Evening star., 1940-05-16
'1RAIl,S END'
WlLLlAh Nesl EpRANE
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
mo letter here" Prentiss an.
Aounced.
Maybe ate them," Jim sug-
gested.
If you did wen rip you open and
get them," Prentiss snarled.
Lamprey was white as q sheet
This was not q business to his
liking, moreover, the fear was in
him that his turn would come. He
said nothing, but terror showed In
his eyes.
IF you're looking for helpful
advice, Mosely," silcott said, II
would advise you and your gang
to light out muy pronto. The
soldiers ought to be here any minute
now"
Roam Judson slid a quick look
1T his boss. That might be the
truth, even, If the warning came
from an enemy.
Don't try to fool US. silcott," the
Hat T owner snapped. "You came
here alone. But since you have
mentioned soldiers you might tell
Us how they came to be planted in
the postof1ice."
"Oh, I thought that out" Jim
answered coolly. "Soon as found
that vaquero on my trail I decided
to give him something to report
to you. So I made the postofice
play, and you swallowed 1t hook,
line and sinker. Naturally I figured
you would try to get the package
back soon as 1t was dark"
You haven't q spy among us?"
Mosely asked, his hard eyes trying
to beat down those Of the prisoner.
Jesse Lamprey, maybe"
mo" Silcott shook his head.
Don't need one. Any kid could
guess you out"
Mosely Is Angry.
Anger famed up in the big
stockman. Maybe you can guess
what I'll do next" he said cruelty.
Jim was putting on the trousers
that had been tossed back to him
after Prentiss searched his clothes.
He knew he was in a desperate
situation, but no sign Of it appeared
in his easy manner. He was going
to be tortured, but no matter what
they did to him he must keep his
mouth shut. It was not q matter
Of obstinacy, but of life or death.
For If he told them where the letters
were and Mosely got hold of them,
his life would be snuffed out beyond
q shadow of doubt. He must bite
on one fact and let no agony de-
fleet him from it, that Mosely would
not kill him until the letters were
In his possession.
"Some things I don't need to
guess about" he said hardly. For
instance, I know that when you get
In jam, as you are now, you'll
slide out if you can and let some
of the boys here pay the price.
You've got the Government on your
neck now, but maybe you'll be slick
enough to fix it SO the boys can go
to the pen instead of you"
Pete Yeager laughed, mirthlessly.
It was quite likely that what Red
Silcott said might turn out to be
true prophecy. There was no
loyalty in Mosely. If it ever paid
him to toss overheard his tools he
would do it without hesitation.
Looks like he knows you, Russ, -
Pete jeered.
Hell know me better before I'm
through with him." Mosely an
swered. "And you may, too, Pete, II
you're not careful" -
Prentiss Prepares Torture.
ut sure looks like we're here
pulling yore chestnuts outa the hot
Goals for you," the fat little man
flung back at his employer. "And
while we're talking turkey, I'll
mention that I don't scare, Russ"
Jim picked up his shirt to put it
on, but Prentiss snatched it from
him. you're not going to need that
right away" he sneered, with q
savage laugh. Were gonna have
. little fun first, youn me-"
From his waist he unstrapped his
heavy leather belt. Better gag
him, boys, so he want sing too
loud" Jud said.
Silcott lashed out at Judson with
his right as the man tried to seize
him. In the melee that followed
Yeager met a flying fist that landed
on the eye. But the odds were too
great. Jim was flung down, gagged,
and stretched out face down. The
belt Missed through the air, buckle
end out, and landed on the bare
back Of the prisoner. The white
flesh WINGED, but no sound came
from the tortured man except his
heavy broken breathing. After a
time Mosely stopped his foreman.
III you'd like to give any in
formation about these letters, hunch
your shoulders" he said.
Silcott made no sign. Again the
buckle thudded down on the torn
and bleeding back. At last Lamprey
cried out protest.
For God sake, that's enough,
Russ! You'll kill him."
There was a convulsive shudder of
Jtm's body and then slack limp
ness.
Yeager Warns Mosely.
'He's tainted" Yeager said. mo
use, boss. He'll never talk. Too
game" Sharply he added, "And
thereu be no more Of this"
Mosely looked down, a bitter
savagery in his face, at the torn
and bleeding flesh criss-crossed
with wheals from the leather and
ripped with gashes from the buckle
I've got a way to make him talk, 81
he said. A devil looked out of his
eyes. He had gone too far to re-
treat now. He was no longer q
wise and crafty leader, but a man
driven and harried to desperate
chances.
Jesse Lamprey rose to his feet,
sick and trembling. Under orders
from Prentiss, he had been clinging
to one Of Silcott's wrists. He leaned
his head against the wall to cover
his face,