The Coolidge examiner., 1936-07-03

wear off and l can talk.
But tonight we've things to
think about. A lot of 'em; and
we'll have to think damned awful
fastr'
He paused to listen. No sound
came from the front part of the
building.
I've been working for two weeks
on this thing. It's a dead GER
tainty that Tod West killed Cash.
:. No! Don't you talk! Time for
that later!
west kills Downer and caches
away the money. Only just now,
he's dared to use little of it,
some that he didn't know could be
identified. When the first of it
showed up, on the same night I
happened to hit the Landing, Ezra
came to me and let me in on it.
I've been busy ever SINCE"
Rapidly he narrated what they
had learned and suspected; what
they had found today; his encoun-
ter with Bluejay and the very OBJ
viOus fact that his own arrest had
been made on Tod Vests sugges-
ton.
"You see, he had a double motive
with you. Likely he, too, thinks
that Nan well, likes you q
lot. He wants you out of the way.
You were in bad spot the night
of Downers murder; he plants the
box with just a little money, gets
| Bluejay ready to swear to this
story of his and figures that'll dis
pose of you.
"Me, though, he figured he'd bet
ter hire ME killed and he missed by
| about hair. The next best thing
| is to keep me behind the bars as
long as he can because he knows
damned well neither Ezra nor l
fell for. the Bluejay lie about you
and that cash box.
Here we are: the two of us in
Jail, something over twelve thou
| sand dollars still missing and West
on the loose.
did you notice that Vests head
and neck were swollen up? You
did? Am 1 crazy, or did I hear
somebody say he'd been stung by
a hornet?"
| hn tn16 fyrn nv.t
was trembling, infected by Young's
intensity.
"Check! That's no hornet sting.
That's bee sting. He's been fool
ing around bees somewhere; he
gets stung and gets all daubed up
with honey because there's honey
on the box and honey on the crow
bar he used in making the plant ~
THE hell you say!"
Fact! Do you know anybody
that keeps bees?"
Bees? There isn't a hive of 'em
in the county. 1 know all these
settlers and"
But there are wild bees in the
woods. Oh, Go6!" he muttered,
rising and slapping hand to his
head. why the devil won't a
mans brain work when he needs
it most? Honey and money {!
Money and honey!
I'VE should be out of here to-
night, but there isn't chance.
And controlled county politics as
he does, you can bet Westll see
to it neither one of us gets loose
in hurry. Money and honey.
:. Holt, the things just too
damned hot to let drop. How
in the name of high heaven can we
| get out of here?"
| He swung out of the cell and tip
| toed to the window before which
he had stood. The heavy bars were
| set in stone. Even with hack
saw, it would take hours to cut
through.
Back he ran to the panel Of
steel which made the front of their
| prison. Bars, heavy and thick, ran
from ceiling to floor; the lower
ends were set in steel plate; the
| plate was held to the concrete floor
by heavy lag screws, square
| headed, solid.
On his knees he felt along that
plate.
Lord, here's a short section of
t." he whispered e.. Look; the
things in three sections, ,"-running
his hands up the bars. This door
and it's steel frame is one
And one, two, four seven lag
screws hold it to the floor. With
i those out :"
'"But how?" Holt whispered, voice
shaking, now. How the devil d
you get 'em out? Where'd you find
wrench?"
wrench? Wr Why
King Christopher! Holt. on the
way in, d'you hear"
He gripped the others arm so
tightly that the boy WINGED He
strained to listen and put his lips
close to Stuart's ear
"Stand here and II anybody
comes talk or whistle or sing.
Whistle If you can! For the love
of God, walk up and down and
whistle. No, never mind why.
Let me alone. I'm going