The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1946-03-01
CHAPTER x

He admitted: matter of fact, I
thought there was two women in
there. I thought she said Ruth,
till Earl here told me it was man
and woman"
Joe took both men in his car back
to his home in North Madderson.
Here were vital witnesses; he meant
to keep their information to himself
for a while.
"And you stay here" he directed.
''Don't talk to anybody till I come
for you, or send for you. See?"
He went back to the courthouse,
where Pringle still held his vigil
over Holdom. "He's been asleep
most Of the time" the detective re-
ported. Seems kind of dopey. Don't
say a word"
Joe nodded. 1--WE got hot trail"
he reported "Have you heard any,
thing from Matt"
''Why, yes" Pringle told him.
"They got that car out of the quar-
ry. Telephoned for Will Banion's
ambulance here minute ago. Mrs.
Kell was in it. Dead"
Joe nodded again, loftily. "Natu-
rally" he agreed. "Well, I'll run
out there, take charge"
He made speed toward the quar-
~. Beyond Dewain's Mill, in the
front seat of car stopped at fill
ing-station there, he saw Tope sit
ting alone, his head bowed, appar-
emily asleep. But Joe did not stop.
He had no desire to share with this
interloper his discoveries now. . &.
Instructor Tope did not see Joe
Dane pass by; but the old man,
though his eyes were closed, was not
asleep. Yet he might have been ex-
cused for being. He had slept not at
all for many hours.
When Bee, the night before, took
Mrs. Tope away to see her safe
abed, Tope led Adam up to the cab
In where Whitlock and Beal were
housed, and knocked on the door.
Whitlock and Beal were still awake.
81 talked with your boss, boys"
Tope told them directly. "Take my
word for that? Or do you want to
get him on the phone?"
Whitlock consulted Beal with a
glance, and Tope added: 81 know
who put you on this. Charley told
me. He said you don't know"
sNo," Whitlock admitted.
Charley gave me your reports up
10 yesterday morning, the last time
you called him up. I'll run through
chem if you want, show you I know
what I'm talking about"
Whitlock surrendered. ''Well take
your word for it," he said.
Tope nodded. GAN right. But the
partv that put you on the job in the
AIst place says you can quit now.
But I need you, and Myers says
you're to work with me. O.K.?"
Whitlock grinned. "I've heard a
lot about you, old man. Glad to
watch you operate. What is this
business, anyway"
Tope for moment did not an
swer. Then he said heavily, half
10 himself: ''If it's what think it
Is, it's about as bad a thing as
ever ran into." And he added GRIM
H: "Unless I'm clear off the track,
there are three people dead already
and if we don't watch ourselves,
more to come. You boys come
along"
They set out in two cars, Whit
lock and his comrade trailing; and
Tope said to Adam:
Go to that lodge. son. want to
zee Mr.. Eberly."
Adam assented. Hurry" he
asked.
Tope shook his head. cts late
already" he pointed out. Hell be
asleep, anyway. Wen have to wake
him up; and we're staying with him
till daylight, so take your time"
Right" Adam assented. 'See if
you can 60 to sleep. I'll try not to
give you a bumpy ride"
Yet with the best of intentions on
Adams part, that drive through the
night was still an ordeal of narrow
bed woods roads, missed turns and
subsequent doublings and difficult
Ges. 1t was past four o'clock in the
morning, and Adam was grimly
cursing Bee Dewain's idea of dis
tances and of direction before they
came at last to gate she had de-
Dcribed-and found it locked. At
TOPICS erection, Whitlock and Beal
stayed here with the cars while Tope
and Adam went on, trudging along
the winding way. Insensibly a gray
hight came stealing through the
wood.
Daylight" said Tope. "Well,
we've time enoughl" And he asked:
adam. got your gum"
eyes. Why?"
s'Kell may have brought some one
up here that he didn't tell us about, !"
said Tope. and said no more. Then
they came tc the lodge-low, sprawl
Ing. Duilt Of logs, with an outlook to
he west across the timbled crests
Ut distant wooded hills like tossing
bIllows. A car was parked by the
l,or; and door. and some windows,