The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-07-15
CHAPTER XII

4
IN Claire went to Eb and laid her
hand on his arm to attract his at
tention. He was evidently in a
half-frenzied condition. "Eb," she
J said. Tell us where you've been.
What happened?'
Again the menacing finger
! pointed accusingly at Susie. ASK
her." Eb said grimly. "She can
tell you how she brought me food
down in that room of Lyman FoS-
dicks. But all the time | was
tied, hands and feet. All | could
do was kick against the wall in
hope someone would hear me.
For a while | though someone did
hear me, but | guess was wrong.
If the tree hadn't been struck I'd
been there yet. Sawed the ropes
off on a bit of sharp stone"
Lyman FOsdick's room" began
Claire. "Eb, was it under the pine
tree? Sit down there and tell US.
ayes. Where Lyman FOsdick
used to keep his blasted jewels,
the old man explained. Il alleds
said they'd bring him no good, nor
Susie either"
All eyes turned to Susie, but
she only tossed her head. Hes
out of his mind. I've said so be-
fore and now you can see for
yourselves. He"
Eds cracked voice rose almost
to a scream as he sprang to ms
feet. "Then ask him" He pointed
at Nick Baum. Ask him what's
between him and this wicked SIS
ter O. mine~
Susie shrank back. No. 1t
amt So Nicky never had moth
ing to do with it. | was the one
wanted to find the jewel. Il
"But he's the man who pushed
me down the mine shaft, broke
in Pat. when he offered to
light my cigaret just now. no.
ticed the little finger of his hand
is cut off at the second JOINT.
And the guy who fought with me
in the tunnel was shy JOINT OIL
one of his little fingers"
For moment Nick Baum's
handsome face held a suspicion OF
fear. Then he turned to Clare.
at this the way you usually treat
your guests| Of course, it IS per-
fectly absurd"
Dan Dallas Unexpectedly. took
command of the situation. Not
os absurd as it seems, Baum, when
they know that you're SuSle,S
SON" One hand was concealed IN
his pocket, and now that pocket
showed a menacing bulge. Inc
time Susie spent in the city when
she was young was long enough
for her to have son by some I'M
known father. Ii was not hard to
discover that that son was still
living, and now, of course, grown.
That made a workable basis Tor
the theory that Baum and the son
were the same person. Then when
/ discovered Susie was hunting for
another treasure of Lyman Eos
dicks. what more natural than
that she should enlist her sons
help?
Fiercely Susie faced Dan Dial
las. "If Nicky is my son, that
doesn't prove he's done anything
wrong, does it?" she demanded.
"sNothing except attempting
murder in the case of both these
Young men," Dallas told her.
"Only luck and an unusual series
of events foiled him each time.
With the apprenticeship IN crime
he served in the underworld of an
eastern city, it's hard to say what
would have been happened If ne
had succeeded in his plan to be-
come master of this place"
Claire shruddered as she look,
ed at Nick's dark face which had
lost all it's handsome charm. Now
see how you've messed things up!
he snarled at Susie. You ana
your talk about the damned jewel.
If it hadn't been for you, never
would have come back, and"
''Nickyw Susie cry was des-
perate, hearb-broken. 81 only
wanted it for you, Nicky."
But he turned his back upon
her and addressed Dan Dallas.
"All right, let's get going, since
the games up. l suppose you.
got handouts and all the trim
mings."
He held out his hands, but as
u DALLAS moved toward him there
Vas a sudden brief skirmish, a
Harp report, and the confessed
fminal dropped to the floor in a
listed heap. The gun he had
ed to fire at Dallas fell between
I'M