Adventure, August 3, 1919 — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

i ee An's hn tan - bein’ choked to death! engineer standing there and wondering whether Jim Black were overestimated or theater os ey” - am was in when Carlton appear at his office later, and with the attorney was a florid-faced, well-dressed, bald-headed man with shrewd eyes, introduced as Lu- cius Van Dorn, representing interests “look- ing into the mines hereabouts.” “I'd like you to take him into your coun- try when you go back,” said Campbell. “He wants to look at the Yampa mine and the other properties around there.” The tall, pleasant-faced attorney had read Dolan’s terse note and also an enclo- sure concerning the engineer. When the reading was over, he seemed very thought- ful. “Tell me all about it,” he invited. Carlton looked at Van Dorn, but the lat- ter seemed thoroughly comfortable in his chair, Campbell caught the glance. “Go ahead,” he said. “‘Van Dorn’s a— friend of mine. He wants to know the gen- eral situation up-country, anyhow. I told him it was a tough neighborhood. Maybe you'll make him believe it.” Still a bit wary because of the third per- son, but accepting Campbell’s judgment, Carlton sat down and gave a detailed ac- count of much that had happened since first he went into his little valley. At the end of it Campbell whistled. “Phew! That’s a pretty mess! I can hardly make head or tail of it! I won- der—I wonder if Dolan’s intercepted note has anything to do with certain powwows the court-house bunch held last night with some strangers. They kept the lights burn- ing all night. There’s something big in the wind, but—hello! Who’s there?” A knock rapped on the door, but before the attorney could open it the sheriff turned the knob and walked in, followed by a chubby deputy. The sheriff wasted no time on formalities. “Hey!” he bawled to Carlton. “What sort of goin’s-on are you havin’ up in your country, anyhow? What are you doin’? Puttin’ up a game on me?” “Game?”’ challenged Carlton, rising from his chair. ‘What are you talking about?” “What game?” e sheriff grinned shrewdly. ‘‘Why, bringin’ down a pris’ner that confessed to murder because he was Tellme. Did Dan Dolan strangle this man or not?” shotgun! Say!” The sheriff was getting excited. “What—what sort of a slam place have you fellers got up there, anyhow? Ain't there no law or order there at all? Is the whole district jest one floatin’ insane asylum? How'd you happen te come into this? How’d you come into cahoots with Dolan?” “I’m not in cahoots with any one!” rasped Carlton, ‘“Dolan’s a friend of mine. Un- derstand? He asked me to take a prisoner — down here, and I’vé done it. If you have anything to say to Dolan, go up there and say it yourself!’ “Say it?” roared the sheriff. “It wouldn’t do no good! That feller’s got a brain like marble! The only thing he’ll listen to is a grand jury indictment!” ‘What for?” demanded the attorney. “For everything! It might be for mur- der an’ conspir’cy to railroad this feller Axel Yager, to the pen’tentiary! We've had enough of Dolan in this country!” “Well, go up and tell him so,” invited Carlton. The sheriff waved it away angrily. “As for you, young feller,” he snap “vou’d better neglect to say much about Jim Black promptin’ any one to kill Snow! There’s nothin’ in it. Nothin’, See? 1 I jest seen Jim Black.” “T knew you would,” nodded Carlton. The sheriff did not know which way to take the remark; so he let it go. Campbell broke in upon him, “Then you’re going to let Yager go?” he asked. ‘ ; “Going to? No. I done it already!” “On his own recognizance, I suppose?” “Sure. The district attorney advised it. What is there to hold him on?” Carlton’s brain was working fast. He remembered how placid the prisoner had and. wondered if the man, believed he was to come among friends. Considering that a murder charge was hanging . the man’s docility had been ~ + . * _ - ll ’ ’ + - 5 adil cee e Se _ ~ + ‘ - +¢€omicbooks.com a -”~ a