The Argosy, April 1912 — page 107: what you’re looking at

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

SHIFTING SUSPECTS. right. Ill prove it to you before I am through with this affair.” “T hope so,” said Huntly. “Why, I’ve got my man right now,” de- clared Border, looking keenly at the East- erner. : “Where?” asked the latter, looking around. “T’ve as good as got him,” finished Bor- der. ‘This loose shoe will be his finish. Ha, ha!” “T don’t see any cause for merriment,” observed Huntly. “T’m laughing at the idea of a man not having more sense than this fellow. Boys,” he added, calling back over his shoulder, “for the honor of the community I hope this piece of work wasn’t done by any of our former respected members of society.” This caused a general laugh in which all joined with the exception of Huntly. “You don’t seem to appreciate our wit out here, Mr. Huntly,” observed the sheriff. “Well, maybe it is a bit strained, but it carries its point just the same.” As he spoke they reached a small stream. Crossing it, they climbed the opposite bank. “Well, Ill be derned,’ exclaimed the sheriff. “I can’t find them.” Once more he descended from his horse and began searching the ground, the men with him joining in the hunt. “He must have gone down stream a bit, boys,” Border decided at last, “he ought to have had sense enough to do that, if he real- ly wanted to get away with the prize.” The men scattered both up and down stream. It wasn’t long before one of them called out: “Here they are again, sheriff!” “Good!” declared Border. “I thought so. He made a little détour, but we'll find that he’s back on the same trail again.” (He was right. After a short distance the hoof-prints once more emerged into the trail, and the party started on again with the feeling that they were going in the right direction. “The route is not so easy for a mile or so along here,” commented Huntly. “How do you know that?” asked Bor- der quickly. “Because I have been here before.” “Maybe you strolled out here this after- noon,” said the sheriff, “when you took your walk in the country.” 93 “Oh, no, not this afternoon,” quickly re- plied the Easterner. ‘“It—it was several days ago.” “Oh!” exclaimed Border. “I know every inch of this trail. I know where it leads.” He stopped his horse and waited for the others to come up. “Boys,” he said, “keep some little dis- tance behind, but be within pistol-shot. Mr. Huntly and I will go on. I think it best to separate. You never can tell what will happen.” Following instructions, the men fell be- hind, while the sheriff and Huntly spurred ahead. “Mrs. Temple seems to like you pretty well, Mr. Huntly,” remarked Border sud- denly. “Ves, she does,’ admitted the young man. “ And Mr. Temple—?” “He’s dead.” “T know. But before he died? approve of the match?” “Mr. Temple knew nothing about 1h, said Huntly. “It was not until after he died that I became acquainted with Mil- dred. But both she and her mother have assured me that I am just the kind of man Mr. Temple would have liked.” “And the young lady has no brothers?” “Not one.” “Then who looks after her interests?” “Her interests?” “Ves, her inheritance.” “Oh, but I told you she hadn’t come into that yet—not until she is of age.” “Oh, I remember now,” said the sheriff; “but there are certain financial matters to be attended to. Without a man in the family it must be difficult. Perhaps Mrs. Temple calls on you now and then—just to show her confidence—to handle affairs for her.” He watched Huntly keenly and waited anxiously for his reply. “Oh, no,” replied the Easterner; “I know nothing about such matters. Mrs. Temple employs a lawyer for that.” The men were now going at a rapid pace. The trail lay clear before them, and the hoof-prints of the two horses were quite distinct. “Did you ever see anything prettier than that?” asked the sheriff. “Oh, this is a pleasure. We'll be there before long.” “Where?” Did he Comicoool< CO