“BUCKY FOLLOWS A HOT TRAIL.”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 135, 21 March 1939, Page 7

“BUCKY FOLLOWS A HOT TRAIL.”

(Copyright).

By WILLIAM MacLEOD RAINE :: A Thrilling Mystery Romance with a Hard-riding, Two-gun Background^

CHAPTER XII. “Give mo a day or two to work out one or two things that are in my mind,” Mtichell said. “I want to think over what you’ve told me, Mr Cameron, and .verify some facts before f do any talking. But I’ll say this. Between us I believe we can clear this thing up. You’ve given me a leadi or two I mean to follow.” “Hope you have more luck than I’ve liad so far,” Bucky told him. “Experienpe tells mo that in ci’imes of this kind you do a lot of underground work before the case is solved,” Mitchell said, rising to go. “A Jot of it is unneccessary and leads to nothing, but you can’t tell that in advance. . . . Take care of yourself and keep out of the way of bullets. Much safer lor me to do the investigating.” Nancy came into the room shortly after Mitchell left. “What did you think of him?” Bucky asked. “I rather liked him. Does a, detective look like that?” “Like what?” “Why, just like anyone el^e—like a prosperous business man.” Bucky laughed. “You’ve been reading fiction. All detectives haven’t pounded a beat. If you knew a man was a sleuth as soon as you s£iw him he wouldn’t bo of much use, would he?” “I suppose not. But ho looks so —so harmless. His kind come by the dozen. After >1 left, did he admit he’s a detective?” “Practically.” Bucky grinned. “He s detective enough to have got out of me all I know without telling me anything he has found out.” “Does he feel that—you and Mr Cliff Cameron aren’t in this?” “He didn’t tell me,” Bucky answered dryly. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said that,” Nancy rushed on, the colour deepening in her clear skin. “But I want you to know—if it matters to you, though perhaps it doesn’t—l mean, to have people tell you they believe in you — there’s one run of the mill nurse who’s sure you hadi nothing to do with the* robbery.” He said, gently, “It is good to hear that from you. Why are you sure?” Airily she gave a woman’s reason. “Because.” She added an explanation,: “You’re a swell fellow.” “That’s a considered verdict, is it?” he asked.

“Besides, I nursed your cousin ’Julia when she had her tonsils out while you were away. I saw a. lot of your uncle. He is a fine man. Anybody but a fool could see he wouldn’t do anything dishonourable. I would trust him all the way.” Bucky shook hands vvitli her. “You’re a gentleman, Nancy.” * # * * Bucky was sitting by the window. Nancy left the room to make him a lemonade, blit returned almost at once, a queer look on her face. “Visitors to see you,” she said. “Your cousin and Miss Garside.” Bucky’s eyes danced. This was exciting, though surprising. Kathleen and Julia wore not on cordial terms. When they met they bowed stiffly. “Please show them in,” he said. Julia kissed him. Kathleen did not offer to shake hands. She stood tall and erect, her dark disdainful eyes looking down at him. “Nice of you to come,” he told the daughter of his enemy, his smile decisively grateful. “Miss Graham, would it be too much trouble to ask you to clear the newspapers from that chair?” Kathleen did not sit down. The long lithe body with its fine animal vigour beneath the satiny skin, was uncompromisingly hostile. Yet she was feminine from well-shod feet to the crisp copper curls peeping out from the modish hat. “I aslfed Miss Cameron to let me come with her,” she said stiffly. “I’m a fool for coming, but I had to see you.” Her voice was cold. “To warn you. I picked up the telephone extension in my room and listened in on a talk. No names were mentioned, but I know you were meant.” “Who was talking?” Bucky asked. • “I don’t know, for sure, who was at the other end. Sheriff Haskell was in the house to see father. He did the talking from our end of the connection.” “About me?” “Yes. I got in just in time to hear the other man say they had waited long enough for Haskell to act. Ho said they would move themselves and do your business muy pronto. I don’t know Avhat the sheriff had refused to do, but he got excited and asked them to wait. The other man laughed, a cruel laugh, and hung up.” “You don’t know, but you can guess, who was talking with Haskell,” Bucky said, his eyes on hers. I can guess, but no better guess that you.” “West, maybe.” “Maybe. The sheriff called him Dan.” She broke out, imperiously, “1 suppose you’ll still sit around and play at being a stuffed Buddha, just to show off how brave you are.” “You don’t put it the way I do,” he answered. “But that’s all right. I’m much obliged to you for coming. We’re keeping tabs on Mr West and his friends. They can’t hurt me while Miss Graham rides herd on me. “If you won’t leave this part of the country why don’t you go out to the ranch and stay there,” Kathleen urged.

“Just Avhat I mean to do in a feAV days. Thank you. for coming Miss Garside.” “You needn’t thank me,” she said, flinging hack his gratitude almost violently. “It’s just that I won’t have murder done and he a, party to it. Noav it’s off my mind. Do as you please.” She turned to go. There Avas a small crash of breaking glass. For an instant none of them moA r ed. Then Nlancy darted forward, pulled the blind down swiftly, end dragged from in front of the window the chair in Avhich Bucky was sitting- , , “What Avas it?” Julia asked, shaken and frightened. Bucky shook off the blanket that wrapped his legs. Ho put an arm

around Nancy’s shoulders, gave her a little hug, and said, “Good girl!” “The bullet must have passed close to your head,” Nancy said. She was white to the lips, blit quite composed. “It broke the picture glass on tlie wall almost directly behind you. “A bullet!” Julia stared, big-eyes, at her. “You mean ” “Must have been fired from the empty house opposite,” Bucky explained. “The fellow had a maxim silencer on his gun.” Nancy picked up the telephone, til get the police.” “Do no harm—and no good,” Bucky said. “He’s heating it down the alley by this time. Wait a minute, Miss Graham. Give me the phone. 1 H talk with the chief.” He sat on the bed, telephone in hand. Police department?” he said presently. . “Gimme the chief. Bucky Cameron talking. This is important. . . Chief, this is Bucky Cameron. I was fired at a moment ago through the window of my room at Mercy Hospital. From a gun with a silencer. . . Yes. . . Yes. . . . Boom 321, facing south, toward Steele Street. . . 'Listen chief, there’s an empty house opposite my room. The fellow must have fired: from the secondstorey window. . . Sure I know it’s against the law to have sub-machine guns. Anyhow, that bird may have left some evidences .in the house—finger prints on the window-sill- and the door knobs especially. If you find anything, please let me know. Better come up and see where the bullet struck a wall picture in my! room. Fine. . . That’s good. See you later, chief.” “Some one may have seen the man escaping,” Kathleen said, after Bucky had hung up. . “Maybe,” Cameron replied. “The police will cover that angle.” “Miss Garside is right,” the nurse said decisively. “You’d better get out to your ranch as soon as you can Mr Cameron. . . He didn’t lose any time, did he—-that man West, whoever lie is?” . Bucky walked up to the picture and examined the bullet hole. He could not tell until the lead had been dugout of the ivall whether it had been from a rifle or a revolver. “West and his friends—or somebody else—seem anxious to get rid of me,” he said. “They are in a hurry. Why the rush—unless they are afraid?” “Afraid you or your men will shoot them first?” Kathleen asked. “But ivliile you are in the hospital——” “While I’m here I can’t very well shoot them, can I?” Bucky finished lor her, ivith a sardonic smile. But we’re such notorious killers, the Cameron outfit, that they can’t sleep nights for fear Ave’ll slaughter them wholesale.” Kathleen flushed. “Some of you killed that man Dieter.”

“Just in time,” Bucky added. To Miss Garside, “that’s not Avhat they’re afraid of. What’s worrying them is that they think I’m on the edge of a discovery—or at any rate getting close to it. ’They fear I knoAV too much.” “About what?” Julia asked breathlessly. “About the First National Bank robbery.” ■ ■“What do you know,” asked Kathleen, her glance darting at him. Bucky ignored her question. "When he spoke, his mind seemed to. he on another matter. “Tuffy Arnold Avas in toAvn yesterday and the day before,” he said thoughtfully. “Who is He?” Kathleen Avanted to know impatiently. “He is a friend of a friend—l mean of an acquaintance of Miss Garside,” the young man explained. ’ ‘.‘Referring to Mr Dan West. Tuffy and a man named Jud Rdcliman are the brains of the Red Rock outfit. Tuffy advises them at home. Jud fronts for them here, disposes of their rustled stock, sees that the IaAV does not annoy them too much. If those two good citizens get together they might decide to take direct action against a common enemy—Avitli the help perhaps of Mr West. Jud must have got the silencer.” “The finger-prints in the house,” Nancy suggested. “May be they will tell Avho fired the shot.” .

Bucky shook his head. “There won’t be any finger-prints, not if Jud and Tuffy are '-running the show.U “Then Avhy did you tell the chief of police to look for them?” Julia asked.

“They are a wild careless hunch, the Red Rocks outfit,” her cousin explained. “Light on brains. It would he like one of them to forget instructions and write his identity on the dusty AiindoAV-sill or on a Avail, especially if Ho chanced to Have been drinking. But it’s only a long shot.” “It doesn’t matter aa t lio did it—at least that’s not what matters most just noAV,” Kathleen interposed impatiently, She looked at Bucky, and a heat ran through her lithe bro Av-n body. “You 7 re not going to he fool enough to stay around here any longer, are .you?” . You’ve already had tAVO warnings—*—” “Three,” amended Bucky. “Don’t forget they ruined my hat in front of your house.” He added regretfully, “A good hat, too. Cost me eight bucks.”

“With a gsturo of annoyance Kathleen brushed this levity aside.” “I’m •interested only because I won’t have people thinking that father is mixed up in any harm that comes to you when he is really trying to protect .you,” she Avent on, her colour high, eyes sparkling angrily. “If you Avaut to strut around and be killed you don’t hn.A;e to chooso our yard.” “And all. Toltec is your yard now, isn’t it?” he said Avith suave irony. “Since your father has taken it over lock, stock, and barrel. He ought to deport as undesirable citizens those ol us ho doesn’t like.” Kathleen Garside was furious. She looked: hot to the touch as she turned to Julia. “If ho has any friends they had better have him put in an insane asylum,” she said, and Avalked quickly out of the room. After the explosive exit, Julia Avas the first to speak. “She’s right Bucky. I don’t mean about the asylum, of course. But you can’t go on like this. It’s terrible.” “He isn’t going on like this,” Nancy said in her cool matter of fact tone. “He’s my patient, and I’m responsible for. his safety. Right away I’m moving him into another wing of the hos-

pital. To-morroAV Ave’rc going out to the ranch to stay.” Bucky said, smiling at her, “I’a-o got my orders.” (To he Continued.)