OCR Text |
Show or Stiver Plume. Stltl, yon know, It will be pleasant to tell .Mr. Cavendish when I go back that I was here." He choked and his face seemed to whiten suddenly. ; "Mr. Cavendish?" he gasped. "Of New York? Not the one that was killed?" , It was her turn to stare across the table, her eyes wide with horror, which she simulated excellently. "Killed! Has a man by that name been killed lately In New York? It was Frederick Cavendish I referred to." Her pretense was admirable. He was silent, realizing he had already al-ready said too much. "Tell me," she insisted, "has he been killed? How do you know?" Her earnestness, her perfect acting, convinced him. It was a mere coincidence, coin-cidence, he thought, that this name should have cropped up between them, but, now that it had. he must ex- WMSWMSEL PARWSII M p I AUTHOR- OF" "W 1 I -TMBr DBVIL'iS OWN M "MY LADY OF THE NORTH " ETC. attracted by a rough, brutal type such as Ned Beaton so evidently was. There surely must be some other cause drawing draw-ing ttiera together. Yet, whatever It was, there was nV doubt but that he had been very properly snubbed. Her words stung: yet It was the manner In which she had looked at him and swept past at Beaton's side which hurt the most. Oh, well, an enemy more or less made small difference In his life; he would laugh at it and forget. She had made her choice of companionship, compan-ionship, and It was Just as well, probably, prob-ably, that the affair had gone no fur ther before he discovered the sort of girl she really was. Westcott reached this decision and the outer office at the same time, exchanged ex-changed a careless word or two with Tlmmons, and finally purchased a cigar ci-gar and retired to one corner to peruse pe-ruse an old newspaper. It was not so easy to read, however, for the news failed to Interest or keep his mind from wandering widely. Who was this Beaton, and what connection could be have with Bill Lncy's gang? The row last night had revealed a mutual Interest between the men, but what was its nature? Lacy'8 purpose he believed he understood under-stood to some extent a claim that It was an extension of the La Rosita vein which Westcott had tapped In his recent discovery. But he had no personal per-sonal fear of Lacy; not, at leaf, If he could once get the backing of Cavendish's Cav-endish's money. But these other people Beaton, Miss Donovan, and still another expected to arrive soon from the East how were they connected con-nected with the deal? He was so deeply engrossed In these t gether at ease. Helther broke th alienee al-ienee between them nntl) they reached the flat boulder and had found seats In the shelter of overhanging trees. She sat a moment, then she turned toward him questlonlngly. "I was very rude," she said, "but you will forgive me when I explain the cause. I had to act as I did or else lose my hold entirely on that man you understand?" "I do not need to understand," he answered gallantly. "It Is enough that you say so." "No, It is not enough. I value your friendship, Mr. Westcott, and I need your advice." "You may feel confidence in me." "Oh, I do; Indeed, you cannot realize real-ize how thoroughly I trust you," and Impulsively she touched his hand with her own. "That is why I wrote you to meet me here so I could tell you the whole story." He waited, his eyes on her face. "I received my letter this morning the letter I told you I expected, containing con-taining my Instructions. They they relate to this man Ned Beaton and the woman he expects on this train." "Your instructions?" he echoed doubtfully. "You mean you have been sent after these people on some criminal crimi-nal matter? You are a detective?" There must have been a tone of distrust In his voice, for she turned and faced him defiantly. ' "No ; not that. Listen : I am a newspaper woman, a special writer on the New York Star." She paused, her cheeks flushing with nervousness. "It it was very strange that I met you first of all for it seems that the case is of personal Interest to you." plain the whole affair so as not to arouse suspicion. He cleared his throat and compelled his eyes to meet those across the table. "Weil, I don't, know much about it, only what I read," he began, feeling for words. "He was found dead In his apartments, apparently killed by a burglar who had rtfled his safe." She sat with her chin in the palm of one hand, watching him from beneath be-neath the shadow of lowered lashes, but his eyes were bent downward at his plate. -- "Are you through?" he questioned suddenly. "Yes; this this awful news has robbed me of all appetite." Neither had noticed Westcott as he entered the room, but his first glance if any vague suspicion had been aroused as to her presence In that community, the searchers had discovered discov-ered no proof by this rifling of her bag. Farriss' letter contained nothing of Interest except the fact that Enright had also left for the West. He instructed in-structed her to be on the lookout for him in Huskell, added a line or two of suggestions, and ordered her to proceed pro-ceed with caution, as her quest might prove to be a dangerous one. Miss Donovan thought rapidly and clearly, more than ordinarily eager to solve this mystery. It was Frederick Cavendish who had formerly been the partner of Jim Westcott. This was why no answer had come to the telegrams tele-grams and letters the latter had sent East. What had become of them? Had "DO NOT BE ANGRY." Synopsis. Frederick Cavendish, New York man of wealth, receives a letter from an old friend, Jim Westcott, urging him to come at once to Colorado. Deciding to go, he employs a lawyer. Patrick En-right, En-right, to draw up a will leaving most of his estate to charity, with a mere pittance to John Cavendish, his cousin and only relative, a dissolute dis-solute youth. That night Frederick Cavendish Is murdered in his apartments. apart-ments. No will being found, John Cavendish Inherits the estate. Two months later Enright informs John Cavendish of the existence of the will and offers, for JIOO.OW), to say nothing of it. John agrees. Stella Donovan, newspaper writer, learns from Frederick Cavendish's valet that he is not satisfied the body found was that of his employer. She is directed by Farriss, city editor edi-tor of the Star, to follow up the case. Stella learns of the will Enright En-right had drawn up, also of John Cavendish's infatuation for Celeste I Rue, chorus girl. A conversation conversa-tion Stella overhears between Celeste Ce-leste and John Cavendish convinces her Frederick Cavendish is alive, the victim of a conspiracy engineered engi-neered by Enright to secure his fortune, and that Celeste knows where he Is hidden. Ned Beaton, notorious gunman, Is also mentioned. men-tioned. Celeste is about to leave for Haskell, Colorado, and Stella is ordered by Farriss to- proceed there at once. At Haskell Stella, representing repre-senting herself as a newspaper wilier, makes the acquaintance of Jim Westcott, Frederick Cavendish's Caven-dish's partner. Westcott resents the interest taken In Stella by Beaton, whom he knows only as a visiting New Yorker, and worsts him in a N fistic encounter. . : CHAPTER V Continued. The girl's eyes dwelt lovingly for some time on the fnr-fiung line of' mountains, before she finally released the green shade, and shut out the scene. Iler toilet was a matter of but a few minutes, although she took oc-raslon oc-raslon to slip on a fresh waist, and to brighten up the shoes, somewhat soiled by the tramp through the thick dust the evening before. Indeed, It wus a very charming young woman, her dress and appearance quite sufficiently suf-ficiently eastern, who finally ventured out into the rough hall, and down the single flight of stairs. The hotel was silent, except for the heavy breathing of a sleeper in one of the rooms she passed, nnd a melancholy-looking Chinaman, apparently engaged In chamber work at the further end of the hail. She passed out into the bright sunshine, sun-shine, and clear mountain air. The board walk ended at the corner of the hotel, but a narrow cinder path con- thoughts that he remained unaware that Timmons had left the office, or that the Chinese man-of-all-work had silently tiptoed down the stairs and was cautiously peering In through the open doorway to make sure the coast was clear. Assured as to this, the wily oriental sidled noiselessly across the floor and paused beside him. "ZIs Meester Vest-c-ott?" he asked softly. "That's my name, John ; what is it?" The messenger shook a folded paper out of his sleeve, thrust It into the other's hand hastily, and, with a hurried hur-ried glance about, started to glide away as silently ns he had come, ne vanished into the dork hall, and there wns the faint clatter of his shoes on the stnlrs. Westcott, fully aroused, cast his glance about the deserted room, and unfolded the paper which had been left in his fingers. His eyes took in the few penciled words Instantly. "Do not be angry. I hnd the best of reasons. Meet me near the lower bridge at three o'clock. Very Important. Impor-tant. S. D." He read the lines over again, his Hps emitting a low whistle, his eyes darkening with sudden appreciation. It had been a trick, then, a bit of playacting! play-acting! But had it? Was not this rather the real fraud this sudden r i they fallen into the hands of these nthcs? Was this the true reason for Benton's presence in Haskell, and also why the La Rue woman had been hastily sent for? Westcott's discovery was not even proven yet; its value had not been definitely established ;, it was of comparatively com-paratively small Importance contrasted contrast-ed with the known wealth left by the murdered man in the East. No, there must be some other cause for this sudden sud-den visit to Colorado. But what? She gave little credence to the vague suspicions sus-picions advanced by Valois; that was altogether too impossible, too melodramatic, melodra-matic, this thought of the substitution of some other body. No doubt there had been a crime committed, Its object the attainment of money, but without question the cost had been the life of Frederick Cavendish. The harsh clang of the dinner-hell from the porch below aroused her to a sense of hunger. Ten minutes later Timmons, guiltless guilt-less of any coot, but temporarily laying lay-ing aside his pipe as a special act of courtesy, escorted her into the dining room and seated her at a table between be-tween the two front windows. Evidently Evi-dently this was reserved for the more distinguished guests traveling men and those paying regular day rates for its only other occupant was an individual in-dividual In a check suit. A waitress, a red-haired, slovenly girl, with an Impediment In her speech, took her order and disappeared in the direction of the kitchen, and Miss Donovan discreetly lifted her eyes to observe the man sitting nearly opposite. op-posite. He was not prepossessing, yet she Instantly recognized his type, and the probability thut he would address ad-dress her if the slightest opportunity occurred. The waitress spread out the various dishes before her, nnd she glanced at them hopelessly. As she lifted hor "To mei Why, that is hardly likely, if It originated in New York." "It did" she drew In a sharp breath "for it originated in the murder mur-der of Frederick Cavendish." "The murder of Cavendish ! He has been killed?" "Yes; at least that Is what everyone every-one believes, except possibly one man his former valet. His body was found lying dead on the floor of his private apartment, the door of his safe open, the money and papers missing. The coroner's Jury brought in a verdict ver-dict of murder on these facts." "But when was this?" She gave the date and he studied over It. i'The same day he should have received re-ceived my telegram," he said gravely, ''That's why the poor fellow never answered." an-swered." He turned to her suddenly. "But what became of my others." h asked, "and of all the letters I wrote?4 "That is exactly what I want to learn. They must have been delivered to his cousin, John Cavendish. I'll tell you all I know, and then perhaps, between be-tween us, we may be able to figure It out." Briefly and clearly she set before him the facts she and Willis had been able to gather: the will, the connection connec-tion between Enright and John Cavendish, Cav-endish, the quarrel between John and Frederick, the visit of John to En-right's En-right's office, the suspicion of Valois that the murdered mnn was not Cavendish, Cav-endish, and, finally, the conversation overheard in Steinway's, the torn telegram, tel-egram, and the meeting between Celeste Ce-leste La Rue and Enright. When she had finished Westcott sat, chlj In hand, turning the evidence over In his mind. "Do you believe Frederick Cavendish is dead?" he asked suddenly. "Yes." Westcott struck his hnsid down on the rock, his eyes glowing dangerously. "Well, I don't!" he exclaimed. "I believe he is alive I My theory is that ! "Would You Escort Me to the Foot of the Stairs7" about revealed their prese'nee, and without an instant of hesitancy the big miner crossed the room and approached ap-proached the table where the two were sitting. "I hope I, do not Interrupt," he said pleasantly. " I had reason to suppose you were unacquainted with Mr. Beaton Bea-ton here." , "What reason?" her surprised tone slightly indignant. "I believe the gentleman so informed in-formed me. It chanced that we hud n slight controversy Inst night." "Over me?" "Over his curiosity regarding you who you were; your presence here. I informed him that it was none of Ills business, and that if he mentioned j our nnme In my presence again there was liable to be trouble. We scrapped it out." "You you scrapped it out? You mean there was a fight over me a barroom squabble over me?" "Not in a borroom; in the hotel office. of-fice. Benton drew a gun, and I had to slug him." "But the affair originated over me my name was brought into it?" she Insisted. In-sisted. "You actually threatened him because he asked, about me?" "I reckon that was about how It started," he admitted slowly. "You see, I rather thought I was a sorter friend of yours, and that I ought to stand up for you." Iler eyes were scornful, angry. "Indeed! Well, permit me to say, Mr. Westcott, that I choose my own friends, nnd am perfectly competent to defend my own character. Tills closes our acquaintanceship." She moved about the end of the table and touched Beaton's sleeve with her fingers, ( "Would you escort me to the foot of the stairs?" she asked, her voice softening. VWe will leave tills belligerent bellig-erent Individual to his own company." Neither of them glanced back, the girl still speaking as they disappeared, but Westcott turned in his chair to watch them cross the room. He had no sense of anger, no desire to retaliate, retali-ate, but he felt dazed and ns though the whole world wns suddenly turned upside down. So she really belonged wllh that outfit, did she? Well, It wns n good joke on him. Before he finished ills meal his mood hnd changed to tolernnt amusement. That the girl had deliberately deceived him was plain enough, revealed now in both her maimer and words. It was clear she renlly belonged to the Lacy crowd, and had no more use for him. He could scarcely comprehend the situation ; how a girl of her apparent rcfiii"tnent nnd gentiifty could ever be change of heart. This note might have a sinister purpose; be intended to deceive. No! lie would not believe be-lieve this. All his old lurking faith in her came back in a flash of revelation, revela-tion, lie would continue to believe in her, trust her, feel that some worthy purpose had influenced her strange action. And, above all, he would be at the lower bridge on the hour set. He wns back at the desk when Timmons Tim-mons returned. "What do I owe you, old mnn?" He paid the bill Jokingly and In the best of humor, careful to tell the proprietor thnt he wns leaving for his mine and might not return for several sev-eral days. He possessed confidence that Timmons would make no secret of this in Haskell after his departure. He was glad to notice that Beaton observed him as he passed the Good Luck snloon and went tramping down the dusty road. The only carriage belonging to the town livery passed soon after his arrival, ar-rival, evidently bound for the station, and from his covert he recognized Beaton lolling carelessly In the back sent. This must mean thnt the mnn expected arrivals on the afternoon train, Important arrivals whom he desired de-sired to honor. There was no sign, however, of Miss Donovan; the time was up, yet with no evidence of her approach. Westcott waited patiently, arguing to himself that her delay might be caused by her wish to get Beaton well out of the way before she ventured to leave the hotel. At last he strode down the path to the bridge, and saw her leaning over the rail, staring at the ripples below. "Why," he exclaimed in surprise, "how long have you been here?" "Several minutes," and she turned to face him. "I waited until the carriage car-riage passed before coming onto the bridge. I took the foot path from the hotel." "You sent for me ; there is some explanation, ex-planation, no doubt?" The lady smiled, lifting her eyes to his face. "There is." she answered. "A perfectly per-fectly satisfactory one, I believe but this place is too prominent, as I have a rather long story to tell." "There is a rock sent below. Just beyond be-yond the clump of willows, quite out of sight from the road," he suggested. "Perhaps you would go with me there?" "What trail Is that?" "It lends to mines up the ennyon, my own Included, but Is not greatly traveled; the main trail Is farther east." She walked to the edge of the bridge and permitted him to assist her down the bank. There was something of reserve nbout her manner, which prevented pre-vented Westcott from feeling ulto- gaze she met that of her vis-a-vis fairly, fair-ly, nnd managed to smile. "Some chuck," he said in an attempt at-tempt at good-fellowship, "but not to remind you of the Waldorf-Astoria." "I should say not," she answered, testing one of her dishes cautiously. "But why associate me with New York?" "You can't hide those tilings in a Joint like tills. When did you leave New York?" "Oh, more than a week ago," she lied gracefully. He stroked his moustache. "Then I suppose you haven't much late New York news? Nothing startling, start-ling, I mean?" "No ; only what has been reported in the western papers. I do not recall anything particularly interesting." She dropped her eyes to her plate and busied herself with a piece of tough beef. "The usual murders, of course, and things of that kind." There was a moment's silence, then the man laughed as though slightly ill nt ease. "Whatever brought a girl like you down In here?" She smiled. "I'm n feature' writer; I'm doing a series on the West for Scribbler's," she told him. "I visit New Mexico next, but I'm after something else besides be-sides a description of mountains and men ; I'm also going to hunt up an old friend Interested In mining, who told me If ever I got out this way I must look him up. He wns continually singing sing-ing tills valley's charms, and so here l am. And I'm planning a great surprise sur-prise on him. And, of course, I'm literally lit-erally drinking In atmosphere to say nothing of local color, which seems mostly to be men and revolvers." The mnn opposite wet his lips with ills tongue in an effort to speak, but the girl ' ns busy eating and apparently appar-ently paid no attention. Her calm Indifference In-difference convinced him that her words were entirely innocent, nnd his audacity returned. "Well," he ventured, "do you agree with this prospector friend?" "The scenory, you mean?" glancing up brightly. "Why, it U wonderful, of courser and I am not ht all sorry having hav-ing made the Journey, although li hardly compares with Tennessee Puns t "ZIs Meester Vest-c-ott?" He Asked Softly. this was all carefully arranged, but thnt circumstances compelled them to act quickly and before they were entirely ready. Two unexpected occurrence oc-currence hurried them Into action." Enright the lawyer -ind the blonde La Rue. tTO BE CONTINUED.) The Suitcase . . . Was Wide dpen, Its Contents Disarranged. tinned down that side of the street for some distance. Through the rude window win-dow at the post office the clerk pushed a platn mnnila envelope into her outstretched out-stretched hand. Evidently from the thinness of the letter, Farriss had but few Instructions to give and, thrusting the unopened missive into her handbag, hand-bag, she retraced her steps to her room. ' There she ventured a startled gasp. The suitcase which she had left closed upon the floor was open wide open tts contents disarranged. Some one had rummaged It thoroughly. And Miss Donovan knew thut she was under suspicion. The knowledge gave the girl a sudden sud-den (!'''iil, but not of fenr. Insteud It served to strengthen her res-olve. There hnd been nothing In her vnlise So 1imv vslm she renlly was or why ' v" '-.'! i l:il.e)l, and cunscnucntly, |