Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

22 sheriff was stc^ndiiiR. A faint smile hovered about the coiners of his mouth. "A simple ruse, but it always works," ho murmured. "I wonder you didn't think of it yourself. You see. those four men dunified a load of the arrow- heads as soon as I said that anyone carryins: any would bo implicated. That's how I knew it was them." Jim Marvin stepped forward and touched Wells Farj;o on the arm. "That clears me, doesn't it?" he asked. "I had nothiuf; to do with the hold-up. I was at the Bar X ranch at the time it took place. My brothers and I were workinR at the dippinK trouRhs, and three of those Kuys were with me. They denied I was there at the time, and tliat's how the sheriff bcffan to Ret suspicious of mo. Now it's been pro.ved that they are some of Trent's men, and that the.v would naturally want to pet rid of me, I reckon their story about me being miss- ing at the time of the murder doesn't hold Rood." FarRO held up Lis hand. "One moment, young man," he said quickly. "As I see things, you are in k've with Wally Lee's guardian, wliich means that in the event of Wally cstab- li.shing his claim to those oil lands, you would practically control his money. Am I right ?" "You are." "Then.sit tight a minute. Before I let .you go, I'm having this case cleared once and for all." Jim stood back with Betty as Fargo reached out for a chair. He carried it over to a far corner, placed it with its seat to the wall, and then sat down, his arms resting on the back. "Mamie Trent, stand forward!" he called. There was a stir as a door at the back of the saloon opened and she walked into the room. The Mystery Man. WELLS FARGO regarded her in silence for a few moments, pur- posely holding in his hand so that she could see two of the flint arrowheads. "Mrs. Trent," he said at last, "I have sometimes wondered why you ever put up with your husband. He hasn't treated you too well. Anyway, he has reached the end of his career now, and I don't expect you're sorry." He indicated the arrowheads. "Perhaps you'd like to tell me about these." She stared at him levclly, and in her eyes he coiild see uncertainty. Suddenly they hardened. "I can tell you nothing," she replied coldly. " No ?" Ho sjiiftcd to a more comfort- able position on his chair. "Well, per- haps it is not so important, after all, because I think I know all I want to. You see, I have been making a few inquiries. Your father and mother own n granite quarry up in the mountains, don't they?" "Well, what if thoy do?" "The granite got from there is exactly like that of which these arrowheads are made," Fargo went on slowly, his voice never rising above a conversational tone. "Of course, I hate to suggest it, but it might so happen that I have to take along vour father as an accessory." She looked at him wildly, as if she would like to spring on him and tear him to pieces. Then, as if the strain had become too much for licr, she broke down, burying her face in her hands. February 15th, 1930. BOY'S CINEMA "There, there,"' said Fargo sooth- ingly. "Don't take it like that. I'm only just trying to find out enough to establish the innocence of those who were nothing to do with the murder, and incidentally bring to justice those who were responsible." He paused again, as though reniembeiing some- thing else. "Let me see, your name be- fore your marriage was Coles, wasn't it?" She nodded, her face still hidden. "1 thought so. It was the name of the guard of the Toyahvale stage who disappeared after the driver had been killed." She looked up at that, and her eyes began to blaze recklessly. Fargo sat back, knowing that he had broken down her resistance. "You can't implicate him," she cried. " Y''ou can't, I tell you. It would kill my father and mother if they knew, ril admit that Dick was guard on the stage, liiit he fell into debt with the man who did the hold-up." "Playing faro at this saloon?" Fargo interposed gentlj-. "Yes." 'I'he word was spoken almost in a whisper as she realised the trap into which she had fallen "You"ve got mo to give the game away now. It was into my husband's clutches ho fell. Trent had half this township in his hands at one time through gambling debts. Dick was amongst them." "And Dick had to take the job of guard on the stage to help Trent with his hold-up?" Fargo suggested, seeing the trend of events now that he had heard so much. "Yes, that was it." Her voice rose almost to a shril? scream. "You clever devil ! You've made me squeal on my own husband. Y'ou've tied me up until I've had to put the noose round his neck." "It's my job," Fargo said slowly. "Anyway, he never meant much to you." Ho turned to the sheriff. "Sheriff, see that Mamie Trent is escorted to Barstow, where her people live. I shall not want her again. The arrowheads came from her father's quarry, where she made them under "Trent's orders. She acted under coercion, and the law can't touch her." She turned away, and quietly left the room. Her face was still buried in her hands, and she was weeping. "I think that more or less clears up the murder case," Fargo went on. "Trent did the job, and a few more inquiries will establish the fact that he was the leader of the hold-up gang that has been working in these parts." "What about Jim Marvin?" the sheriff asked. "Oh. yes! Jim Marvin." Fargo's eyes flickered for a moment over Jim's face. "His ca^e is more complicated. isn't it? Let me sec now. Was Trent present when you found the arrowhead the first time?" "Yes." the sheriff replied. "You see. Trent had knocked him down, and when I came to help him to his feet I fotmd it lying by his side." "That disposes of one incident," Fargo commented. "The arrowhead obviously fell out of Trent's pocket, or was dropped from it deliberately during or after the struggle. How about the second time ?" The sheriff pondered for a moment, as though trying to recall the circum- stances. "I found it in .Tim's pocket when I arrested him in the deserted hotel at the oil city." he said slowly. "I put it there without thinking,'' Jim cut in. "It was left on the counter after the box containing Wally's papers had disappeared." Every Tuesday Fargo glapced at him, and then rested his chin on his hands. Dead silence prevailed for several minutes, broken only by the detective drawing in his breath sharply. His eyes were fixed on the doorway. Everyone in the room turned. Stand ing before them was the mystery man. his face no longer masked. His head was still bandaged, and under his arm ho carried a black tin box. Wally stared at him dumbfoundedly, and then darted forward. "Father!" he exclaimed. "It's you I You're not dead !" Old Robert Lee chuckled. "Do I look like it?" he added, put- ting his free arm round Wally's shoulders. Fargo thought the occasion well worth more personal investigation. He got up from his chair and went over to where the two were standing. " Rob(nt Lee?" he asked. "That's me," Lee replied. "1 am Wells Fargo, the man you have been impersonatmg," the detective went on. "The impersonation %vas partly niy fault, of course, because 1 told some others that you were me. It distracted attention from my movc- ir.cnt.< At the moment I am looking into one or two small matters for the slieriff, and I think you can help me. Will you come over this way?" He led Lee to where the others were standing, and resumed his position on his chair. The Trump Card. THE proceedings were interrupted for a while. The sheriff and Fargo held a hurried consultation out of hearing of the others, and then the sheriff went away. As soon as he had gone Fargo turned to Leo once more. "Y'ou've led everyone a pretty dance this last week, Lee," he said. "A whole heap of people have been looking for you, and you've been around all the time. Wliat's the big idea?" " Ever heard of a writ of attach- ment?" Lee asked. "I have," Fargo replied. "It's an order of the court, subject to defence, attaching all your goods and money for the benefit of a creditor. In other words, if you owe someone a stiff bill and you don't pay it, they can seizo all you've got and sell it for their benefit." "If they can find you," Lee inter- posed. "The writ can't be enforced un- less it's been served on your personally, and you have a chance cither to de- fend yourself or to pay what you owe." Fargo uttered a low whistle of sur- prise. "So that was it?" he muttered. "Trent had you as well?" Leo nodded. "You see, I always had an idea that those gushers would start up again sooner or later," he explained. "Oil wells don't run dry in such a short time. So, as I'd married Trent's sister, I went to him for loans to hang on when things got bad. He started to worry me for the return of the money long before I was ready to repay, and one day I heard that he had applied to the commissioner for the writ. " I made myself pretty scarce, I can tell you. You see, if I had had that writ served or, me, Trent would have taken the lands, and what I knew to be worth millions would have been sold by him in public auction for a mere few Inmdreds. 1 dared not risk that, so I just vanished from sight. "Wally's -coming down here com- pletely took me by surprise. I had reckoned on him being safe in school