Old Cap. Collier Library No. 379: The Lawyer Detective — page 5: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE LAWYER DETECTIVE. ‘‘T don’t know how that can be.” ‘‘T think the newspaper intimated that the girl’s lover, the owner of the ranch on which you are now living, shot the girl.” ‘‘The newspaper lied!” The words came out, blunt as a stone, from the colonel. ‘‘ Perhaps you know the murderer, Colonel Redhart ?” . ‘*No, I don’t; but one thing [ do know, and that is’at Mr. Demming did not hev a hand in the gal’s takin’ off. I'd sw’ar to that on a stack of almanacs as high as the moon, so I would.” Ragsdale was surprised at the rancher's earnestness. ‘* Wasn’t it you who furnished the news to the reporter, Colonel Redhart ?” ‘*T reckon ’twas.” ; ‘‘Why did you intimate that Demming was the murderer ?” ‘‘So’t the real one wouldn’t take the alarm and flee,” returned the colonel, coolly. There might be something in this method of reasoning, yet Hilton Ragsdale was not satisfied. He wasshown theclothing that the girl’s mother had identified as well as others. The ring was at the house, where Ragsdale could examine it on his return. ‘*T found the body right there, in the cen- ter of this room, where the coyotes had lifted it outer a shallow grave,” said the rancher. ‘‘]t is terrible!” declared Ragsdale. ‘¢T reckon you’re about right, mister.” After a little the young man examined the skeleton closelv. He was determined to make no mistake at the outset. This was surely a human skeleton, and of small size. The young Denverite resolved to make sure of its identity first, then, if it was the skeleton of his cousin who had disappeared so many months before, he would leave no stone un- turned to find the murderer. Leaving the old cabin, the two men walked slowly back to the colonel’s house. Both men were too busy with their own thoughts to speak often. ‘* The first move will be to hold an inquest,” said Ragsdale, on reaching the house. ‘‘T s’pose so. We've all been a-waiting’ fur you,” declared the colonel. ** Well, I am here now, and you’d best see the proper persons and set the ball in motion, colonel.” ‘‘Yes, I'll do so at once.” Dinner waited for the colonel and his guest when the two returned to the house. After it, Hilton walked over to the adjoin- ing ranch tosee his aunt, while Colonel Red-- hart promised to see that an inquest was or- dered at once, to be held not later than the following day. It was, perhaps, a mile between the houses of the two ranches. The road led along the creek most of the distance. Hilton reached the house of his aunt in good season. : The woman seemed pleased to meet her pete and gave him an auntly hug and iss. The young man noticed at once how great- ly changed was Mrs. Chester since he last looked upon her. | She was a matronly, rosy-cheeked woman of less than forty when he last looked upon her. Now she seemed at least ten years older, and her face was pale and shrunken. What had wrought the change? The tragic fate of her daughter ? Undoubtedly. ‘““My daughter, Mr. Ragsdale,” said the woman, introducing a slender, dark-haired girl who just entered the room. Hilton stared. He was too well-bred, however, to exhibit surprise. e bowed, and as the girl put out her hand —a delicate bit of anatomy—he took it, and felt thrilled at the touch. She was quite pretty, with dark, luminous eves and a moutb that was like a rosebud. Her skin was dark, however, and her hair of midnight blackness. Mrs. Chester was a blonde, as was Olive, who had met with such a sad fate. Hilton Ragsdale sat and conversed with his aunt on various topics, not speaking of the ate terrible find on the Redhart ranch. Each seemed loath to bring up the name | of the unfortunate girl. While they sat talking, the clatter of hoofs fell on the air without. Mrs. Chester sprung up and trembled. ‘*He has come,” she said, in a low voice. The door stood open, and before it a horse- man halted. He flung himself from the’saddle and strode to the door. ‘< Mr, Tripp!” exclaimed Ragsdale. ‘‘Exactly,” said the man, entering the room. Then the elder woman turned to Ragsdale and said: ‘‘ Hilton, this is Mr. Tripp, my husband.” ‘Your husband!” Ragsdale recoiled as if shot. CHAPTER IIl. RAGSDALE’S FALL. THE introduction of Tribune Tripp as her husband was the first intimation Hilton Rags- dale had of his aunt’s second marriage. The young Denverite was quite benumbed at the news. For once he quite lost his self-possession. ‘“‘T told you we'd meet again, Mr. Rags- dale,” chuckled Tripp. ‘‘A_ leetle sooner than you expected, like enough.” Had he followed out the promptings of his soul, Hilton would have dealt the mana blow in the face. Such feelings were not creditable to him, he realized, and he smothered them with an effort. ‘‘It is a little sooner than I expected,” ad- mitted Hilton. ‘'1 had no idea that Aunt Julia had married again.” ‘¢ She was sensible enough to do that.at the first good opportunity,” chuckled Mr. Tripp. Quite disgusted, Ragsdale turned on_his heel and left the room. He paced up and down in the shade of a tree not far from the house. His feelings were varied and bitter. He almost hated this man who had mar- his aunt. And yet why should he? The fellow had seemed pleasant enough as a traveling companion. A step interrupted his musings. He turned about to see Rena Tripp, the pretty daughter of his new uncle. Toward her he felt no enmity. “‘T could see that you were offended, Mr. Ragsdale,” she said, in a low voice. ‘‘I at so sorry!” ; “* Does it concern you, Miss Tripp?” he an- swered. ‘I’m sure it was something of a shock to my feelings to learn that my aunt had married again.” ‘‘Yet was it not natural enough? Papa and your relative have been good friends for a year; they were married two months ago, and I was quite angry myself at the outset.” ‘* You have become reconciled.” ‘‘ How could I help it when I came to know dear Julia?” ‘-T am glad that you like my aunt.” ‘‘She is now a mother to me.” There was a luminous light in the large dark eyes of Rena that thrilled the soul of her companion. ‘‘J] am sure, then, the marriage was nota mistake. Will you sit down yonder, and ex- plain some things that as yet are quite mys- terious tome?” .- He pointed to a rustic bench between two large trees not far away. For answer, she walked forward and sat down. He did likewise. ‘‘ Now, Miss Tripp, I'll come to the point at once. Iam out here for the purpose of look- ing into the death of my cousia Olive.” ‘‘T am glad somebody is to investigate,” she returned. ‘‘ There can be no doubt but what murder was done, and the guilty man ought to be punished.” ‘‘ Suspicions point to some one?” ‘“ Oh, yes; to Olive’s lover.” ‘ His name?” ‘‘Evard Demming.” ‘Did you know him?” ‘‘T have met him. He owned Three Oaks, where Colonel Redhart now lives. I believe the colonel bought the ranch of Mr. Dem- ming.” ‘*So I have been informed. Do youremem- 'ber the time when Olive Chester went forth on that last ride?” “I remember | excited suspicion.” it quite distinotly, It was a | 5 warm night in June. Soon after Olive’s de- parture a storm arose and swept this region with uncommon fury. That storm served to give the murderer his chance, and he im- proved it.” “Tell me all about it, Miss Tripp.” ‘‘T can do that in a few words. Olive re- ceived the visits of Evard Demming contrary to her mother’s wishes. I know at the time the young rancher was paying attention to Olive, most people thought it was a splendid match. ‘‘T know my father declared that Olive would do well if she married Demming. I did not agree with him, from the fact that Demming had once been a gambler, and one of general bad character. I think it was for this reason Mrs. Chester refused her consent to the union.” ‘‘ Which would seem to be reason enough,” said Ragsdale. ‘“‘I know Aunt Julia always had a sound head.” ‘‘True. She is an admirable woman. Ol- ive loved her mother, but it seems she loved this Demming more, and met him clandestine- ly. At any rate, so ’tis said.” ‘* Exactly.” ‘On the night in question, I think Olive uarreled with her mother. I know that is the general impression, although mamma will not say, preferring to let the past lie buried.” ‘¢The subject must be very disagreeable to her, poor woman.” ‘‘T¢ is indeed. The murder was cleverly planned, it seems, since all these monthe poor mamma has believed that her daughter eloped with the ex-gambler. I think the belief hae darkened and soured her life.” , ‘* No doubt.” ‘A few days since, when the body was found on the Three Oaks ranch, Julia was stunned to learn the truth. She’s been not quite herself since, so you must excuse any eccentricities you find in her, Mr. Ragsdale.” ‘Certainly. Poor woman! Poor Aunt Julia!” ‘‘T don’t know that there’s much more to tell, Mr. Ragsdale.” ‘What, about Demming ?” ‘‘He hasn’t been seen since he sold his ranch.” ‘“No one hereabouts knows where the ex- gambler has gone ?” ‘No one, unless it be Colonel Redhart.” ‘‘T’ll speak to the colonel about it.” ‘‘T’m afraid it will be of little use, sir.” ‘* How is that?” ‘‘Colonel Redhart has all along defended the man from whom he purchasei Three Oaks.” ‘‘ He doesn’t believe Demming guilty ?” ‘‘ He professes not to, but I, would advise ou not to trust the colonel too far,” said ena, with a queer little elevation of her brows. ‘Of course nobody knows anything against the present owner of Three Oaks, but his determined defense of a murderer isn’t a favorable omen. Father distrusts the colonel, as well as that sleek young man he has in his employ.” “Do you refer to Benay Flash ?” “Yes.” ‘<T was not prepossessed in that man’s favor myself.” ‘‘One cannot be too careful when dealing with such men,” said Rena. Miss Tripp rose to her feet. ‘‘ Are you going ?” ‘““To the stable. Perhaps you have some curiosity to look at the horse Olive Chester rode to her doom ?” ‘Indeed I have.” He followed her to the log-stable, some ten rods in the rear of the house. There were several horses here, but only one had attraction for the young lawyer at the present tifme. - This was a sorrel mare, small and slender- limbed, with an cpen countenance and pleas- ant eye. ‘‘ This was Olive’s horse—her very own, Mr. Ragsdale,” said Rena. ‘‘A beautiful animal,” returned the young man. ‘So it seems, the horse ridden by Olive on that night returned home? I did not know this before.” ‘‘Yes, it wasfound at the stable door the next morning.” --T should have thought this would have “It did in some minds; but ae a faithful COMA (C OO S (CO