Evening star., 1940-05-19

bump of an army oficer?"
Reluctantly Rufe put into words
the fear in his heart. Maybe
1t was Red"
Kennedy frowned at him, his
mind puzzled. What would Jim
Silcott be doing there?"
Don't you see? He tipped 1t.
Window OF they might try to hold
up the postoff1ce to get the Gandara
letters he had pretended to mail.
He might have been with the Sold
iers and then gone out to the hospi-
tai to try to get confession out Of
the Mexican. Who else would Jud
want to kill?"
Except the Mexican, if Mosely
was afraid he might talk too much. !"
Jelks let that seep into his
thoughts. 1t brought new hope to
him. That's right. 1t might have
been the. wounded man. He was
weakening-Was about ready to
come through. Jud would shoot
one of his own gang soon as not to
save his own hide"
The man he shot must have been
the Mexican-or Red" Kennedy
said.
Seeks More Information.
Lets get back to the hotel and
see if Red has reported" Rufe sug-
gested. IF he hasn't, I'm going to
Windom's house"
The hotel clerk told them he had
seen nothing of Silcott since they
left. He gave them directions to
reach the Gandara house.
Jelks knocked several times on
the door,, At last feminine voice
answered from window above.
Rufe gave their names Friends
OF Red Silcott-and of Miss Eliot" {"
he added. I'VE want to talk with
1t Window"
My husband isn't here" the wo-
man replied. He was called out on
duty. Is there anything I can do
for you?"
We're worried about Silcott. He
didn't come back to the hotel. Did
he say where he was going?"
mo, he didn't-not to me. Back
to the hotel, suppose"
We're afraid he has been trapped
by enemies, Mrs. Window. Would
you mind asking Miss Eliot if he
mentioned going any other place?"
IN ask her" Henrietta said,
Within half a minute she was back.
She's not in her room" she called
down plainly very much disturbed.
I'll see if shes downstairs"
When Henrietta reappeared she
was wearing dressing gown. Anne
is not here she said, her voice cold
and hostile The only person in
town who knows her well enough
TO take her out is Mr. Silcott. I
don't understand it. Anne used to
be so careful"
Won't Critic Friend.
She stopped. unwilling to criti-
cize her friend before these stran-
gers. Back of her resentment was
sharp anxiety.
You re quite right. ma am" Rufe
replied quietly. Miss Eliot is the
finest young lady I know =. Some
thing is going on that I don't like.
Some shenanigan. It's one Of Russ
Mosely's damned tricks. Begging
your pardon. Mrs. Window, for
my language"
How could he be responsible? :?
She went into her room an hour
or more ago to retire for the night"
Maybe she left a note," Kennedy
suggested.
Henrietta went into the guest
room. There was no note, but on
the back of a chair hung a torn
necktie that looked familiar. She
dropped it to the men below.
isn't that the necktie Mr.. Silcott
was wearing tonight? I found it
in Anne's room"
The men examined the scarf
You're right, Mrs. Window" Rufe
agreed. "It's sure enough his tie,
and it looks like it has been through
a war"
What was 1t doing in Anne's
room?" her hostess demanded. How
did 1t get there?"
"Al I'm sure of is that he didn't
leave it there" his friend answered
staunchly. Gimme minute,
ma am, and lemme try to think this
out"
Figures Out Plat.
His thoughts raced furiously
The necktie had been bait. He
guessed that much. But fol-. what?
Plain horse sense would warn Mosely
how disastrous kidnapping must
be. This was something more subtle
than that. Anne had gone of her
own free will. Why? Only one
reason. An urgent fear for the
safety Of the man she loved. If
she had been persuaded his life
was in imminent danger and that
she could help him, she would not
hesitate moment to 60.
The hectic was Mosely's proof to
Anne that Red Silcott was his pris-
oner. She had been made to be-
heve that by going with him she
could save Jim. She had walked
lnto MS trap, 0lStruStlng him no
doubt, but not daring to miss a
chance to help Silcott
So far Rufe could follow the
scheme. 1t had to be that way.
But here his reasoning begged down.
What did Mosely want with Anne?
How could he use her? He had not
been moved by any sentimental of
passionate urge. The man was too
think she had the Gandara letters
or at least could tell him where
they were? Not unless he was the
worst Judge of character in the
world, and nobody could say that of
Russ Mosely. Any lunkhead cow
boy would know that Red Silcott
was not going to tell Anne any,
thing that would bring her by any
chance into danger zone. He was
that kind of guy.
In four curt sentences Jelks laid