The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-09-04
he made no protest.

1A GIN cihN SdA AOllOWCo 4GAAy
to the dining-room. Jim Wong had
set two places. There were sand
wiches on platter and a pot of cof-
fee beside some cups. A bottle of
whiskey and glasses were on the
sideboard.
you've had long ride in the
rain," the foreman said. "Jim Wong
fixed you up a little refreshment.
I'll have your horses looked after
while you eat"
He left his two guests to them
selves.
"Terry is no more guilty than I
am," Carey said. "At least I don't
think so. But We'll know more about
this tomorrow"
Lane leaned forward and spoke,
almost in a murmur. Has it ever
struck you, jeff, that the big COW
outfits may have stock detectives
right in our midst?"
"You mean some of their own
cowboys"
mo, l don't Somebody closer to
the rustlers. One who sees them of
tener and maybe rides around with
them. A hester, perhaps"
Brand thought it over. might be
so. If l could prove it on one I
would sure give him a quick ticket to
Kingdom Come. But what has that
got to do with this AFFAIR.""
might have nothing to do with it.
Might have lot. A spy like that
who could be hired to give away
his friends would not stop at murder
from ambush"
The three men breakfasted early
and were on their way before sun
up. They took with them a pack
horse to bring back the body. During
the night the rain had spent itself
! and there was now not cloud in the
sky.
The Diamond Reverse B riders
joined them at the edge of the grove.
Tracks of the horses are still
showing" one of them said. II was
scared the rain might wash them
out, but it didn't come down hard
enough"
Carey and Brand examined the
body. 1t told story of unexpected
death. The powder burns on the
face showed that the revolver had
been fired very close to the victim.
"Lemme see that note the fellow
pinned to Blacks coat" jeff said.
Calhoun took it from his pocket
book and handed it to the rustler.
Brand studied it for several min
utes. 'Ive seen writing like that
somewhere, but I can't just remem-
Der when," he mentioned to Carey.
Look how he makes his SIS, with
the tails flying away"
The Bar 55 owner shook his head.
Cant prove it by me- Maybe I've
seen it, but l wouldn't remember
| it,
Brand put the note in his pocket.
mind if keep it?" he said to Ter
ry insolently. His manner suggest
ed that he intended TO keep it wheth-
er the foreman minded or not.
mot at all. Nate Hart may want
to keep it, but you fix that up with
him." Terry's voice was scornfully
polite.
On the way back to the ranch Car
ey rode beside Terry and Brand
with the two cowboys.
II reckon we have come to the
same opinion as you did, CAL" the
man from Black Butte told his COM
panion.
"What opinion?" Terry inquired.
"That this killing was done by a
cattle detective hired by some of the
big outfits
"That's my opinion, is it?" the
/ Diamond Reverse B manager asked
sarcastically.
81 think so. It explains the facts
better than anything else can fig
ure out. My notion is you wanted to
put US on our guard against this
fellow"
Even if I was employing him."
''I don't believe you are in this at
all, but I expect you can give a
good guess who hired this killer"
Terry said tonelessly, II don't
know anything about it,"
"Well, I'll leave it there, Cal,"
Lane Carey concluded. "a wink is
as good as a nod to a blind horse.
I've a notion you don't like this
state of affairs any better than I
| do"
81 DON'T" the ranch superintend-
ent agreed. 81 hate being blamed
for it when I'm not guilty. would
like the word passed out that if I
ever help to get rid of cattle thieves
it will be in the OPEN"
'I've already told the boys that"