Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

IN “ That’s a mighty small bond for first- degree murder, your honor,” he said, as if advising a friend. Judge Fairlove appeared to resent that. “ Better talk down, young feller,” he snapped. ‘“ Got a bondsman?” ‘I’m contracting to go bond for Mr. Cosgrove,” said Gaines; and the court room fairly hummed with animation as in- dignant citizen hailed indignant citizen, and his honor withdrew from the scene. The details of arranging bail concluded, Gaines found his way to the chambers of the judge. His honor, duty done, was re- laxed with feet on desk once more. ‘“ Pete,” said Gaines, “ it certainly was nice to get that boy bailed out thataway. We didn’t expect it. No, sir, we didn’t.” ‘“ Shucks,” responded his honor. ‘‘ That is all right. Wert Farley he asked I should fix it up like that, an’ you know how it is —all the boys like to do the right thing by Wert.” Gaines regarded his honor through nar- rowed lids. It seemed inconceivable that Fairlove was telling the truth, and yet the simple fellow obviously felt under no obligation to lie for Farley. His honor was an honest man after his kind. ‘“‘H-mph,” Gaines snorted. “ That was right good of him.” ‘‘ Shore was,” agreed Fairlove. ‘“ Say, there'll be a heap of publicity about this case, John.”’ But the active, practiced mind of John Gaines was occupied already with this new mystery in the affairs of Bradley Cos- grove. It was imperative that he must know why Farley desired Cosgrove’s free- dom. He took leave of the judge to ap- proach the men who he suspected would . have the information he desired. CHAPTER XIV. IN ANGER IS TRUTH. INCE her father’s death Hazel Farley had ‘‘ roomed and boarded” in the house of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Slade, who ran the store. In view of the attitude the community had taken toward the great- est murder case Manford had enjoyed for THE EVENT OF DEATH. 853 years, Cosgrove had persuaded her to leave him after the scene in the courthouse, knowing that her presence beside him would provoke gossip. Hazel, convinced that the action of Judge Fairlove was a triumph of justice in the face of Cosgrove’s enemies, scarcely no- ticed the distance between the main street of Manford and the residential section. She Strode with happy, vigorous steps to the particular frame house which was the Slade home; and here, having bounded up the steps of the porch, she was immeasurably surprised to find herself face to face with Cliff Lederer. “Why, Cliff,’ she cried in dismay, ‘‘ what are you doing here?” ‘“ We're partners,” he explained sociably. “ Ain’t it natural I should come and visit my little partner?” Instantly she felt herself placed on the defensive, and by a natural reaction she immediately attacked. ‘“T’ve just come from the courthouse,” She said coldly. ‘‘ Bradley Cosgrove is free on bail.” “ Yeah; I heard about it.” His indifference nettled her. to the door, opening it. “Considering that,’ she remarked, ‘“‘ it Seems to me that Wert Farley is the partner you’d better get together with.” Her words were a dismissal; but, to her dismay, he followed her into the house. ‘“ No,” he declared. ‘‘ There’s something I’ve got to say to you that Farley ain’t got anything to do with.” ‘“ Tf it’s about the ranch,” she said, ‘“‘ you are laboring under a large-sized mistake. I can’t say that I like the company I’m thrown with, but while we’re partners I’m playing fair. When we talk business, we talk it all together.” She knew that her words were beside the point. She knew that ranch business was far from his mind. She had no inkling of what the issue was, but she fought it away. ‘“Now, don’t that sound good?” he chuckled, and slumped down into a rock- ing chair. ‘“‘ You certainly got religion since yore dad died, Hazy.” She regarded him indignantly. His shaft was so obviously aimed at Cosgrove. She turned (CO) GIOok