his
lower lip thOughtfully.
Bluejay, afraid of Young: Blue
jay, knocked off the trestle by
Young; Bluejay, savage and vIhdic-
tive; Bluejay, who, could he be GER
tain of escaping detection, would
sooner kill than not. West
stood still for a long while. per
haps," he muttered to himself, per
haps!" And later: Sure! BY