eral crimes committed the previous night might or might

not prove a clew to her whereabouts; but each must be

run down in the process of elimination before Burton

could feel safe in abandoning it.

Already he had solved one of them to his satisfac-

tion; and Dopey Charlie and The General were, all un-

known to themselves, on the way to the gallows for the

murder of Old John Baggs. When Burton had found

them simulating sleep behind the bushes beside the road

his observant eyes had noticed something that resem-

bled a hurried cache. The excuse of a lost note book had

taken him back to investigate and to find the loot of the

Baggs's crime wrapped in a bloody rag and hastily

buried in a shallow hole.

When Burton and Jonas Prim arrived at the Case farm

they were met by a new Willie. A puffed and important

young man swaggered before them as he retold his tale

and led them through the woods toward the spot where

they were to bag their prey. The last hundred yards was

made on hands and knees; but when the party arrived

at the clearing there was no one in sight, only the hovel

stood mute and hollow-eyed before them.

"They must be inside," whispered Willie to the detec-

tive.

Burton passed a whispered word to his followers.

Stealthily they crept through the underbrush until the

cabin was surrounded; then, at a signal from their leader

they rose and advanced upon the structure.

No evidence of life indicated their presence had been

noted, and Burton came to the very door of the cabin

unchallenged. The others saw him pause an instant

upon the threshold and then pass in. They closed be-

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