The Coolidge examiner., 1936-06-19

the motor stopped spinning.
He strobe to the door, threw 1t
open and paused.
"See that dirt?" he asked, point
ing to the trickle of dust across
the floor.
The doctors old eyes followed
his pointing finger, traced the
stringer of fine Jumps and gran
ules across to the far corner.
That's where it'd We been," he
muttered, glancing at the one win
dow. "Bluejay said he looked
through the window It's the only
corner he could see handy"
"And he said he saw Holt in here
about sun-down, Thursday?"
"As I recollGct it,
"a plant for sure! I was in
here about then, Thursday. The
floor was clean, Ezra. But today
:. this stuff was here. Let's go!"
He was on his knees beside the
two short sections of flooring, eye
Ing Cnem clOSely.
"See? Here's where they were
pried up with something" he said
eXcitedly. "Then they dug a hole
for the box and carried the dirt
out; maybe in a bucket or a news
paper anything. But they were
either careless or what they used
leaked. That's why they dirtied
the floor. Now"
He reached for an ak leaning
against the wall, inserted the bit
in a crack between boards and
pried carefully.
"Ah" |" The nails gave readily.
Careful Of these boards now.
They may be evidence. Here
we gow
He began scooping earth that
came out in chunks and Jumps,
some of which crumbled to dust
in the handling. Then his busy
hands suddenly touched metal.
Ezra, STOPPING far over, breathed
quickly. With care Young worked
his fingers beneath the object, lift
ed, and out 1t came, a dirt covered,
fiat box of japanned metal.
"Cash's box!" the physician NUT
tered; and -"
His voice trailed off in suspense
as Kerry tugged at the catch Of
the cover. Was the money which
would forever put Nan Downer be-
yond the reach Of Tod West there?
Was emancipation for this girl
The catch gave; the cover opened
and Ezra's low moan joined the
sound Of a swiftly approaching
car.
"Only that" he said fatty.
"Three of 'em," muttered Kerry.
Three hundred-dolIar bills"
And the rest Of it gone be-
yond-"
mot for sure! This is a plant,
remember. He'd put only enough
here to pin the thing on Holt. Yes"
-scrutinizing the bills - they're
the proper numbers. The rest, Ezra,
Is cached somewhere yet!
"And here they comer'
The motor swung into the clear
ing, It's motor died and a voice said
sharply:
what tn hell"
Other voices sounded, subdued.
Then they heard the word "Ezra's
bus :"
"What'll we do now?" the old
man whispered.
"Stand pat!" Kerry muttered,
closing the box; closing it and flip
ping the cover up again quickly to
stare at the inside surface, blaSk
and glossy, its lacquer still bright.
A curious smile Of triumph was in
his eyes as he raised his face.
Ezra, this is your investigation.
Don't let 'em get their hands on
piece Of this evidence because"
1t was Nat Bridger, swinging
through the door.
What comes off here?" he de-
manded and stopped, poised just
within the roof, frowning. "Oh D..
You, Ezra !" His ready hand
dropped from the hip. You're here,
eh?"
YES" the coroner said, showing
up his spectacles. Eyes, Nat. Good
afternoon! Howdy, Butch" - as
the deputy appeared.
Bridger turned to his suborti-
nate and then looked past him at
Tod West who approached slowly
as II, perhaps, he were not just
sure Of how to conduct himself.
well, this Is SURPRISE" the
sheriff growled. How come you're
here, Ezra?"
"Official business, Nat. l got a
tip this afternoon that, mebby,
there'd be somethin' of interest to
the coroner of this county in this
camp. ND 1 guess, mebby, the tip
wasn't so far wrong"
At that point Tod West showed
himself in the doorway. He halted
there and his eyes rested an In
stant ON the old physician. Then,
as II he forced himself to an Or
deal, they swung to Kerry. But
II he expected to find challenge or
accusation on Young's face he was
wrong.
"TheY heard Il too. Tod" said