Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-07

10 the corral. He's had some tough
going and needs a good rest, then
we'll investigate.
Pushing open the office door, he
swung the saddle bags to the floor,
then. looping the reins around the
pommel of the saddle, he started
Glory to the corral.
Allison watched as he carefully
deposited the contents of the saddle
bags on the desk, quietly calmly
but she felt that he was lost in
thought. She longed to question
him about the strange happenings
of the night, but something in his
detached manner stopped her, 1t
was almost as if he rather expected
something like this. With the saddle
bags finally unloaded, he stepped to
the door. I'D rather look outside
first-Im glad that you were careful
not to disturb any footprints"
Wants Shorty's Help.
Allison followed him and explained
once again how she had noted the
horse in the shadow, about where
she thought he stood and the faint
tracks that he had left. John
nodded when she suggested that the
horse must have been ridden a long
way as the tracks showed that it
stood very still, something unusual
In a spirited range horse unless it
was tagged out. He carefully
scanned the steps for footprints, but
If he saw anything unusual, he made
no mention of it to the girl.
Although Allison had told him
something of the confusion Of his
quarters. he couldn't suppress a low
whistle of surprise when he opened
the door Gosh, they didn't leave
a thing in place, did they?'
Not much, I'm afraid. They did
q very thorough job
"Yep-but they didn't find any,
thing. I know. Certainly tried to
make somebody heap of trouble,
didn't they?"
John. thought we might as we'll
straighten this up without letting
anybody know about it. Until we
find out what all this is about it
might be Just as we'll if no one else
knows about it, don't you think?"
John nodded. IF it's all right
with you. there is one person I'd like
to have help me-"
Shortly
Yes, I'd like to see if he could
follow these tracks. If any one can
find out where the trail leads he's
the one to do it. 1t won't excite any
suspicion if he is gone for day. He
may be able to be back sooner than
that. The ground is pretty dry and
the visitor may have guessed that he
would be followed and so he headed
for the rocky places. 1t won't take
Shorty long to find out
Nothing Is Missing.
Can help to straighten your
room up, John? At least, let me
sew up this mattress. I'm quite a
good housekeeper, you know"
Thanks. Miss Allison. I certainly
would appreciate it. I think you
were right about not letting any one
else in on this thing. I'll go find
Shorty, then come back and help
you"
Don't you want to see if any
thing is missing f1rst?"
There is nothin in here that any
one would want, Miss Allison. They
were Just wasting their time" With
that he strobe off in the direction of
the corral.
BY the time she got back from the
house with needle and some thread
to repair the mattress and pillows
that had been cut Shorty and John
were in front of the cabin talking in
low tones. Shorty's face was grave
when she came up to them. Il don't
like this, Allie. Not bit, don't
None of us do, Shorty. But we've
got to try to find out who 1t is be-
fore we let any one else know about
It," Shorty nodded Solemnly as he
strobe toward the corral.
For the next hour she and John
were busy putting the cabin in order
She questioned him once as to what
he thought the prowler might be
after, but he deftly changed the
subject. He seemed confident that
nothing was missing.
"1'm certainly glad you made such
. o"ick trip to town, John. You