The Ely miner., 1942-09-10

either way, i can understand. MS
wanting to hush them up with the
least trouble-but at least he does
know what's behind them. Other
wise, why this Emilio Vargas?"
There was another silence. Then,
"You say you had several possibili-
ties," Lee reminded him.
eyes. Well, let's 60 back to Mitch
ell. The fact remains that Mitchell
was slowing up the work. That's
conclusive. But why? Was he real
ly working for c. A. T. or for Asso-
ciated, say, to prevent rising COM
petition?"
"Well-l, in that case Montaya
might have reason to kill him. But
jeff, I simply can't see Mitchell as
that kind of snake-in-the-grass.
Whatever we might say about his
social graces, he was certainly hon
est about his work. That's my idea"
"Mine, too. All right, could Old
Man Moore have ordered it done?
You know big business has few scru-
pies when the matter of money and
competition is concerned"
Lee shook her head. Light from
the room beyond family outlined the
two on the couch. 1t was posi-
tive shake.
"No. / wouldn't have put it past
him if this were twenty years ago.
He's older now, more careful and
sly. And I don't believe he's that
much concerned today about what
competition he'd get from this out
fit"
cit may be pretty stiff competi-
tion, Lee! Things look mighty good
here for bananas"
"Even so," she answered. "No,
I can't accept that"
"Well," he went on, suppose
Montaya-this is his project, lock,
stock, and barrel-suppose Montaya
has personal enemy determined to
wipe him out, who goes to work on
his Chief Engineer as the most inn
portant single factor for the pur-
pose."
She thought this over.
'That theory's full of holes. Why
wouldn't such an enemy go after
Montaya direct?"
make him suffer pieC 'al?''
Curt suggested. "Bit by t
'No. That wouldn't explain Mitch
ellis slowing up the work. That's an
important angle, from all you've
said"
81 know"
Darling" said Lee, troubled,
"we're right back where we started
can see your point in wanting to
know more. But oh, jeff, darling
be careful. Don't do anything that
would put you in danger. just
couldn't bear it if anything should
should happen to you. And we've
the children"
He pulled her to him.
Don't worry, sweetheart" he
said, his words muff1ed in the thick
ness of her hair. 'I'm no fool.
shan't stick my neck out. cam
forget you and the kids. But
can't promise to drop the matter
completely. I've got to know what.
behind Mitch's murder. I've got to,
Curt insisted, "to protect mysel
from a possible similar danger.
can't help feeling that Montaya'!
in back of all this, but don't Sc,
myself in any danger because Tn
too valuable to him. He has to-
much at stake. For proof of that
there's the bodyguard he's assigned
me :"
Yes, there was the bodyguard. T
irk Curt more and more. Thougl
Montaya may have had Curtis safe
ty in view, Curt also felt himsel
to be under rigid surveillance. No
a chance could he find to get in
word privately with Stats Monahan
The following day Curt took to tn
field again. He made fast tril
to the levee camp, saw his plans 70
speeding the work were coming righ
along, tried again to get Monahal
; aside. It was no go.
But Vargas did have his uses. Nc
only did he relieve Curt of man
minor details, but he kept an ey
on his well-being, too. He saw I
it there were lunches and vacuume
drinks when they'd be too far fror
camp or village. And on this tril
when Curt scratched his arm bac
. ly on a poisonous puncture-weec
Emilio was close at hand to dra
out first-aid kit and swab it wit
mercurochrome. He also insiste
on returning to San Alejo early, ths
.. the wound might be better cared fol
, The mercurochrome had little e
feet and the flesh about the scratc
swelled. Reaching San Alejo in tn
middle of the afternoon, Curt Ill
: loaded himself of musette bag, fiel
glasses, pistol and cartridge belt, g
he piled out of the motorcar at tn
!. station.
: "I'n go on to the hospital frol
here" he told Emilio. "You ca
: drop these at the Office for me. T.
: see you in the morning"
! DR.. Berry himself dressed the il
!, jury.
. "The Inflammation will be gor
!, by morning." he prophesied. eth
torn skin will heal in day or two.
G Leaving the Doctors Office, Gu
Q took turn in the corridor by mi
. take and found himself in the pat
used by convalescents. Since /
' hadn't yet had full look aroun
: he decided to push on farther.
!. The patio was squared by hospit
o and service buildings, open at Il
rear corners. Wandering out one
4 these openings Curt found himse
. at the brink of a sharply descen
r ing ravine. From here he had
q much wider view of the airfeld ths
obtainable from the railroad. The
+ were men on the field and bo
. planes were in front of their hanga
He pulled a sour face at thoug
of the two pilots, but unused, "We',
here together for long time. If