Classic Audiobook Collection - Tangled Trails by William MacLeod Raine ~ Full Audiobook [adventure]

Starting point is 00:00:00 tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain chapter one no altruist esther mcclaine brought the afternoon mail in to cunningham she put it on the desk before him and stood waiting timidly afraid to voice her demand for justice yet too desperately anxious to leave with it unspoken he leaned back in his swivel chair his cold eyes challenging her well he barked harshly she was a young soft creature very pretty in a kittenish fashion both sensuous and helpless it was an easy guess that unless fortune stood her friend she was a predestined victim to the world's selfish love of pleasure and fortune had stood with a cynical smile had stood aside and let her go her way. I... I... A wave of color flooded her face. She twisted a rag of a handkerchief into a hard-wotted knot. Spade it out, he ordered curtly. I've got to do something, soon. Won't you? Won't you? There was a wail of despair in the

Starting point is 00:01:22 unfinished sentence. James Cunningham was a grim, gray pirate as malleable as cast iron and as soft he was a large big-boned man aggressive dominant the kind that takes the world by the throat and shake success from it the contour of his hook-nosed face had something rapacious written on it no not till i get good and ready i've told you i'd look out for you if you'd keep still don't come whining at me i won't have it but already he was ripping letters open and glancing over them tears brimmed the brown eyes of the girl she bit her lower lip choked back a sob and turned hopelessly away her misfortune lay at her own door she knew that but-the woe in her heart was that the man she had loved was that the man she had loved was a leaving her to face alone a night as bleak as death cunningham had always led a life of intelligent selfishness he had usually got what he wanted because he was strong enough to take it no scrupulous nicety of means had ever deterred him nor ever would he played his own hand with a cynical disregard of the rights of others it was this that had made him what he was a man who bulked large in the sight of the city and state long ago he had made up his mind that altruism was weakness he went through his mail with a swift trained eye

Starting point is 00:03:11 one of the letters he laid aside and glanced at a second time it brought a grim hard smile to his lips a paragraph read there's no water in your ditch and our crops are burning up your whole irrigation system in dry valley is a fake you knew it but we didn't you've skinned us out of all we had you damned bloodsucker if you ever come up here we'll dry gulch you sure the letter was signed one you have robbed attached to it was a clipping from a small-town paper telling of a meeting of farmers to ask the united states district attorney for an investigation of the dry valley irrigation project promoted by james cunningham the promoter smiled he was not afraid of the government he had kept strictly within the law it was not his fault there was not enough rainfall in the watershed to irrigate the valley but the threat to dry gulch him was another matter he had no fancy for being shot in the back some crazy fool of a settler might do just that he decided to let an agent attend to his dry valley affairs hereafter he dictated some letters closed his desk and went down the street toward the city club at a florist's he stopped and ordered a box of american beauty to be sent to Miss Phyllis Harriman. With these he enclosed his card, a line of greeting

Starting point is 00:04:54 scrawled on it. A poker game was on at the club, and Cunningham sat in. He interrupted it to dine, holding his seat by leaving a pile of chips at the place. When he cashed in his winnings and went downstairs, it was still early. As a card player, he was not popular. He was too keen on the main chance and he nearly always won in spite of his loud and frequent laugh of the effects of bluff geniality there was no genuine humor in the man none of the milk of human kindness a lawyer in the reading-room rose at the sight of cunningham want to see you a minute he said let's go into the red room he led the way to a small room furnished with a desk, writing supplies, and a telephone. It was for the use of members who wanted to be private. The lawyer shut the door. Afraid I've bad news for you, Cunningham, he said. The other man's steady eyes did not waver.

Starting point is 00:06:08 He waited silently. I was at Golden today on business connected with a divorce case. by chance i ran across a record that astonished me it may be only a coincidence of names but now that you've wrapped up the blackjack so that it won't hurt suppose you go ahead and hit me over the head with it suggested cunningham dryly the lawyer told what he knew the promoter took it with no evidence of feeling other than that which showed in narrowed eyes hard as diamonds and the clenched jaw in which the muscles stood out like ropes. Much obliged, Foster, he said, and the lawyer knew he was dismissed. Cunningham paced the room for a few moments, then rang for a messenger. He wrote a note and gave it to the boy to be delivered. Then he left the club.

Starting point is 00:07:08 From 17th Street, he walked across to the Paradox Apartments where he lived. He found a note. propped up against a book on the table of his living room it had been written by the Japanese servant he shared with two other bachelors who lived in the same building mr Hull he come see you he's sorry you not here he say maybe perhaps make honorable call some other time it was signed S. Horikawa Cunningham tossed the note aside he had no wish to see Hull The fellow was becoming a nuisance.

Starting point is 00:07:48 If he had any complaint, he could go to the courts with it. That was what they were for." The doorbell rang. The promoter opened to a big barrel-bodied man who pushed past him into the room. "'What do you want, Hull?' demanded Cunningham, curtly. The man thrust his bull neck forward. A heavy roll of fat swelled over the furtled over the furtly. swelled over the collar.

Starting point is 00:08:17 You know damn well what I want. I want what's coming to me. My share of the dry valley cleanup, and I'm going to have it, see. You've had every cent you'll get. I told you that before. Tiny red capillaries seemed to the beefy face of the fat man. And I told you I was going to have a divvy,

Starting point is 00:08:42 and I am. You can't throw it. down, Cass Hull, and get away with it. Not none. The shallow protuberant eyes glittered threateningly. Thought you knew me better, Cunningham retorted contemptuously. When I say I won't, I won't. Go to a lawyer if you think you've got a case. Don't come belly aching to me. The face of the fat man was apoplectic. Like sin, I'll go to a lawyer. you'd like that fine you double-crossing sidewinder i'll come with a six gun that's how i'll come and soon i'll give you two days to come through two days if you don't hell sure enough will cough whatever else could be said about cunningham he was no coward he met the raving man eye to eye i don't scare worth a cent hull get out pronto and don't come back unless you want me to turn you over to the police for a blackmailing crook

Starting point is 00:09:53 cunningham was past fifty-five and his hair was streaked with gray but he stood straight as an indian six feet in his socks the sap of strength still rang strong in him in the days when he had ridden the range he had been famous for his stamina and he was even yet a formidable two-fisted fighter but hull was beyond prudence i'll go when i get ready and i'll come back when i get ready he boasted there came a soft thud of a hard fist on fat flesh the crash of a heavy bulk against the door after that things moved fast hull's body reacted to the pain of smashing blows falling swift and shore before he knew what had taken place he was on the landing outside on his way to the stage He hit the treads hard and rolled on down. A man coming upstairs helped him to his feet. What's up? the man asked. Hull glared at him for the moment speechless.

Starting point is 00:11:07 His eyes were venomous, his mouth a thin, cruel slit. He pushed the newcomer aside, opened the door of the apartment opposite, went in and slammed it after him. the man who had assisted him to rise was dark and immaculately dressed i judge uncle james has been exercising he murmured before he took the next flight of stairs on the door of apartment twelve was a legend in old english engraved on a calling card it said james cunningham the visitor pushed the electric bell cunningham cunningham opened to him him good evening uncle the younger man said your elevator is not running so i walked up on the way i met a man going down he seemed rather in a hurry a cheap blackmailer trying to bold me up i threw him out thought he looked put out answered the younger man smiling politely i see you still believe in applying direct energy to difficulties.

Starting point is 00:12:23 I do. That's why I sent for you. The promoter's cold eyes were inscrutable. Come in and shut the door. The young man sauntered in. He glanced at his uncle curiously from his sparkling black eyes. What the devil did James Sr. mean by what he had said? Was there any particular significance in it?

Starting point is 00:12:51 he stroked his small black mustache glad to oblige you any way i can sir sit down the young beau brummel hung up his hat and cane sank into the easiest chair in the room and selected a cigarette from a gold initialed case at your service sir he said languidly end of chapter one chapter two of tangled trails A Western Detective Story by William McLeod Rain. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Tangled Trails, a Western Detective Story by William MacLeod Rain. Chapter 2. Wild Rose takes the dust. Wild Rose on wildfire, shouted the announcer through a megaphone trained on the grandstand. Kirby Lane, who was leaning against a...

Starting point is 00:13:59 the fence chatting with a friend, turned round and took notice. Most people did when Wild Rose held the center of the stage. Through the gateway of the enclosure came a girl hardly out of her teens. She was bareheaded, a cowboy hat in her hand. The sun, already slanting from the west, kissed her crisp, ruddy gold hair and set it sparkling. Her skin was shell pink, amber, clear. She walked as might a young Greek goddess in the dawn of the world, with the free movement of one who loves the open sky and the wind-swept plain. A storm of hand-clapping swept the grandstand. Wild Rose

Starting point is 00:14:46 acknowledged it with a happy little laugh. These dear people loved her. She knew it, and not only because she was a champion. They made over her because of her slimness, her beauty. duty, the aura of daintiness that surrounded her, the little touches of shy youth that still clung to her manner. Other riders of her sex might be rough, hoyndish, or masculine. Wild Rose had the charm of her name, yet the muscles that rippled beneath her velvet skin were hard as nails. No bronco alive could unseat her without the fight of its life.

Starting point is 00:15:27 Meanwhile, the outlaw horse wildfire was claiming its share of attention. The Bronco was a noted bucker. Every year it made the circuit of the rodeos, and only twice had a rider stuck to the saddle without pulling leather. Now it had been roped and cornered. Half a dozen wranglers and shaps were trying to get it ready for the saddle. From the red-hot eyes of the brute, a devil of fury glared at the men trying to thrust a gunny sack over its head.

Starting point is 00:16:00 The four legs were wide apart, the ears cocked, teeth bared. The animal flung itself skyward and came down on the boot of a puncher savagely. The man gave an involuntary howl of pain, but he clung to the rope snubbed round the wicked head. The gunny sack was pushed and pulled over the eyes. fire subsided, trembling, while bridle was adjusted and saddle slipped on. The girl attended to the cinching herself. If the saddle turned, it might cost her life, and she preferred to take no unnecessary chances. She was dressed in green satin riding clothes.

Starting point is 00:16:46 A beaded ballerro jacket fitted over a white silk blouse. Her boots were of buckskin, silver spurred. With her hat on, at a distance, one might have taken her for a slim, beautiful boy. Wild Rose swung to the saddle and adjusted her feet in the stirrups. The gunny sack was whipped from the horse's head. There was a wild scuffle of escaping wranglers. For a moment, wildfire stood quivering. The girl's hat swept through the air in front of its eyes.

Starting point is 00:17:22 The horse woke to galvanized action. the back humped it shot into the air with a writhing twist of the body all four feet struck the ground together straight and stiff as fence posts the girl's head jerked forward as though it were on a hinge the outlaw went sunfishing its forefeet almost straight up she was still in the saddle when it came to all fours again a series of jarring bucks each ending with the fours of a pile driver as wildfires hoofs struck earth varied the program the rider came down limp half in the saddle half out riding herself as the horse settled for the next leap but not once did her hands reach for the pommel of the saddle to steady her pitching and bucking the animal humped forward to the fence look out a judge yelled it was too late the rider could not deflect her mount into the fence went wildfire blindly and furiously the girl threw up her leg to keep it from being jammed up went the bronco again before wildrose could find the stirrup she knew she was gone felt herself shooting forward she struck the ground close to the horse's hoofs wildfire lunged at her a bolt of pain like a red-hot iron seared through her through the air a rope whined it settled over the head of the outlaw and instantly was jerked tight

Starting point is 00:19:07 wildfire coming down hard for a second lunge at the green crumpled heap underfoot was dragged sharply sideways another lariat snaked forward and fell true here cole the first roper thrust the tot line into the hands of a puncher who had run forward he himself dived for the still girl beneath the hoofs of the rearing horse catching her by the arms he dragged her out of danger she was unconscious the cowboy picked her up and carried her to the waiting ambulance the closed eyes flickered open a puzzled little frown redone rested in them what's up kirby asked wild rose you had a spill took the dust did i he sensed the disappointment in her voice you rode fine he jammed you into the fence explained the young man the doctor examined her the right arm hung limp broken i'm afraid he said ever see such luck the girl complained to lane probably they won't let me ride in the wild horse race now no chance young lady the doctor said promptly i'm going to take you right to the hospital i might get back in time she said hopefully you might but you won't oh well she sighed if you're goin to act like that the cowboy helped her into the ambulance and found himself a seat where do you think you're going she asked with a smile a bit twisted by pain

Starting point is 00:21:01 i reckon i'll go far as a hospital with you i reckon you won't what do you think i am a nice little parlor girl who has to be petted when she gets hurt you're on to ride inside of fifteen minutes and you know it oh well i'm looking for an alibi so as not to be beaten that cole sandbourne is sure a straight-up rider so's that kirby lane you needn't think i'm going to let you beat yourself out of the championship not so anyone could notice it hop out sir he rose smiling ruefully you certainly are one bossy kid i'd say you need bossing when you start to act so foolish she retorted flushing see you later he called to her by way of good-bye as the ambulance drove away she waved cheerfully at him a gauntleted hand the cow-puncher turned back to the arena the megaphone man was announcing that the contest for the world's rough riding championship would now be resumed End of Chapter 2. Chapter 3 of Tangled Trails, a Western Detective Story, by William MacLeod Raine. This Librevox recording is in the public domain.

Starting point is 00:22:39 Tangled Trails, a Western Detective story by William MacLeod Raine. Chapter 3. For the Championship of the World. The less expert riders had been weeded out in the past two days, only the champions of their respective sections were still in the running one after another these lean brown men chap-clad and bow-legged came forward dragging their saddles and clamped themselves to the backs of hurricane outlaws which pitched buck crashed into fences and toppled over backward in their frenzied efforts to dislodge the human clothespins fastened to them the bronco busters endured the usual luck of the day two were thrown and picked themselves out of the dust chagrined and damaged but still grinning one drew a tame horse not to be driven into resistance either by fanning or scratching most of the riders emerged from the ordeal victorious

Starting point is 00:23:47 meanwhile the spectators of the big grandstand packed close as small apples in a box watched every rider and snatched at its thrills just as such crowds have done from the time of colligula kirby lane from his seat on the fence among a group of cowpunchers watched each rider no less closely it chanced that he came last on the programme for the day when cole sanborn was in the saddle he made an audible comment i'm lookin at the next champion of the world he announced not unless you've got a lookin-glass with you old alkali a small berry-brown youth and yellow wool shaps retorted sandbourne was astride a noted outlaw known as jazz the horse was a sorrel and it knew all the tricks of its kind it went sunfishing tried weaving and fence rowing at last toppled over backward after a frantic leap upward the rider long-bodied and lithe rode like a centaur except for the moment when he stepped out of the saddle as the outlaw fell on its back he stuck to his seat as though he were glued to it he's a right limber young fellow and he sure can ride i'll say that admitted one old cattleman they don't grow no better busters another man spoke up he was a neighbor of sanborn and had his local pride from where i come from we'll put our last nickel on coal you betcha he's top hand with a rope too humh kirby here can make him look like thirty cents top of a bronc or with a lariat either one the

Starting point is 00:25:44 the yellow-shapped Vakero flung out bluntly. Lane looked at his champion, a trifle annoyed. What's the use of takin' foolishness, Kent? I never saw the day I had anything on coal. Beat him at Pendleton, didn't you? Luck, I drew the best horses. To Sanborn, who had finished his job and was straddling wide-legged toward the group, Kirby,

Starting point is 00:26:14 threw up a hand of greeting. Good work, old-timer. You're sure hell a mile on a bronch. Kirby Lane on wildfire, shouted the announcer. Lane slid from the fence and reached for his saddle. As he lounged forward, moving with indolent grace, one might have guessed him a southerner. He was lean-loined and broad-shouldered.

Starting point is 00:26:43 The long-flowing muscles rippled under his skin when he moved like those of a panther from beneath the band of his pinched-in hat crisp reddish hair escaped wildfire was off the instant his feet found the stirrups again the outlaw went through its bag of tricks and its straight bucking the man in the saddle gave to its every motion lightly and easily he rode with such grace that he seemed almost a part of the horse his reactions appeared to anticipate the impulses of the screaming fiend which he was astride when wildfire jolted him with humpback jarring bucks his spine took the shock limply to neutralize the effect when it leaped heavenward he waved his hat joyously and rode the stirrups from first to last he was master of the situation and the outlaw though still fighting savagely knew the battle was lost the bronco had one trump card left a trick that had unseated many a stubborn rider it plunged sideways at the fence of the enclosure and crashed through it kirby's nerve shrieked with pain and for a moment everything went black before him his leg had been jammed hard against the upper plank but when the haze cleared he was still in the saddle the outlaw gave up

Starting point is 00:28:20 it trotted tamely back to the grandstand through the shredded fragments of pine in the splintered fence and the grandstand rose to its feet with a shout of applause for the rider kirby slipped from the saddle and limped back to his fellows on the fence already the crowd was pouring out from every exit of the stand a thousand cars of fifty different makes were snorting impatiently to get out of the jam as soon as possible for cheyenne was full full to overflowing the town roared with a high tide of jocund life from all over colorado one of Wyoming, Montana, and New Mexico, hard-bitten, sunburned youths in high-heeled boots and gaudy attire had gathered for the Frontier Day celebration. Hundreds of cars had poured up from Denver. Trains had disgorged thousands of tourists come to see the festival. Many people would sleep out in automobiles and on the prairie. The latecomers at restaurants and hotels would wait long and take second best. A big cattleman beckoned to Lane.

Starting point is 00:29:39 Place in my car, son, run you back to town. One of the judges sat in the tonneau beside the rough rider. How's the leg? hurt much? Not much. I'm noticing it some, Kirby answered with a smile. You'll have to ride tomorrow. It's you and Sandborn for the we haven't quite made up our minds the cattleman was an expert driver he wound in and out among the other cars speeding over the prairie struck the road before the great majority of the automobiles had reached there and was in town with the vanguard after dinner the rough rider asked the clerk at her hotel if there was any mail for miss rose mclean three letters were handed him he put them in his pocket and set out for the hospital he found miss rose reclining in a hospital chair in a frame of mind highly indignant that doctor talks as though he's going to keep me here a week well he's got another guest coming i'll not stay she exploded to her visitor now lookie here you better do as the doc says he knows best what's a week in your young life kirby suggested a week's a week and i don't intend to stay why did you limp when you came in get hurt

Starting point is 00:31:16 not really hurt jammed my leg against a fence i drew wildfire did you win the championship the girl asked eagerly no finals to-morrow sanborn's and me. How's the arm? Bone broken? Yes. Oh, it aches some. Be all right soon. He drew her letters from his pocket. Stop to get your mail at the hotel, thought you'd like to see it. Wild Rose looked the envelopes over and tore one open. From my little sister, Esther, she explained. Mind if I read it? i'm some worried about her she's been writing kind of funny lately as she read the color ebbed from her face when she had finished reading the letter kirby spoke gently bad news partner she nodded choking her eyes frank and direct met those of her friend without evasion it was a heritage of her life in the open that in her relations with men she showed a boylike unconcern of sex esther's in trouble she she rose caught her breath in a stress of emotion if there's anything i can do

Starting point is 00:32:48 the girl flung aside the rug that covered her and rose from the chair she began to pace up and down the room presently her thoughts overflowed in words she doesn't say what it is but i know her she's crazy with fear or heartache or something wild rose was always quick-tempered a passionate defender of children and all we create creatures. Now Lane knew that the hot blood was rushing stormily to her heart. Her little sister was in danger, the only near relative she had. She would fight for her as a cougar would for its young. By God, if it's a man, if he's done her wrong, I'll shoot him down like a gray wolf. I'll show him how safe it is to, to—' She broke down again. clamping tight her small strong teeth to bite back a sob he spoke very gently does she say his sentence hung suspended in air but the young woman understood its significance no the letter's just a-a wail of despair she talks of suicide kirby i've got to get to denver on the next train find out when it looks at

Starting point is 00:34:18 leaves, and I'll send a telegram to her tonight telling her I'll fix it. I will, too. Sure, that's the way to talk. Be reasonable, and everything'll work out fine. Write your wire, and I'll get it right to the office. Soon as I've got the train schedule, I'll come back. You're a good pal, Kirby. I always knew you were. For a moment, her left hand fell in his. he looked down at the small firm sun-brown fist that hand was as browning has written a woman in itself but it was a woman competent unafraid trained hard as nails she would go through with whatever she set out to do as his eyes rested on the fingers there came to him a swift unreasoning prescience of impending tragedy to what dark destiny was she moving end of chapter three chapter four of tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain

Starting point is 00:35:36 this librivox recording is in the public domain tangled trails a western detective story by william m'cloud rain chapter four not always too to make a quarrel kirby put wild rose on the morning train for denver she had escaped from the doctor by sheer force of will the night had been a wretched one almost sleepless and she knew that her fever would rise in the afternoon but that could not be helped she had more important business than her health to attend to just now ordinarily rose bloomed with vitality but this morning she looked tired and worn in her eyes there was a hard brilliancy kirby did not like to see he knew from old the fire that could blaze in her heart the insurgent impulses that could sweep her into recklessness What would she do if the worst she feared turned out to be true? Good luck, she called through the open window as the train pulled out. Beat coal, Kirby. Good luck to you, he answered.

Starting point is 00:36:57 Write me soon as you find out how things are. But as he walked from the station, his heart misgave him. Why had he let her go alone, knowing as he did how swift. she blazed to passion when wrong was done though she loved it was easy enough to say that she had refused to let him go with her though he had several times offered the fact remained that she might need a friend at hand might need him the worst way all through breakfast he was ridden by the fear of trouble on her horizon comrades stopped to slap him on the back and wish him good luck in the finals and though he made the proper answers it was with the surface of a mind almost wholly preoccupied with another matter while he was rising from the table he made a decision in the flash of an eye he would join rose in denver at once already dozens of cars were taking the road there would be a vacant place in some one of them he found a party just setting out for denver and easily made arrangements to take the unfilled seat in the tonne by the middle of the afternoon he was at a boarding-house on cherokee street inquiring for miss rose mclean

Starting point is 00:38:23 she was out and the landlady did not know when she would be back probably after her sister got home from work lane wandered down to curtis street sat thine wandered down to curtis street sat through a part of a movie, then restlessly took his way up 17th. He had an uncle and two cousins living in Denver. With the uncle he was on bad terms, and with his cousins on no terms at all. It had been ten years since he had seen either James Cunningham, Jr. or his brother, Jack. Why not call on them and renew acquaintance? He went into a drug store and looked at that.

Starting point is 00:39:05 name up in a telephone book. His cousin James had an office in the equitable building. He hung the book up on the hook and turned to go. As he did so, he came face to face with Rose McLean. You here, she cried. Yes, I-I had business in Denver, he explained. Like fun you had. You came because... She stopped abruptly, struck by another phase of the situation. Did you leave Cheyenne without riding today?

Starting point is 00:39:45 I didn't want a ride. I'm fed up on riding. You threw away the championship and a thousand dollar prize to... You're forgetting Cole Sandborn, he laughed. No, honest, I came on business. but since i'm here say rose where can we have a talk let's go up to the mezzanine gallery at the albany it's right next door he took her into the albany hotel they stepped out of the elevator at the second floor and he found a settee in a corner where they might be alone it struck him that the shadows in her eyes had deepened she was he could see plainly laboring under attention of repressed excitement the misery of her soul leaped out at him when she looked his way have you anything to tell me he asked and his low gentle voice was a comfort to her raw nerves it's a man just as i thought the man she works for is he married

Starting point is 00:40:57 no going to be soon the papers say he's a wealthy promoter his name's cunningham what cunningham in his astonishment the words seem to leap from him of their own volition james cunningham a big land and mining man you must have heard of him yes i've heard of him are you sure she nodded esther won't tell me a thing she's shielding him but i went through her letters and found a note from him it signed j c i accused him point-blank to her and she just put her head down on her arms and sobbed i know he's the man what do you mean to do i mean to have a talk with him first off i'll make him do what's right how i don't know how but i will she cried wildly if he don't i'll settle with him nothing's too bad for a man like that he shook his head not the best way rose let's be sure of every move we make let's check up on this man before we lay down the law to him some arresting quality in him held her eye he had slewed the gay devil may care boyishness of the range and taken on a look of strong patience new in her experience of him but she was worn out and nervous the pain in her arm throbbed feverishly her emotions had held her on a rack for many hours there was in her no reserve power of endurance

Starting point is 00:42:53 no i'm going to see him and have it out she flung back then let me go with you when you see him you're sick you ought to be in bed right now you're in no condition to face it alone oh don't baby me kirby she burst out i'm all right what's it matter if i'm fagged don't you see i'm crazy about esther i've got to get it settled i've got to get it settled I can rest afterward. Will it do any harm to take a friend along when you go to see this man? Yes, I don't want him to think I'm afraid of him. You're not in this, Kirby. Esther is my little sister, not yours. True enough, a sardonic, mirthless smile touched his face.

Starting point is 00:43:48 But James Cunningham is my uncle, not yours. "'Your uncle!' she rose, staring at him with big dilated eyes. "'He's your uncle, the man who—who—' "'Yes, and I know him better than you do. We've got to use finesse.' "'I see,' her eyes attacked him scornfully. "'You think we'd better not face him with what he's done. You think we'd better go easy on him.

Starting point is 00:44:23 uncle's rich and he might not like plain words oh i understand now wild rose flung out a gesture that brushed him from her friendship she moved past him blazing with anger he was at the elevator cage almost as soon as she listen rose you know better than that i told you he was my uncle because you'd find it out if i'm goin to help you he's no friend of mine but i know him he's strong you can't drive him by threats the elevator slid down and stopped the elevator slid down and stopped the door of it opened. "'Will you stand aside, sir?' Rose demanded. "'I won't have anything to do with any of that villain's family. Don't ever speak to me again.' She stepped into the car.

Starting point is 00:45:23 The door clanged shut. Kirby was left standing alone. End of Chapter 5 of Tangled Trails, a Western Detective Story by William mccloud rain this libervox recording is in the public domain tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain chapter five cousins meet with the aid of a tiny-looking glass a young woman was powdering her nose lane interrupted her to ask if he might see mr cunningham name please she parod pertly and pressed a button in the switchboard before her presently she reached for the powder puff again says to come right in door at the end of the hall kirby entered a man sat at a desk telephoning he was smooth-shaven and rather heavy set a year or two beyond thirty with thinning hair on the top of his head his eyes in repose were hard and chill from the conversation his visitor gathered that he was the captain in the red cross drive that was on as he hung up the receiver the man rose brisk and smiling hand outstretched glad to meet you cousin kirby when did you reach town and how long are you going to stay got in an hour and a half ago how are you james

Starting point is 00:47:12 busy but not too busy to meet old friends let me see i haven't seen you since you were ten years old have i i was about twelve it was when my father moved to wyoming well i'm glad to see you where are you staying eat lunch with me to-morrow can't you i'll try to get jack too suits me fine agreed kirby anything i can do for you in the meantime yes i want to see uncle james there was a film of weariness in the eyes of the oilbroker as he looked at the street clean-built young cattleman he knew that the strong face brown as wyoming expressed a pungent personality back of which was dynamic force what did lane want with his uncle they had quarreled his cousin knew that did young lane expect him to back his side of the quarrel or did he want to win back favor with james cunningham senior billionaire kirby smiled he guessed what the other was thinking i don't want to interfere in your friendship with him all i need is his address and a little information i've come to have another row with him i reckon the interest in cunningham's eyes quickened he laughed aren't you in bad enough already with uncle why another quarrel this isn't on my own account there's a girl in his office a rap on the door interrupted kirby a young man walked into the room he was a good-looking young exquisite dark-eyed and black-haired his clothes had been made by one of the best tailors in new york moreover he knew how to wear them

Starting point is 00:49:17 james cunningham junior introduced him to kirby as his cousin jack after a few moments of talk the broker reverted to the subject of their previous talk kirby was just telling me that he has come to denver to meet uncle james he explained to his brother some difficulty with him i understand jack cunningham's black eyes fastened on his cousin he waited for further information it was plain he was interested i'm not quite sure of my facts lane said but there's evidence to show that he has ruined a young girl in his office she practically admits that he's the man i happen to be a friend of her family and i'm going to call him to account he can't get away with it kirby chanced to be looking at his cousin jack what he saw in that young man's eyes surprised him there were astonishment incredulity and finally a cunning narrowing of the black pupils it was james who spoke his face was grave that's a serious charge kirby he said what is the name of the young woman i'd rather not give it except to uncle james himself better ride it suggested jack with a reminiscent laugh he's a bit impetuous i saw him throw a man down the stairs yesterday picked the fellow up at the foot of the flight he certainly looked as though he'd like to murder our dear uncle what i'd like to know is this said lane what sort of a reputation what sort of a reputation

Starting point is 00:51:13 has Uncle James in his way. Have you ever heard of his being in anything of this sort before? No, I haven't, James said promptly. Jack shrugged. I wouldn't pick Nunky for exactly a moral man, he said flippantly. His idea of living is to grab all the easy things he can. Where can I see him most easily? at his office, asked Kirby.

Starting point is 00:51:45 He drove down to Colorado Springs today on business. At least he told me he was going. Don't know whether he expects to get back tonight or not. He lives at the Paradox apartments, Jack said. Probably I better see him there rather than at his office. Hope you have a pleasant time with the old boy, Jack murmured. Don't think I'd care to be champion of dames where he's concerned.

Starting point is 00:52:17 He's a damned cantankerous old brute. I'll say that for him. James arranged a place of meeting for luncheon next day. The young cattleman left. He knew from the fidgety manner of Jack that he had some important business he was anxious to talk over with his brother. End of Chapter 5. Chapter 6 of Tangled Trails, a Western Detective Story by William MacLeod Rain.

Starting point is 00:52:55 This Librovox recording is in the public domain. Tangled Trails, a Western detective story by William MacLeod Rain. Chapter 6. Lights out. It was five minutes to ten by his watch when Kirby entered the Paradox Apartments. The bulletin board told him that. his uncle's apartment was 12. He did not take the self-serve elevator but the stairs. The hall on the second floor was dark. Since he did not know whether the rooms he wanted were on this floor or the next, he knocked at a door. Kirby thought he heard the whisper of voices and he knocked again. He had to wrap a third time before the door was opened.

Starting point is 00:53:44 What is it? What do you want? If ever Lane had seen stark, naked fear in a human face, it stared at him out of that of the woman in front of him. She was a tall, angular woman of a harsh, forbidding countenance, flat-breasted and middle-aged. Behind her, farther back in the room, the Rough, Ruff Rider caught a glimpse of a fat, gross, ashen-faced man, fleeing toward the inner door of a bedroom to escape being seen.

Starting point is 00:54:20 He was thrusting into his pocket what looked to the man in the hall like a revolver. Can you tell me where James Cunningham's apartment is? asked Kirby. The woman gasped. The hand on the doorknob was trembling violently. Something clicked in her throat when the dry lips tried to frame an answer. Head of the stairs, right hand, she managed to get out, then shut the door swiftly in the face of the man whose simple question had so shocked her. Kirby heard the latch released from its catch. The key in the lock below also turned. She's taking no chances, he murmured. Now, I wonder why both her and my fat friend are so darned.

Starting point is 00:55:11 who were they looking for when they opened the door and saw me and why did it get her goat when i asked her where uncle james lived as he took the treads that brought him to the next landing the cattleman had an impression of a light being flashed off somewhere he turned to the right as the woman below had directed the first door had on the panel a card with his uncle's name he knocked and he knocked and he knocked and he had the right as the woman below had directed the first door had on the panel a card with his uncle's name he knocked and at the same instant noticed that the door was ajar no answer came his finger found the electric push button he could hear it buzzing inside twice he pushed it nobody at home looks like he said to himself well i reckon i'll step in and leave a note or maybe i'll wait if the door's open he's liable to be right back he stepped into the room it was dark his fingers groped along the wall for the button to throw on the light before he found it a sound startled him it was the soft faint panting of someone breathing he was a man whose nerves were under the best of control but the cold feet of mice pattered up and down his spine something was wrong the sixth sense of danger the sixth sense of danger that comes to some men who live constantly in peril was warning him who's there he asked sharply no voice replied but there was a faint rustle of someone or some thing stirring he waited crouched in the darkness there came another vague rustle of movement and presently another this time closer every sense in him was alert

Starting point is 00:57:09 keyed up to closest attention he knew that some one for some sinister purpose had come into this apartment and been trapped here by him the moments flew he thought he could hear his hammering heart a stifled gasp a dozen feet from him was just audible he leaped for the sound his outflung hand struck an arm and slid down it caught at a small wrist and fastened there. In the fraction of a second left him, he realized, beyond question, that it was a woman he had assaulted. The hand was wrenched from him. There came a zigzag flash of lightning searing his brain, a crash that filled the world for him, and he floated into unconsciousness. End of Chapter 6.

Starting point is 00:58:13 Chapter 7 of Tangled Trails, a western detective story by William McLeod Rain. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Tangled Trails, a Western Detective story by William McLeod Rain. Chapter 7. Foul Play Lane came back painfully to a world of darkness. His head throbbed distressingly. Quariously, he wondered where he was and what had taken place.

Starting point is 00:58:46 he drew the fingers of his outstretched hand along the nap of a rug and he knew he was on the floor then his mind cleared and he remembered that a woman's hand had been imprisoned in his just before his brain stopped functioning who was she what was she doing here and what under heaven had hit him hard enough to put the lights out so instantly he sat up and held his throbbing head he had been struck on the point of the chin and gone down like an axed bullock the woman must have lashed out at him with some weapon in his pocket he found a match it flared up and lit a small space in the pit of blackness unsteadily he got to his feet and moved toward the door his mind was quite clear now and his senses abnormally sensitive for instance he was aware of a fan perfume of violet in the room so faint that he had not noticed it before there grew on him a horror an eagerness to be gone from the rooms it was based on no reasoning but on some obscure feeling that there had taken place something evil something that chilled his blood yet he did not go he had come for a purpose and it was characteristic of him that he stayed in spite of the dreads that grew on him till it filled his breast. Again he groped along the wall for the light switch.

Starting point is 01:00:23 A second match flared in his fingers and showed it to him. Light flooded the room. His first sensation was of relief. This handsome apartment with its Persian rugs, its padded easy chairs, its harmonious wall tints, had a note of repose quite alien to tragedy. It was the home of a man who had given a good deal of attention to making himself comfortable.

Starting point is 01:00:53 Indefinably, it was a man's room. The presiding genius of it was masculine and not feminine. It lacked the touches of adornment that only a woman can give to make a place home-like. Yet one adornment caught Kirby's eye at once. It was a large photograph in a handsome frame on the table. the picture showed the head and bust of a beautiful woman in evening dress she was a brunette young and very attractive the line of head throat and shoulder was perfect the delicate disdainful poise and the gay provocation in the dark slanting eyes were enough to tell that she was no novice in the game of sex he judged her an expensive orchid produced in the civilization of our twentieth-century hut-house across the bottom of the picture was scrawled an inscription in a fashionably angular hand

Starting point is 01:01:55 lane moved closer to it the words were always phyllis probably this was the young woman to whom if rumor were true james cunningham senior was a man who-who's engaged. On the floor, near where Kirby had been lying, lay a heavy piece of agate, evidently used for a paperweight. He picked up the smooth stone and guessed instantly that this was the weapon which had established contact with his chin. Very likely the woman's hand had closed on it when she heard him coming. She had switched off the light and waited for him. that the blow had found a vulnerable mark and knocked him out had been sheer luck kirby passed into a luxurious bedroom beyond which was a tiled bathroom he glanced these over and returned to the outer apartment there was still another door it was closed as the man from wyoming moved toward it he felt once more a strange sensation of dread it was strong enough to stop him in his stride what was he going to find behind that door when he laid his hand on the knob pinpricks played over his scalp and galloped down his spine

Starting point is 01:03:23 he opened the door a sweet sickish odor pungent but not heavy greeted his nostrils it was a familiar smell one he had met only recently where his memory jumped to a corridor of the cheyenne hospital he had been passing the operating room on his way to see wild rose the door had opened and there had been wafted to him faintly the penetrating whiff of chloroform it was the same drug he sniffed now he stood on the threshold groped for the switch and flashed on the lights sound though kirby lane's nerves were he could not repress a gasp at what he saw leaning back in an arm-chair looking up at him with a horrible sardonic grin was his uncle james cunningham his wrists were tied with ropes to the arms of the chair a towel passed round his throat fastened the body to the back of the chair and propped up the head a bloody clot of hair hung tangled just above the temple the man was dead beyond any possibility of doubt there was a small hole in the centre of the forehead through which a bullet had crashed beneath this was a thin trickle of blood that had run into the heavy eyebrows the dead man was wearing a plaid smoking jacket and ox blood's slippers on the tabaret close to his hand lay a half-smoked cigar there was a gruesome suggestion in the tilt of the head and the gargoyled grin that this was a hideous and shocking jest he was playing on the world

Starting point is 01:05:19 kirby snatched his eyes from the grim spectacle and looked around the room it was evidently a private den to which the owner of the apartment retired there were facilities for smoking and for drinking a lounge which showed marks of wear and a writing-desk in one corner this desk held the young man's gaze it was open papers lay scattered everywhere and its contents had been rifled and flung on the floor some one in a desperate hurry had searched every pigeon-hole the window of the room was open perhaps it had been thrown up to let out the fumes of the chloroform kirby stepped to it and looked down the fire escape ran past it to the stories above and below the young cattleman had seen more than once the tragedies of the range he had heard the bark of guns and had looked down on quiet dead men but a minute before full of lusty life but these had been victims of warfare in the open usually of sudden passions that had flared and struck this was different it was murder deliberate cold-blooded atrocious the man had been tied up made helpless and done to death without mercy there was a note of the abnormal of the unhuman of the unhuman about the affair whoever had killed james cunningham deserved the extreme penalty of the law he was a man who no doubt had made many enemies always he had demanded his pound of flesh and got it

Starting point is 01:07:11 some one had waited patiently for his hour and exacted a fearful vengeance for whatever wrong he had suffered kirby decided that he must call the police at once no time ought to be lost in starting to run down the murderer he stepped into the living room to the telephone lifted the receiver from the hook and stood staring down at a glove lying on the table as he looked at it the blood washed out of his face he had a sensation as though his heart had been plunged into cracked ice for he recognized the glove on the table knew who its owner was It was a small riding gauntlet with a device of a rose embroidered on the wrist. He would have known that glove among a thousand. He had seen it a few hours since on the hand of Wild Rose. End of Chapter 7. Chapter 8 of Tangled Trails, a Western detective story by William McLeod Rain.

Starting point is 01:08:28 This Libervox recording is in the public domain. tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain chapter eight by means of the fire escape kirby lane stood with fascinated eyes looking down at the glove muscles and brain alike paralyzed the receiver was in his hand close to his ear a voice from the other end of the wire drifted to him number please automatically he hung the receiver on the hook dazed though he was the rough rider knew that the police were the last people in the world he wanted to see just now all his life he had lived the adventure of the outdoors for twelve months he had served at the front part of the time with the forces in the argonne he had ridden stampedes and fought through blizzards he had tamed the worst outlaw horse the west could produce but he had never been so shock-shaken as he was now a fact impossibly but dreadfully true confronted him wild rose had been alone with his uncle in these rooms had listened with breathless horror while kirby climbed the stairs had been trapped by his arrival and had fought like a wolf to make her escape he remembered the wild cry of her outraged heart nothing's too bad for a man like that lane was sick with fear it ran through him and sapped his supple strength like an illness it was not possible that rose could have done this in her right mind

Starting point is 01:10:17 but he had heard a doctor say once that under stress of great emotion people sometimes went momentarily insane his friend had been greatly wrought up from anxiety pain fever and lack of sleep in replacing the telephone he had accidentally pushed aside a book beneath it was a slip of paper on which had been penciled a note he read it without any interest mr hull he come see you he's sorry you not here he say maybe perhaps make honorable call some other time s horikawa an electric bell buzzed through the apartment. The sound of it startled Kirby as though it had been the warning of a rattlesnake close to his head. Someone was at the outer door ringing for admission. It would never do for him to be caught here. He had been trained to swift thought reactions. Quickly, but noiselessly, he stepped to the door and released the catch of the Yale lock so that it would not open from the outside without a key. He switched off the light and passed through the living room into the bedchamber.

Starting point is 01:11:36 His whole desire now was to be gone from the building as soon as possible. The bedroom also he darkened before he stepped to the window and crept through it to the platform of the fire escape. The glove was still in his hand. He thrust it into his pocket as he began the descent. The iron ladder ran down the building, to the alley. It ended ten feet above the ground. Kirby lowered himself and dropped. He turned to the right down the alley toward Glenarm Street. A man was standing at the corner of the alley

Starting point is 01:12:15 trying to light a cigar. He was a reporter on the Times, just returning from the press club where he had been playing in a pool tournament. He stopped, Lane. Can you lend me a match friend. The cattleman handed him three or four and started to go. Just a mo, the newspaper man said, striking a light. Do you always, puff, puff, leave your rooms, puff, puff, puff, by the fire escape? Kirby looked at him in silence, thinking furiously. He had been caught after all. There were witnesses to prove he had gone up to. his uncle's rooms. Here was another to testify he had left by the fire escape. The best he could

Starting point is 01:13:07 say was that he was very unlucky. Never mind, friend, the newspaper man went on. You don't look like a second-story worker to yours truly. He broke into a little amused chuckle. I reckon, friend, husband, who never comes home till Saturday night, happened around unexpectedly. and the fire escape looked good to you. Am I right?" The Wyoming man managed to grin. It was not a mirthful one, but it served. You're a wizard, he said admiringly. The reporter had met a bootleger earlier in the evening

Starting point is 01:13:49 and had two or three drinks. He was mellow. Oh, I'm wise, he said with a wink. Chuck Ellis. isn't anybody's fool. Beat it, Lothario, while the beaten's good. The last sentence and the gesture that accompanied the words were humorous exaggerations of old-time melodrama. Laine took his advice without delay. End of Chapter 8. Chapter 9 of Tangled Trails, a Western detective story by William McLeod Raine. This Libervox recording is in the public domain.

Starting point is 01:14:37 tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain chapter nine the story in the news from a booth in a drug store on sixteenth street kirby telephoned the police that james cunningham had been murdered at his home in the paradox apartments he stayed to answer no questions but hung up at once from a side door of the store he stepped out to wellton street and walked to his hotel he passed a wretched night the distress that flooded his mind was due less to his own danger than to his anxiety for rose his course of action was not at all clear to him in case he should be identified as the man who had been seen going to and coming from the apartment of the murdered man he could not explain why he was there without implicating rose and her sister he would not betray them that of course but he had told his cousins why he was going would their story not start a hunt for the woman in the case man is an illogical biped before kirby had seen the glove on the table and associated it with the crime his feeling had been that the gallows was the proper end of so cruel a murderer. Now he had not only intended to protect Rose, but his heart was filled with pity for her. He understood her better than he did any other woman, her loyalty

Starting point is 01:16:16 and love and swift, upblazing anger. Even if her hand had fired the shot, he told himself, it was not Wild Rose who had done it, not the little friend he had come to know and like so well, but a tortured woman beside herself with grief of the sister to whom she had always been a mother to. He slept little, and that brokenly. With the dawn, he was out on the street to buy a copy of the news. The story of the murder had the two columns on the right-hand side of the front page and broke over to the third. He hurried back to his room to read it behind a locked door.

Starting point is 01:16:59 The story was of a copy-in-lawed. in which newspapers revel. Cunningham was a well-known character, several times a millionaire. His death, even by illness, would have been worth a column. But the horrible and gruesome way of his taking off, the mystery surrounding it, the absence of any apparent motive,

Starting point is 01:17:21 unless it were revenge, all wedded the appetite of the editors. It was a big story, one that would run for many days, and the news played it strong. As Kirby had expected, he was selected as the probable assassin. A reporter had interviewed Mr. and Mrs. Cass Hall,

Starting point is 01:17:44 who occupied the apartment just below that of the murdered man. They had told him that a young man, a stranger to them, powerfully built and dressed like a prosperous ranchman, had knocked on their door about 9.20 to ask the way to the apartment. of Cunningham. Hull explained that he remembered the time particularly because he happened to be winding the clock at the moment. A description of Lane was given in a two-column

Starting point is 01:18:13 box. He read it with no amusement. It was too deadly accurate for comfort. The supposed assassin of James Cunningham is described by Mrs. Cass Hall as dressed in a pepper and salt suit and a white pinched-in cattleman's hat. He is about six feet tall, between 25 and 30 years old, weighing about 200 or perhaps 210 pounds. His hair is a light brown and his face tanned from the sun. His age and his weight were overstated, and his clothes were almost a khaki brown. Otherwise, Mrs. Hull had given a very close description of him, considering her state of mind at the moment when she had seen him.

Starting point is 01:19:06 There was one sentence of the story he read over two or three times. Hull and his wife agreed that it was about 9.20 when he had knocked on their door, unless it was a printer's error, or the reporter had made a mistake. Kirby knew this was wrong. He had looked at his watch just before he had entered the Paradox apartment. He had stopped directly under a street globe, and the time was 9.55. Had the hulls deliberately shifted the time back 35 minutes? If so, why?

Starting point is 01:19:43 He remembered how stark terror had stared out of both their faces. Did they know more about the murder than they pretended? When he had mentioned his own... uncle's name the woman had been close to collapse though of course he could not be sure that had been the reason to his mind there flashed the memory of the note he had seen on the table the man had called on cunningham and left word he might call again was it possible the hulls had just come down from the apartment above when he had knocked on their door if so how did the presence of rose fit into the skil schedule. Lane pounced on the fear and the evasion of the hulls as an out for Wild Rose. It was only a morsel of hope, but he made the most of it. The newspaper was inclined to bring up stage the mysterious man who had called up the police at 1025 to tell them that Cunningham had been murdered in his rooms. Who was this man? Could he be the murderer? If so, why,

Starting point is 01:20:54 Why should he telephone the police and start immediately the hunt after him? If not the killer, how did he know that a crime had been committed less than an hour before? As soon as he had eaten breakfast, Kirby walked around to the boarding house on Cherokee Street, where Wild Rose was staying with her sister. Rose was out, he learned from the landlady. He asked if he might see her sister. His anxiety was so great. he could not leave without a word of her.

Starting point is 01:21:27 Presently, Esther came down to the parlor where the young man waited for her. Lane introduced himself as a friend of Rose. He was worried about her, he said. She seemed to him in a highly wrought up nervous state. He wondered if it would not be well to get her out of Denver. Esther swallowed a lump in her throat. She had never seen Rose, so she. jumpy, she agreed. Last night she had gone out for an hour alone. The look in her eyes when

Starting point is 01:22:01 she had come back had frightened Esther. She had gone at once to her bedroom and locked the door, but her sister had heard her moving about for hours. Then suddenly Esther's throat swelled and she began to sob. She knew well enough that she was at the bottom of wild roses worries. Where is she now? asked Kirby gently. I don't know. She didn't tell me where she was going.

Starting point is 01:22:33 There's something queer about her. I'm afraid. What are you afraid of? She's so, so kind of fierce, Esther wailed. It was impossible to explain, even to this big brown friend of Rose who looked as though his quiet strength could move mountains. He was a man. Besides, every instinct in her drove to keep hidden the secret that some day would tell itself. Her eyes fell. They rested on the news some border had tossed on the table beside which she stood.

Starting point is 01:23:16 Her thoughts were of herself and the plight in which she had become involved. She looked at the big headlines of the paper, and for the moment did not see them. What she did see was disgrace, the shipwreck of the young life she loved so much. Her pupils dilated. The words of the headline penetrated to the brain. A hand clutched at her heart. She read again hazily, James Cunningham murdered.

Starting point is 01:23:48 Then collapsed, fainted. into a chair. End of Chapter 9. Chapter 10 of Tangled Trails, A Western Detective Story, by William McLeod Raine. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Tangled Trails,

Starting point is 01:24:14 A Western Detective Story by William MacLeod Raine. Chapter 10. Kirby asks a direct question. The story of the Cunningham mystery, as it was already being called, filled the early editions of the afternoon papers. The Times had the scoop of the day. It was a story signed by Chuck Ellis, who had seen the alleged murderer climb down by a fire escape from the window of Cunningham's bedroom and had actually talked with the man as he emerged

Starting point is 01:24:48 from the alley. His description of the suspect tallied fairly closely with that of Mrs. Hall, but it corrected errors in regard to weight, age, and color of clothes. As Kirby walked to the equitable building to keep his appointment with his cousins, it would not have surprised him if at any moment an officer had touched him on the shoulder and told him he was under arrest. Entering the office of the oil broker, where the two brothers were waiting for him, Kirby had a sense of an interrupted conversation. They had been talking about him. him, he guessed. The atmosphere was electric. James spoke quickly to bridge any embarrassment.

Starting point is 01:25:35 This is a dreadful thing about Uncle James. I've never been so shocked before in my life. The crime was absolutely fiendish. Kirby nodded. Or else the deed of some insane person, men in their right senses don't do such things. no agreed james murders one thing such cold-blooded devil-tree is quite another there may be insanity connected with it but one thing is sure i'll not rest till the villains run to earth and punished his eyes met those of his cousin they were cold and bleak do you think i did it asked kirby quietly the question took James aback. After the fraction of a second's hesitation, he spoke, If I did, I wouldn't be going to lunch with you. Jack cut in. Excitement had banished his usual, almost insolent indolence. His dark eyes burned with

Starting point is 01:26:46 the consuming fire. Let's put our cards on the table. We think you're the man the police are looking for, the one described in the papers. What makes you think that? You told us you were going to see him as soon as he got back from the springs. The description fits you to a T. You can't get away with an alibi so far as I'm concerned. All right, said the rough rider, his low, even voice unruffled by excitement. If I can't, I can't.

Starting point is 01:27:23 We'll say I'm the man who came down the fire escape. what then james was watching his cousin steadily the pupils of his eyes narrowed he took the answer out of his brother's mouth then we think you probably know something about this mystery that you'll want to tell us you must have been on the spot very soon after the murderer escaped perhaps you saw him kirby told the story of his night's adventure omitting any reference whatever to wild rose or to anybody else in the apartment when he entered after he had finished james made his comment you've been very frank kirby i accept your story a guilty man would have denied being in the apartment or he would have left town and disappeared the range rider smiled sardonically i'm not so sure of that you've got the goods on me i can't deny i'm the man the police are looking for mrs hull would identify me so would this reporter ellis all you would have to do would be to hand my name to the nearest officer and i can't run away without confessing guilt even if i had killed uncle james i could have to be to hand my name to the nearest officer and i can't run away without confessing guilt even if i had killed uncle james i could do much else except tell some story like the one I've told you."

Starting point is 01:28:52 It wouldn't go far in a courtroom, Jack said. Not far, admitted Kirby. By the way, you haven't expressed an opinion, Jack. Do you think I shot Uncle James? Jack looked at him, almost sullenly, and looked away. He poked at the corner of the desk with the feral of his cane. I don't know who shot him. You had quarreled with him, and you went to have another row with him.

Starting point is 01:29:24 A cop told me that someone who knew how to tie ropes fastened the knots around his arms and throat. You beat it from the room by the fire escape. A jury would hang you as high as him on that evidence. Damn it, there's a bad bruise on your chim, wasn't there when we saw you yesterday. for all I know he may have done it before you put him out. I struck against a corner in the darkness, Kirby said. That's what you say. You've got to explain it somehow. I think your story's fishy if you ask me.

Starting point is 01:30:04 Then you better call up the police, suggested Lane. I didn't say I was going to call the cops, retorted Jack, sulk. locally. James looked at his cousin. Kirby Lane was strong. You could not deny his strength, audacious, yet patient. He was a forty-horsepower man with the smile of a boy. Moreover, his face was a certificate of manhood. It was a recommendation more effective than words. I think you're wrong, Jack, the older brother said. Kirby had no more to do with this than I had. Thanks, Kirby nodded.

Starting point is 01:30:51 Let's investigate this man Hull. What Kirby says fits in with what you saw a couple of evenings ago, Jack. I'm assuming he's the same man Uncle flung downstairs. Uncle told you he was a blackmailer. There's one lead. Let's follow it. Reluctantly, Kirby broke. to one angle of the subject that must be faced.

Starting point is 01:31:17 What about this girl in uncle's office, the one in trouble? Are we going to bring her into this? There was a moment's silence. Jack's black eyes slid from Lane to his brother. It struck Kirby that he was waiting tensely for the decision of James, though the reason for his anxiety was not apparent. James gave the matter consideration, consideration, then, spoke judiciously.

Starting point is 01:31:47 Better leave her out of it. No need to smirch uncle's reputation unless it's absolutely necessary. We don't want the newspapers gloating over any more scandals than they need. The cattleman breathed freer. He had an odd feeling that Jack, too, was relieved. Had the young man, after all, a warmer feeling for his dead uncle's reputation, than he had given him credit for? As the three cousins stepped out of the equitable building to Stout Street,

Starting point is 01:32:21 a newsboy was calling an extra. All about Cunningham mystery, axi, axi. Kirby bought a paper. A streamer headline in red flashed at him. Horikawa, valet of Cunningham, disappears. the lead of the story below was to the effect that cunningham had drawn two thousand dollars in large bills from the bank the day of his death horikawa could not be found and the police had a theory that he had killed and robbed his master for this money end of chapter x chapter eleven of tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain this libervox recording is in the public domain tangled trails a western detective story by william m'cloud rain chapter eleven the coroner's inquest if kirby had been playing his own hand only he would have gone

Starting point is 01:33:38 to the police and told him he was the man who had been seen leaving the paradox apartments by the fire escape but he could not do this without running the risk of implicating wild rows awkward questions would be fired at him that he could not answer he decided not to run away from arrest but not to surrender himself if the police rounded him up he could not help it if they did not so much the better he made two more attempts to see wild rose during the day but he could not find her at home when he at last did see her it was at the inquest where he had gone to learn all that he could of the circumstances surrounding the murder there was a risk in attending he recognized that but he was moved by an imperative urge to find out all that was possible of the affair the force that drove him was the need of the need of the need of the matter the force that drove him was the need in his heart to exonerate his friend though he recognized the weight of evidence against her he could not believe her guilty

Starting point is 01:34:47 under tremendous provocation it might be in character for her to have shot his uncle in self-defense or while in extreme anger but all his knowledge of her cried out that she could never have chloroformed him tied him up then taken his life while he was helpless. She was too fine and loyal to her code, too good a sportsman, far too tender-hearted for such a thing. Yet the evidence assaulted this conviction of his soul. If the Wild Rose in the dingy courtroom had been his friend of the outdoor spaces, he would have rejected as absurd the possibility that she had killed his uncle. But his heart sank when he looked at this wan-faced woman who came late and slipped inconspicuously into a back seat whose eyes avoided his who was so plainly keyed up to a tremendously high pitch she was dressed in a dark blue tailored surge and a black sailor hat beneath the rim of which the shadows on her face were dark the room was jammed with people every aisle was packed and hundreds were turned away in the audience was a scattering of fashionably dressed women for it was possible the inquest might develop a sensation

Starting point is 01:36:14 the coroner was a short fat little man with a highly developed sense of his importance it was his hour and he made the most of it his methods were his own his methods were his own the young assistant district attorney lounging by the table played second fiddle the first witnesses developed the movements of cunningham during the evening of the twenty third he had dined at the city club and had left there after dinner to go to his apartment to a club member dining with him he had mentioned an appointment at his rooms with a lady a rustling wave of excitement swept the benches those who had come to seek sensations had found their first thrill kirby drew in his breath sharply he leaned forward not to miss a word did he mention the name of the lady mr blanton asked the coroner washing the backs of his hands with the palms no or his business with her no but he seemed to be annoyed mr blanton also seemed to be annoyed he had considered not mentioning this appointment but his conscience would not let him hide it none the less he resented the need of giving the public more scandal about a fellow club member who was dead he added an explanation my feeling was that it was some business matter being forced on him he had been at colorado springs during the day and probably had been unable to see the lady earlier did he say so no not exactly

Starting point is 01:38:07 what did he say to give you that impression i don't recall his words or the substance of them no i had the impression very strongly the coroner reproved him tartly please confine your testimony to facts and not to impressions mr blanton do you know at what time mr cunningham left the city club at eight forty five precisely precisely that will do exit mr blanton from the chair and from the room very promptly and very eagerly He was followed by a teller at the Rocky Mountain National Bank. He testified to only two facts that he knew Cunningham and that the promoter had drawn $2,000 in bills on the day of his death. A tenant at the Paradox Apartments was next called to the stand. The assistant district attorney examined him.

Starting point is 01:39:18 He brought out only one fact of importance that he thought, had seen Cunningham enter the building at a few minutes before nine o'clock. The medical witnesses were introduced next. The police surgeon had reached the apartment at 10.30. The deceased had come to his death in his judgment from the effect of a bullet out of a 38-caliber revolver fired into his brain. He had been struck a blow on the head by some heavy instrument, but this in itself would probably not have proved fatal. How long do you think he had been dead when you first saw him? Less than an hour.

Starting point is 01:40:02 Answering questions, the police surgeon gave the technical medical reasons upon which he based this opinion. He described the wound. The coroner washed the backs of his hands with his palms. Observing reporters noticed that he did this, whenever he intended taking the examination into his own hands. Did anything peculiar about the wound impress you? he asked. Yes, the forehead of the deceased was powder marked. Showing that the weapon had been fired close to him?

Starting point is 01:40:40 Yes. Anything else? One thing. The bullet slanted into the head toward the right, where was the chair in which the deceased was seated i mean in what part of the room pushed close to the left-hand wall and parallel to it very close touching it under the circumstances could the revolver had been fired so that the bullet could have taken the course it did if held in the right hand hardly not unless it was held with a hand hardly not unless it was held with extreme awkwardness. In your judgment, then, the revolver was fired by a left-handed person? That is my opinion. The coroner swelled like a turkey cock as he waved the attorney to take charge again.

Starting point is 01:41:38 Lane's heart drummed fast. He did not look across the room toward the girl in the blue tailored suit, but he saw her just as clearly as though his eyes had been fastened on him. her the detail that stood out in his imagination was the right arm set in splints and resting in a linen sling suspended from the neck temporarily rose mclean was left-handed was it possible that the deceased could have shot himself do you mean is it possible that somebody could have tied him to the chair after he was dead yes the surgeon taken by surprise hesitated that's possible certainly james cunningham took the witness chair after the police officers who had arrived at the scene of the tragedy with the surgeon had finished their testimony one point brought out by the officers was that in the search of the rooms the two thousand dollars was not found the oil broker gave information as to his uncle's affairs you knew your uncle well the lawyer asked presently intimately and were on good terms with him

Starting point is 01:43:04 the best had he ever suggested to you that he might commit suicide never answered the oil broker with emphasis he was the last man in the world one would have associated with such a thought. Did he own a revolver? No, not to my knowledge. He had an automatic. What caliber was it? I'm not quite sure. About a 38, I think.

Starting point is 01:43:37 When did you see it last? I don't recollect. The prosecuting attorney glanced at his notes. you are his next-of-kin my brother and i are his nephews he had no nearer relatives you are his only nephews his only near relatives cunningham hesitated for just the blinking of an eye he did not want to bring kirby into his testimony if he could help it that might ultimately lead to his arrest he had one other nephew living in denver no where somewhere in wyoming i think we do not correspond do you know if he is there now the witness dodged he lives there i think do you happen to know where he is at the present moment yes the monosyllable fell reluctantly Where?

Starting point is 01:44:50 In Denver. Not in this courtroom? Yes. What is the gentleman's name, Mr. Cunningham? Kirby Lane. Will you point him out? James did so. The lawyer faced the crowded benches.

Starting point is 01:45:13 I'll ask Mr. Lane to step forward and take a seat near the front. i may want to ask him a few questions later kirby rose and came forward to your knowledge mr cunningham had your uncle any enemies asked the attorney continuing his examination he was a man of positive opinions necessarily there were people who did not like him active enemies in a business sense yes but not in a personal sense i do not know of any he may have had them in going through his desk at the office i found a letter here it is the fat little coroner bustled forward took the letter and read it he handed it to one of the jury it was read and passed around the letter was the one the promoter had received from the dry valley rancher threatened his life if he ever appeared again in that part of the country i notice that the letter is postmarked denver cunningham suggested whoever mailed it must have been in the city at the time that's very important the prosecuting attorney said have you communicated the information to the police yes do you not know who wrote the letter i do you not know who wrote the letter i do do not the coroner put the tips of his fingers and thumbs together and balanced on the balls of his feet do you happen to know the name of the lady with whom your uncle had an appointment on the night of his death at his rooms

Starting point is 01:47:03 no answered the witness curtly when was the last time you saw the deceased alive about three o'clock on the day before that of his death anything occur at that time throwing any light on what subsequently occurred nothing whatever very good mr cunningham you may be excused if mr johns is through with you unless some member of the jury has a question he would like to ask one of the jury had it was a dried-out wisp of a man wrinkled like a winter pippin was your uncle engaged to be married at the time of his death he piped there was a mild sensation in the room curious eyes swept toward the graceful slender form of a veiled woman sitting at the extreme left of the room cunningham flushed the question seemed to him a gratuitous probe into the private affairs of the family i do not care to discuss that he answered quietly the witness may refuse to answer questions if he wishes the coroner ruled jack cunningham was called to the stand james had made an excellent witness he was quiet dignified and yet forceful jack on the other hand was nervous and irritable the first new point he developed was that on his last visit to the rooms of his uncle he had seen him throw down stairs a fat man with whom he had been scuffling shone hull he identified him as the man had you ever had any trouble with your uncle johns asked him

Starting point is 01:49:01 you may decline to answer if you wish the coroner told the witness young cunningham hesitated no what do you mean by trouble had he ever threatened to cut you out of his will yes came the answer a bit sulkily why if you care to tell he thought i was extravagant and wild wanted to want to be me to buckle down to business more. What is your business? I'm with a Bond House, McCabe, Foster, and Clinton. During the past few months, have you had any difference of opinion with your uncle? That's my business, flared the witness. Then, just as swiftly as his irritation had come, it vanished.

Starting point is 01:49:58 He remembered that his uncle's passionate voice, had risen high. No doubt people in the next departments had heard him. It would be better to make a frank admission. But I don't mind answering. I have. When? The last time I went to his rooms, two days before his death. Significant looks passed from one to another of the spectators. What was the subject of the quarrel? i didn't say we had quarreled was the sullen answer differed then my question was what about i declined to say i think that is all mr cunningham the wrinkled little juryman leaned forward and piped his question again was your uncle engaged to be married at the time of his death the startled eyes of jack cunningham leaped to the little man there was in them dismay almost panicked then swiftly he recovered and drawled insolently

Starting point is 01:51:14 i try to mind my own business do you the coroner asserted himself here here none of that order in this court if you please gentlemen he bustled in his manner turning to the attorney through with mr cunningham johns if so we'll push on quite the prosecuting attorney consulted a list in front of him cass hull next hull came puffing to the stand he was a porpoise of a man his eyes dodged about the room in dread it was as though he were looking for a way of escape. End of Chapter 11. Chapter 12 of Tangled Trails, a Western Detective Story by William MacLeod Rain. This Libervox recording is in the public domain.

Starting point is 01:52:22 Tangled Trails, a Western Detective story by William MacLeod Rain. Chapter 12. That's the man? Your name? Cass Hall Business? Real estate, mostly farmlands. Did you know James Cunningham, the deceased? asked Johns.

Starting point is 01:52:48 Yes, worked with him on the Dry Valley proposition, an irrigation project. Ever have any trouble with him? No, sir, not to say trouble. Hull was already perspiring profusiness. He dragged a red bandana from his pocket and mopped the roll of fat that swelled over his collar. I... we had a... an argument about a settlement. Nothing serious. Did he throw you out of his room and down the stairs?

Starting point is 01:53:23 No, sir, nothing like that at all. We might a scuffed some kind of in fun like. Probably it looked like we was fighting, but we wasn't. my heel caught on a tread of the stairs and i fell down hall made his explanation eagerly and anxiously dabbing at his beefy face with the handkerchief when did you last see mr cunningham alive well sir that was the last time though i reckon we heard him pass our door in answer to questions the witness explained that cunningham had owed him, in his opinion, $4,000 more than he had paid. It was about this sum they had differed. Were you at home on the evening of the 23rd, that is, last night? The witness flung out more signals of distress.

Starting point is 01:54:22 Yes, sir, he said at last in a voice dry as a whisper. Will you tell what, if anything occurred? Well, sir, a man knocked at our door. The woman, she opened it, and he asked which flat was Cunningham's. She told him, and the man he started up the stairs. Have you seen the man since? No, sir. Didn't hear him come downstairs later?

Starting point is 01:54:55 No, sir. At what time did this man knock? asked the lawyer from the district attorney's office. Kirby Lane did not move a muscle of his body, but excitement grew in him as he waited, eyes narrowed for the answer. At 9.20. How do you know the time so exactly?

Starting point is 01:55:21 Well, sir, I was winding the clock for the night. Sure your clock was right? Yes, sir. I happened to check up on it when the courthouse clock struck nine. Maybe it was half a minute off, as you might say. Describe the man. Hull did, with more or less accuracy. Would you know him if you saw him again?

Starting point is 01:55:51 Yes, sir, I sure would. The coroner flung a question at the witness, as though were a weapon. Ever carry a gun, Mr. Hull? The big man on the stand dabbed at his veined face with the bandana. He answered with an ingratiating wine, I ain't no gunman, sir, never was.

Starting point is 01:56:18 Ever ride the range? Well, yes, as you might say, the witness answered uneasily. carried a six-shooter for rattlesnakes, didn't you? I reckon, but I never went helling around with it. War it to town with you when you went, I expect, as the other boys did. Maybe so. What caliber was it?

Starting point is 01:56:48 A 38, saw it off. Own it now? The witness mopped his face. face no sir don't carry a gun in town no sir ever own an automatic no sir wouldn't know know how to fire one how long since you sold your 38 five years or so where did you carry it in my hip pocket which hip pocket hull was puzzled at the question why this one the right one of course there wouldn't be any sense in carrying it where i couldn't reach it that's so mr johns you may take the witness again the young lawyer asked questions about the dry valley irrigation project he wanted to know why there was dissatisfaction among the farmers and from a reluctant witness drew the information that the water supply was entirely inadequate for the needs of the land under cultivation mrs hull called to the stand testified that on the evening of the twenty-third a man had knocked at their door to ask in which apartment mr cunningham lived

Starting point is 01:58:18 she had gone to the door answered his question and watched him pass upstairs what time was this nine twenty again kirby felt a tide of excitement running in his arteries why were this woman and her husband setting back the clock thirty-five minutes was it to divert suspicion from themselves was it to show that this stranger must have been in cunningham's rooms for almost an hour during which time the millionaire promoter had been murdered describe the man this tall angular woman whose sex the years had seemed to have dried out of her personality made a much better witness than her husband she was acid and incisive but her very forbidding aspect hinted of the good woman who never made mistakes she described the stranger who had knocked at her door with a good deal of circumstantial detail he was an out-door man a rancher perhaps or more likely a cattleman she concluded you have not seen him since that time she opened her lips to say no but she did not say it her eyes had travelled past the lawyer and fixed themselves on kirby lane he saw the recognition grow in them the leap of triumph in her as the long thing an arm shot straight toward him. That's the man.

Starting point is 02:00:01 A tremendous excitement buzzed in the courtroom. It was as though someone had exploded a mental bomb. Men and women craned forward to see the man who had been identified, the man who no doubt had murdered James Cunningham. The murmur of voices, the rustle of skirts, the shuffling of moving bodies filled the air. The coroner rapped for order. Silence in the courtroom, he said sharply.

Starting point is 02:00:34 Which man do you mean, Mrs. Hull? asked the lawyer. The big brown man sitting at the end of the front bench, the one right behind you. Kirby rose. Think probably she means me, he suggested. An officer in uniform passed down. the aisle and laid a hand on the cattleman's shoulder you're under arrest he said for what officer asked james cunningham for the murder of your uncle sir in the tense silence that followed rose a little throat sound that was not quite a sob and not quite a wail kirby turned his head toward the back of the room wild rose was standing in her place looking at him with dilated eyes filled with incredulity and horror end of chapter twelve

Starting point is 02:01:37 chapter thirteen of tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain this librovoc's recording is in the public domain tangled trails a western detective story by william m'clod rain chapter 13. Always Phyllis. Chuck Ellis, reporter, testified that on his way home from the press club on the night of the 23rd, he stopped at an alley on Glenarm Street to strike a light for his cigar. Just as he lit the match, he saw a man come out from the window of a room in the Paradox apartments and run down the fire escape. It struck him that the man might be a burglar, so he he waited in the shadow of the building. The runner came down the alley toward him. He stopped the man and had some talk with him. At the request of the district attorney's assistant, he detailed the conversation and located on a chart shown him the room from which he had

Starting point is 02:02:50 seen the fellow emerge. Would you know him again? Yes. Do you see him in this room? ellis just off his run had reached the court-room only a second before he stepped to the stand now he looked around surprised at the lawyer's question his wandering eye halted at lane there he is which man do you mean the one on the end of the bench at what time did this take place let me see about quarter past ten maybe. Which way did he go when he left you? Toward 15th Street. That is all.

Starting point is 02:03:42 The lawyer turned briskly toward Kirby. Mr. Lane, will you take the stand? Every eye focused on the range rider. As he moved forward and took the oath, the scribbling reporters found in his movements a pantherish lightness in his compact figure, rippling muscles perfectly under control. There was an appearance of sunburnt competency about him,

Starting point is 02:04:10 a crisp confidence, born of the rough and tumble life of the outdoor west. He did not look like a cold-blooded murderer. Women found themselves hoping that he was not. The jaded weariness of the sensation-seekers vanished at sight of him. A man had won. walked upon the stage, one full of vital energy. The assistant district attorney led him through the usual preliminaries.

Starting point is 02:04:39 Lane said that he was, by vocation, a cattleman, by avocation, a rough rider. He lived at Twin Buttes, Wyoming. One of the reporters leaned toward another and whispered, By Moses, he's the same lane that won the rough riding championship at Pendleton, and was second at Cheyenne last year. Are you related to James Cunningham, the deceased? asked the lawyer. His nephew. How long since you had seen him prior to your visit to Denver this time?

Starting point is 02:05:17 Three years. What were your relations with him? The coroner interposed. You need answer no questions tending to incriminate. you mr lane a sardonic smile rested on the rough rider's lean brown face our relations were not friendly he said quietly a ripple of excitement swept the benches what was the cause of the bad feeling between you a few years ago my father fell into financial difficulties he was faced with bankruptcy cunning not only refused to help him, but was the hardest of his creditors. He hounded him to the time of my father's death a few months later.

Starting point is 02:06:09 His death was due to a breakdown caused by intense worry. You felt that Mr. Cunningham ought to have helped him? My father helped him when he was young. What my uncle did was the grossest ingratitude. You resented it. yes and quarreled with him i wrote him a letter and told him what i thought of him later when we met by chance i told him again face to face you had a bitter quarrel yes that was how long ago three years since in that time did your feelings toward him modified at all my opinion of him did not change but i had no longer any feeling in the matter did you write to him or hear from him in that time

Starting point is 02:07:11 no had you any expectation of being remembered in your uncle's will none whatever answered kirby smiling even if he had left me anything i should have declined to accept it but there was no chance at all that he would. Yet when you came to town, you called on him at the first opportunity? Yes. On what business? I reckon we'll not go into that. Johns glanced at his notes and passed to another line of questioning. You have heard the testimony of Mr. and Mrs. Hall and of Mr. Ellis.

Starting point is 02:07:56 Is that testimony true? Except in one point. It lacked only three or four minutes to ten when I knocked at the door and Mrs. Hull opened it. You're sure of that? Sure. I looked at my watch just before I went into the Paradox apartments. Will you tell the jury what took place between you and Mrs. Hull?

Starting point is 02:08:23 Soon as I saw her, I knew she was scared stiff about something. So was Hall. He was heading for a bedroom, so I wouldn't see him. The slender, well-dressed woman in the black veil, sitting far over to the left, leaned forward and seemed to listen intently. All over the room there was a stir of quickened interest. How did she show her fear? no color in her face eyes dilated and full of terror hands trembling and mr hull he was yellow color all gone from his face looked as though he'd had a shock what was said if anything i asked mrs hull where my uncle's apartment was that gave her another fright at least she almost fainted

Starting point is 02:09:22 did she say anything she told me where his rooms were then shut the door right in my face i went upstairs to apartment twelve where your uncle lived where my uncle lived i rang the bell twice and didn't get an answer then i noticed the door was ajar i opened it called and walked in shutting it behind me i guessed he must be around and would be back in a few minutes just exactly what did you do i waited by the table in the living-room for a few minutes there was a note there signed by s we have that note what happened next did your uncle return no i had a feeling that something was wrong i looked into the bedroom and then that-i looked into the bedroom and then open the door into the small smoking-room. The odor of chloroform met me. I found the button and flashed on the light. Except the sobbing breath of an unnerved woman, no slightest sound could be heard in the courtroom, but Lane's quiet, steady voice. It went on, evenly, clearly, dominating the crowded room by the drama of its undramatic timber. My uncle,

Starting point is 02:10:51 was sitting in a chair tied to it. His head was cantered a little to one side, and he was looking up at me. There was a bullet hole in his forehead. He was dead. The veiled woman in black gasped for air. Her head sank forward, and her slender body swayed. Look out, called the witness to the woman beside her. Before Kirby could reach her, the fainting woman had slipped to the floor. He stooped to lift her head from the dusky planks, and the odor of violet perfume met his nostrils. "'If you'll permit me,' a voice said. The cattleman looked up. His cousin, James, white to the lips, was beside him, unfastening the veil. The face of the woman in black was the original of the photograph Kirby had seen in his uncle's room. the one upon which had been written the words always phyllis end of chapter thirteen chapter fourteen of tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain

Starting point is 02:12:15 this librivox recording is in the public domain tangled trails a western detective story by william m'cloud rain chapter fourteen a friend in need The rest of the coroner's inquest was anti-climax. Those who had come to tickle their pallets with excitement tasted only one other moment of it. According to your own story, you must have been in your uncle's apartment at least a quarter of an hour, Mr. Lane, said the prosecuting attorney.

Starting point is 02:12:52 What were you doing there all that time? Most of the time I was waiting for him to return. why did you not call up the police at once as soon as you found the crime had been committed i suppose i lost my head and went panicky i heard some one at the door and i did not want to be found there so i ran into the bedroom put out the light and left by the fire escape was that the conduct one would expect of an innocent man it was the action of an innocent man you don't look like a man that would lose his head mr lane a smile lit the brown face of the witness perhaps i wouldn't where i come from but i'm not used to cityways i didn't know what to do so i followed my instinct and bolted i was unlucky enough to be seen carry a gun mr lane no he corrected himself sometimes i do on the range own one i suppose two a forty-five and a thirty-eight bring either of them to denver no sir did you see any gun of any kind in your uncle's rooms either a revolver or an automatic a

Starting point is 02:14:25 i did not that's all sir the jury was out something more than an hour the news of the verdict was brought to kirby at the city jail by his cousin james jury finds that uncle james came to his death from the effect of either a blow in the head by some heavy instrument or a bullet fired at close quarters by some unknown person james said good enough might have been worse for me replied kirby yes i've talked with the district attorney and i think i can arrange for bond we're going to take it up with the court to-morrow my opinion is that the hulls did this all through his testimony the fellow sweated fear i've put it in the hands of a private detective agency to keep tabs on him the cattleman smiled ruefully trouble is i'm the only witness to their panic right after the murder wish it had been someone else i'm a prejudiced party whose evidence won't count for much you're right they've something to do with it in their evidence they shifted the time back thirty-five minutes so as to get me into apartment twelve that much earlier why if i could answer that question i could go a long way toward solving the mystery of who killed uncle james and why he did it probably as i see it we have three leads to go on one is that the guilty man is hull a second possibility is the unknown man from dry valley a third is horikawa how about horakawa did you know him well

Starting point is 02:16:22 One never knows an Oriental. Perhaps I'm prejudiced because I used to live in California, but I never trust a Japanese fully. His sense of right and wrong is so different from mine. Horikawa is a quiet little fellow whose thought processes I don't pretend to understand. Why did he run away if he had nothing to conceal? Looks bad.

Starting point is 02:16:51 By the way, A Japanese house cleaner was convicted recently of killing a woman for whom he was working. He ran away, too, and was brought back later. Well, I don't know a thing about Japs except that they are good workers. But there's one thing about this business that puzzles me. This murder doesn't look to me like a white man's job. An American bad man kills and is done with it. But whoever did this ain't.

Starting point is 02:17:22 to torture and then kill looks like if not why did they tie him up first james nodded reflectively maybe something in what you say oriental strike me as being kind of unhuman if you know what I mean maybe they have the red Indian habit of torture in Japan never heard of it if they have but I've got a kind of notion picked it up in my reading that asiatics will go a long way to square a grudge if this horikawa had anything against uncle james he might have planned this revenge and taken the two thousand dollars to help his getaway yes he might anyhow i've made up my mind to one thing you're going to most always get the truth when you go after it good and hard i'm going to find out who did this thing

Starting point is 02:18:22 and why? James Cunningham looked into his cousin's face. A strong man himself, he recognized strength in another. Into the blue-gray eyes of the man from Twin Buttes had come a cold, steely temper that transformed the gay, boyish face. The oil broker knew Lane had no love for his uncle. His resolution was probably based on a desire to clear his own name. I'm with you in that, he said quietly, and his own dark eyes were hard as jade.

Starting point is 02:19:00 We'll work this out together if you say so, Kirby." The younger man nodded. "'Suits me fine.' His face softened. "'You mentioned three leads. Most men would have said four. On the face of it, of the evidence at hand, the guilt of the guilt guilty man is sitting right here talking with you. You know that the dead man and I had a bitter

Starting point is 02:19:28 feeling against each other. You know there was a new cause of trouble between us, and that I told you I was going to get justice out of him one way or another. I'm the only man known to have been in his rooms last night. According to the hulls, I must have been there when he was killed. Then, as a final proof of my guilt, I slide out by the fire escape to get away without being seen. I'll say the one big lead points straight to Kirby Lane. Yes, but there's such a thing as character, James answered. It's written in your face that you couldn't have done it. That's why the jury said a person unknown.

Starting point is 02:20:14 Yes, but the jury didn't know what you were. knew that I had a fresh cause of quarrel with Uncle James. Do you believe me, absolutely? Don't you waver at all? I don't think you had any more to do with this than I had myself, answered the older cousin, instantly, with conviction. Kirby gave him his hand impulsively. You'll sure do to ride the river with, James. End of Chapter 14. of Tangled Trails, a Western Detective Story, by William McLeod Rain.

Starting point is 02:21:00 This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Tangled Trails, a Western Detective Story by William McLeod Raine. Chapter 15. A glove and the hand in it. As Rose saw the hand of the law closing in on Kirby, she felt as though an ironic fate were laughing and, impish glee at this horrible climax of her woe. He had sacrificed a pot of gold and his ambition to be the champion rough rider of the world in order to keep her out of trouble.

Starting point is 02:21:39 Instead of that, he had himself plunged into it head first. She found herself entangled in a net from which there was no easy escape. Part, at least, of the evidence against Kirby, or at least the implication to be drawn from it, did not fit in with what she knew to be the truth. He had not been in the apartment of James Cunningham from 9.30 until 10.15. He might have been there at both times, but not for the whole interval between. Rose had the best reason in the world for knowing that. But what was she to do? What ought she to do? If she went with her story to the district attorney, her sister's shame must inevitably be dragged forth to be flaunted before the whole world.

Starting point is 02:22:32 She could not do that. She could not make little Esther the scapegoat of her conscience. Nor could she remain silent and let Kirby stay in prison. That was unthinkable. If her story would free him, she must tell it. But to whom? She read in the post that James Cunningham was endeavoring to persuade the authorities to accept Bond for his cousin's appearance. Swiftly, Rose made up her mind what she would do.

Starting point is 02:23:05 She looked up in the telephone book the name she wanted and made connections on the line. Is this Mr. Cunningham? she asked. Mr. Cunningham talking, came the answer. I want to see you on very important business. Can I come this morning? I think I didn't catch your name, madam. My name doesn't matter. I have information about your uncle's death. There was just an instant's pause. Then... Ten o'clock at the office here, Rose heard.

Starting point is 02:23:46 A dark, good-looking young man... from a desk in the inner office when rose entered exactly at ten in his eyes there sparked a little flicker of surprised appreciation jack cunningham was always susceptible to the beauty of women this girl was lovely both of feature and of form the fluent grays of the slender young body was charming but the weariness of grief was shadowed under the long-lashed eyes she looked around hesitating i have an appointment with mr cunningham she explained my name answered the young man mr james cunningham afraid you've made a mistake i'm jack cunningham this is my uncle's office i'm taking charge of his affairs you called his number instead of my brothers people are always confusing the two. I'm sorry. If I can be of any service to you, he suggested.

Starting point is 02:24:58 I read that your brother was trying to arrange bond for Mr. Lane. I want to see him about that. I am Rose McLean. My sister worked for your uncle in his office. Oh, a film of wary caution settled over his eyes. It seemed to Rose, that what she had said transformed him into a potential adversary. Glad to meet you, Miss McLean.

Starting point is 02:25:27 If you'd rather talk with my brother, I'll make an appointment with him for you. Perhaps that would be best, she said. Of course, he's very busy, if it's anything I could do for you. I'd like you both to hear what I have to say. For the beating of a pulse, his eyes thrust at her as though they would read her soul then he was all smiling urbanity that seems to settle the matter i'll call my brother up and make an appointment over the wire jack put the case to his brother presently he hung up the receiver we'll go right over miss mclean they went down the elevator and passed through the lower hall of the building to 16th Street. As they walked along Stout to the equitable building, Rose made an explanation.

Starting point is 02:26:28 I saw you and Mr. James Cunningham at the inquest. His memory stirred. Think I saw you, too. Remember your bandaged arm. Is it broken? Yes. He felt the need of talking against an inner perturbation he did not. not want to show. What was this girl, the sister of Esther McLean, going to tell him and his brother? What did she know about the murder of his uncle? Excitement grew in him, and he talked at random to cover it. Fall down? A horse threw me and trod on my arm. Girls are too venturesome nowadays? In point of fact, he did not think so. He liked girls who were good sportsmen and played the game hard, but he was talking merely to bridge a mental stress. Think they can do anything a man

Starting point is 02:27:31 can. Fess up, Miss McLean. You'd try to ride any horse I could, no matter how meddlesome it was, now wouldn't you? I wouldn't go that far, she said, drive. for an instant the thought flickered through her mind that she would like to get this spick and span riding school model on the back of wildfire and see how long he would stick to the saddle james cunningham met rose with a suave courtesy but with reserve like his brother he knew of only one subject about which the sister of esther mclean could want to talk with him did she intend to be reasonable would she accept a monetary settlement and avoid the publicity that could only hurt her sister as well as the reputation of the name of cunningham or did she mean to try to impose impossible conditions how much did she know and how much guess until he discovered that he meant to play his cards close characteristically rose came directly to the point after the first few words of introduction you know my sister esther mclean a stenographer of your uncle she asked the girl was standing she had declined a chair she stood straight-backed as an indian carrying her head with fine spirit her eyes attacked the oilbroker would not yield a thousandth part of an inch to his impassivity

Starting point is 02:29:12 i have met her he answered you know about her trouble yes my cousin mentioned it-i cousin mentioned it we my brother and i greatly regret it anything in reason that we can do we shall of course hold ourselves bound for he flashed a glance at jack who murmured a hurried agreement the younger man's eyes were busy examining a calendar in the wall i didn't come to see you about that now the young woman went on cheeks flushed but chin held high nor would i care to express my opinion of the-the creature who could take advantage of such a girl's love i intend to see justice is done my sister as far as it can now be done but not to-day first i'm here to ask you if you're friends of kirby lane do you believe he killed his uncle no replied james promptly i am quite sure he didn't kill him i am trying to get him out on bond any sum that has asked i'll sign for then i want to tell you something you don't know the testimony showed that kirby went to his uncle's apartment about nine-twenty and left nearly an hour later. That isn't true. How do you know it isn't?

Starting point is 02:30:47 Because I was there myself part of the time. Jack stared at her in blank dismay. Astonishment looked at her too from the older brother's eyes. You were in my uncle's apartment on the night of the murder, James said at last. I was. i came to denver to see him to get justice for my sister i didn't intend to let the villain escape scott free for what he had done pardon me interrupted jack and the girl noticed his voice had a queer note of anxiety in it did your sister ever tell you that my uncle was responsible for he left the sentence in air no she won't talk yet i don't know why why why But I found a note signed with his initials.

Starting point is 02:31:43 He's the man. I know that. James looked over at his brother. I think we may take that for granted, Jack. We'll accept such responsibilities on us as it involves. Perhaps you'd better not interrupt Miss McLean till she has finished her story. I made an appointment with him after I had tried all day to get him on the phone.

Starting point is 02:32:09 or to see him. That was Thursday the day I reached town. He was in Colorado Springs all that day, explained James. Yes, he told me so when I reached him finally at the city club. He didn't want to see me, but I wouldn't let him off till he agreed. So he told me to come to the paradox, and he would give me ten minutes. He told me not to come till nearly ten minutes. as he would be busy i think he hoped that by putting it so late and at his rooms he would deter me from coming but i intended to see him he couldn't get away from me so easily as that i went jack moistened dry lips his debonair ease had quite vanished when did you go it was quite a little past a quarter to ten when i reached

Starting point is 02:33:09 his rooms. Did you meet anyone going up or coming down? asked James. A man and a woman passed me on the stairs. A man and a woman, repeated Jack, almost in a whisper. His attitude was tense. His eyes burned with excitement. Was it light enough to tell who they were? James asked.

Starting point is 02:33:37 His cold eyes did not look. lift from hers until she answered. No, it was entirely dark. The woman was on the other side of the man. I wouldn't have been sure if she was a woman except for the rustle of her skirts and the perfume. Sure it wasn't the perfume you use yourself that you smelled? I don't use any.

Starting point is 02:34:03 You stick to it that you met a man and a woman but couldn't possibly recognize either of them. james cunningham said still looking straight at her she hesitated an instant somehow she did not quite like the way he put this yes she said steadily you didn't take the elevator up then no i'm not used to automatic elevators i rang when i got to the door nobody answered but the door was wide open i rang again then went in and switched on the light there didn't seem to be anybody in i didn't feel right about it i wanted to go but i wouldn't because i thought maybe he your uncle was trying to dodge me i looked into the bedroom he wasn't there so after a little i went to a door into another room that was shut and knocked on it i don't know why i opened it-i opened it When no answer came, something seemed to move my hand to the knob. I switched the light on there.

Starting point is 02:35:18 Yes, James asked gently. The girl gulped. She made a weak, small gesture with her hand, as though to push from her mind to the horrible sight her eyes had looked upon. He was dead in the chair, tied to it. I think I screamed. I'm not sure, but I switched off the light and shut the door. My knees were weak and I felt awfully queer in the head. I was crazy to get away from the place,

Starting point is 02:35:52 but I couldn't seem to have the power to move. I leaned against the door, weak and limp as a small puppy. Then I heard someone coming up the stairs and I knew I mustn't be caught there. I switched off the light and I switched off the light and just as someone came to the landing outside who was it did he come in asked jack he rang and knocked two or three times then he came in i was standing by the table with my hand on some kind of heavy metal paperweight his hand was groping for the light switch i could tell that he must have heard me for he called out who's there In the darkness there I was horribly frightened. He must be the murderer come back. If not, of course, he'd think I had done it. So I tried to slip by him.

Starting point is 02:36:53 He jumped at me and caught me by the hand. I pulled away from him and hit hard at his face. The paperweight was still in my hand, and he went down just as though a hammer had hit him. I ran out of the wrong, room downstairs and out into the street without meeting anybody yes you don't know who it was you struck unless it was Kirby jove that explains the bruise on his chin jack cried out why didn't he tell us that the color flushed the young woman's cheeks we're friends he and

Starting point is 02:37:39 i if he guessed i was the one that struck him he wouldn't tell how would he guess it asked james he knew i meant to see your uncle meant to make him do justice to esther i suppose i'd made wild threats besides i left my glove there on the table i think i'd taken it off with some notion of writing a note telling your uncle i had been there and that he had been there and that he had been there and that he had to see me the next day the police didn't find a woman's glove in the room did they james asked his brother didn't hear of it if they did jack replied that's it you see explained rose kirby would know my glove it was a small riding gauntlet with a rose embroidered on it he probably took it with him when he left he kept still about the whole thing because I was the woman and he was afraid of getting me into trouble sounds reasonable agreed James that's how it was Kirby's a good friend he'd never tell on me if they

Starting point is 02:38:55 hanged him for it they won't do that miss McClain the older brother assured her we're going to find who did this thing Kirby and I have shaken hands on that but about your story i don't quite see how we're going to use it we must protect your sister too as well as my cousin if we go to the police with your evidence and ask them to release kirby they'll want to arrest you i know she nodded wisely and of course they'd find out about esther then and the papers would get it and scatter the story everywhere exactly we must protect her first kirby wouldn't want anything done that would hurt her suppose we put it up to him and see what he wants to do but we can't have him kept in jail she protested i'll get him out on bond if not to-day to-morrow well she agreed reluctantly if that's the best we can do rose would have liked to have paid back kirby's generosity in kind if her sister had not been a factor of the equation she would have gone straight to the police with her story and suffered arrest gladly to help her friend but the circumstances did not permit a heroic gesture she had to take and not give end of chapter fifteen chapter sixteen of tangled trails a western detective

Starting point is 02:40:47 story by William McLeod Raine. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Tangled Trails, a Western Detective story by William McLeod Raine. Chapter 16 The Lady with the Violet Perfume I won't have it, Kirby said flatly. If Miss McLean tells her story to the district attorney, he'll probably arrest her. It'll come out about her sister,

Starting point is 02:41:19 and the papers will run scareheads. No need of it at all. Won't hurt me to stay here a few days if I have to. Jack, dapper, and trim, leaned on his cane and watched his cousin. He felt a reluctant admiration for this virile cousin so picturesly competent, so clean cut and four square of mind. Was he in love with the wild rose from Wyoming? whose spirit also was like the breath from the sweet hill pines or was his decision only the expression of a native chivalry that went out to all his friends and perhaps to all women

Starting point is 02:42:03 they'd certainly arrest her jack commented from a lawyer's point of view there's every reason why they should motive for the crime sufficient intention to force the victim to make reparation or punishes him declared openly opportunity to commit it confessed presence unseen and eagerness to escape being seen there admitted the case against her is stronger than the one against you he offered this last with a smile decoriously but not wholly concealed yet she couldn't possibly have done it the cattleman replied couldn't she i wonder the beau brummel stroked his bit of mustache with the hint of insolence his manner often suggested not possible said lane forcefully uncle james was a big two-fisted fighter no slip of a girl could have overpowered him and tied him it's not within reason he spoke urgently though still in the low murmur both the cousins were using in order not to be overheard. Jack put a neat, highly polished boot on the desk of the sergeant of police.

Starting point is 02:43:26 Ever hear of a lady called Delilah? He asked lightly. What about her? In Kirby's quiet eye, there was a warning. The man about town shrugged his well-tailored shoulders. They have a way, the ladies. Gile, my son, is more potent. than force.

Starting point is 02:43:49 Meaning? Delilah chloroformed Samson's suspicions before she sheared his locks. Kirby repressed in anger that he knew was worse than futile. If you knew Miss McLean,

Starting point is 02:44:05 you couldn't misjudge her so. She thinks and acts as straight as a man. I don't say she did it, Old Top. I'm merely pointing out that it's possible she did. point of fact your friend made a hit with me i'd say she's a game little thoroughbred you and james will regard what she told you is confidential of course of course were of your mind too though i put her proposition to you can't see anything to be gained by airing her story unless it's absolutely necessary on your account

Starting point is 02:44:46 by the way james wants me to tell you that he thinks you won't have to spend another night at this delightful hotel the city keeps for its guests bond has been practically agreed on fine your brother's a brick we're going to run down this business he and i and drag the truth to light a glitter of sardonic mockery shone out of the dark eyes of cunningham you'll work together fine and sherlock homes this thing till it's as clear as mud he predicted by the middle of the afternoon kirby was free after he had talked over with james a plan of campaign he called rose up on the telephone and told her he would be right out to cherokee street she came to meet him in the stuffy parlor of the boarding-house with hand outstretched oh kirby i'm so glad to see you and so sorry i was such a horrid little beast last time we met i'm ashamed of myself my temper explodes so and after you came to denver to help me and gave up so much time for me you'll forgive me won't you you know it rose he said smiling yes i-i do know it she cried quickly that makes it worse for me to impose on you now you're in trouble because of me i should think you'd pretty near hate me we're in trouble together he corrected i thought that was supposed to bring friends closer and not to drive them apart she flasked she flasked flashed a quick look at him and changed the subject of conversation. Just now she

Starting point is 02:46:41 could not afford to be emotional. Are you going back to Twin Butes? No, I'm going to find out who killed James Cunningham and bring the man to justice. That's the only way to clear us both before the world. Yes, she cried eagerly. Let me help you. Let's be partners in kirby he already had one partner but he threw him overboard instantly james cunningham was retired to the position of an adviser bully we'll start this very minute tell me all you know about what happened the evening of the murder she told again the story she had confessed to his cousins he asked questions pushed some inquiries when she mentioned the woman who had confessed to his cousins he asked questions pushed some inquiries when she mentioned the woman who had had passed her on the stairs, he showed a keen interest. You say you knew it was a woman with the man by the perfume. What kind of perfume was it?

Starting point is 02:47:47 Violet. Did you notice a violet perfume any other place that night? In your uncle's living room. Sure? Yes. So did I. The woman I met a woman I met a woman. on the stairs then had just come from your uncle's rooms looks like it he nodded in agreement then we've got to find her she must have been in his apartment when he was killed the thought came to rose as a revelation

Starting point is 02:48:23 or right after all we've got to do is find her and the man with her and we've solved the mystery the girl cried eager That's not quite all, said Kirby, smiling at the way her mind leaked gaps. We've got to induce them to talk, and it's not certain they know any more than we do. Her skirts rustled like silk, and the perfume wasn't cheap. I couldn't really see her, but I knew she was well-dressed, Rose told him. Well, that's something. he said with the whimsical quirk to his mouth she knew of old we'll advertise for a well-dressed lady who uses violet perfume supposed to be connected with the murder of the paradox apartments generous reward and many questions asked his badinage was of the surface only the subconscious mind of the rough rider was preoccupied with a sense of vague groping the thought of violet perfume associated itself with something else in addition to the darkness of his uncle's living-room but he did not find himself able to localize the nebulous memory

Starting point is 02:49:47 where was it his nostrils had whiffed the scent more recently don't you think we ought to see all the tenants at the paradox and talk with them some of them may have seen people going in or out or they may have heard voices she said. That's a good idea. We'll make a canvas of the house. Her eyes sparkled. We'll find who did it. When two people look for the truth intelligently, they're bound to find it.

Starting point is 02:50:21 Don't you think so? I think we'll sure round up the wolf that did this killing, he drawled. Anyhow, we'll sleep on his trail for a moon or two. They shook hands on it. End of Chapter 16. Chapter 17 of Tangled Trails, a Western Detective Story, by William McLeod Raine. This Libervox recording is in the public domain.

Starting point is 02:50:57 Tangled Trails, a Western Detective story by William MacLeod Raine. Chapter 17. In Dry Valley. If Kirby had been a properly authenticated detective of fiction, he would have gone to his uncle's apartment, locked the door, measured the rooms with a tape line, found imprints of fingers on a door panel, and carefully gathered into an envelope the ashes from the cigar his uncle had been smoking.

Starting point is 02:51:31 The data obtained would have proved conclusively that Cunningham had come to his death at the hands of a Brahmin of high caste, on account of priceless gems stolen from a temple in Indy. An analysis of the cigar ashes would have shown that a subtle poison, unknown to the Western world, had caused the victim's heart to stop beating exactly two minutes and twelve seconds after taking the first puff at the cigar. Thus, the fictional ethics of the situation would have been correctly met. But Kirby was only a plain, outdoors westerner. He did not know the conventional method of the way.

Starting point is 02:52:13 of procedure. It did not even occur to him at first that apartment 12 might still have secrets to tell him, after the police and the reporters had pawned over it for several days. But his steps turned back several times to the paradox, as the center from which all clues must emanate. He found himself wandering around in that vicinity, trying to pick up some of the pieces of a Chinese puzzle that made up the mystery of his uncle's death. It was on one of these occasions that he and Rose met his cousin James coming out of the apartment house.

Starting point is 02:52:53 Cunningham was a man of admirable self-control, but he looked shaken this morning. His hand trembled as it met that of his cousin. In his eyes was the look of a man who had suffered a shock. I've been sitting alone for an hour in the house, the room where Uncle James met his death, been arranging his papers, he explained. It began to get my nerve. I couldn't stand it any longer. The horrible thing kept jumping to my mind.

Starting point is 02:53:28 He drew his right hand heavily across his eyes, as though to shut out and brush away the sight his imagination conjured. His left arm hung limp. Kirby's quick eyes noticed it. you've hurt yourself lane said yes admitted james my heel caught on the top step as i started to walk down i've wrenched my arm badly maybe i've broken it oh i hope not rose said quickly a warm sympathy in her vibrant young voice a broken arm's no fun i find it an awful nuisance the janitor of the paradox came out and joined them he was a little japanese well on toward middle life a small-featured man with small neat feet you feel em all right yes now he asked directing his slant oval eyes toward cunningham yes i've got over the nausea thanks shebo james turned to the others shebo was at the foot of the stairs when i caught my heel he gathered up the pieces i'd guess i was all in wasn't i shebo the japanese nodded agreement you heapsick for a minute i've been worrying a good deal about this business of uncle james i suppose anyhow i've had two or three dizzy spells lately nothing serious though

Starting point is 02:55:08 i don't wonder you sit at a desk too much james what you need is exercise if you'd get in the saddle a couple of hours a day and do some stiff riding you'd quit havin dizzy spells sorry you're hurt old man i'll trail along with you to a doctor's not necessary i'll be all right it's only a few blocks to his office fact is i'm feeling quite myself again well if you're sure probably you've only sprained your arm by the way i'd kind of like to go over uncle's apartment again mind if i do i don't reckon the police missed anything but you're can never tell. James hesitated. I promised the chief of police not to let anybody else in. Tell you what I'll do. I'll see him about it and get a permit for you. Say, Kirby, I've been thinking one of us ought to go up to Dry Valley and check things up there. We might find out who wrote that note to Uncle. Maybe someone has been making threats in public. we could see who was in town from there last week could you go to-day train leaves in half an hour kirby could and would

Starting point is 02:56:34 he left rose to talk with the tenants of the paradox apartments and trained for dry valley at once and by noon was winding over the hill-tops far up in the rockies he left the train at summit a small town which was the center of act for dry valley here the farmers bought their supplies and here they marketed their butter and eggs in the fall they drove in their cattle and loaded them for denver at the shoots in the railroad yard there had been times in the past when summit ebbed and flowed with a rip-roaring tide of turbulent life this had been after the round-ups in the golden yesterday when every other store building had been occupied by a saloon, and the rattle of chips lasted far into the small hours of night. Now, Colorado was dry, and the roulette wheel had gone to join memories of the past. Summit was quiet as a Sunday afternoon on a farm. Its busiest inhabitant was a dog which lay in the sun and lazily poked over its own anatomy for fleas. Kirby registered at the office of the frame-builder.

Starting point is 02:57:52 which carried on its fall front the word hotel this done he wandered down to the shack which bore the inscription dry valley enterprise the owner of the paper who was also editor reporter pressman business manager and circulator chanced to be in printing some dodgers announcing a dance at oddfellow's hall he desisted from his labors to chat with the stranger the editor was a fat talkative little man kirby found it no trouble at all to set him going on the subject of james cunningham senior in fact during his stay in the valley the wyoming man could always use that name as an open sesame it unlocked all tongues cunningham and his mysterious death were absorbing topics the man was hated by scores who had been brought close to ruin by his chicanery. Dry Valley rejoiced openly in the retribution that had fallen upon him. Who killed him? the editor asked, rhetorically. Well, sir, I'll be dogged if I know. But if I was guessing, I'd say it was this fellow Hull, the slicker that helped him put through the dry valley steel. Of course, it might have been the

Starting point is 02:59:19 Jap, or it might have been the nephew from Wyoming. But I'll say it was Hull. We know that cuss Hull up here. He's one bad package, that fat man is. Believe me. Cunningham held out on him, and he laid for the old crook and got him. Don't that look reasonable to you? It sure does to me.

Starting point is 02:59:43 Put a rope around Hull's neck, and you'll hang the man that killed old J.C. lane put in an hour making himself persona grata then read the latest issue of the enterprise while the editor pulled off the rest of the dodgers in the local news column he found several items that interested him these were jim harkins is down in denver on business and won't be home till monday have a good time j t j lupton is enjoying a few days vacation in the queen city he expects to buy some fancy stock at the yards for breeding purposes dry valley is right in the van of progress art jelks and brad moseley returned from denver to-day after a three days visit in the capital a good time was had by both you want to watch them girls the boys are both live ones oscar olson spent a few days in denver this week oscar owns a place three miles out of town on the spring creek road casually kirby gathered information he learned that jim harkins was the town constable and not interested in land that lupton was a very prosperous cattleman whose ranch was nowhere near the district promoted by cunningham and that jolts and mosley were young fellows more or less connected with the garage the editor knew olson only slightly he's a sweet big fair fellow got caught in that irrigation fake of holland cunning

Starting point is 03:01:27 don't know what he was doing in denver the newspaperman said lane decided that he would see olson and have a talk with him incidentally he meant to see all the dry valley men who had been in denver at the time cunningham was killed but the others he saw only to eliminate them from suspicion one glance at each of them was enough to give them a clean bill so far as the mystery went they knew nothing whatever about it. Lane rode out to Olson's place and found him burning brush. The cattleman explained that he was from Wyoming and wanted to sell some registered hair efforts. Olson looked over his dry, parched crops with sardonic bitterness. Do I look like I could buy registered stock? he said sourly. Kirby made a remark that set the ranchman off. He said, that the crops looked as though they needed water. Inside of five minutes he had heard

Starting point is 03:02:34 the story of the dry valley irrigation swindle. Olson was not a foreigner. He had been born in Minnesota and attended the public schools. He spoke English idiomatically and without an accent. The man was a tall, gaunt, broad-shouldered Scandinavian of more than average intelligence. the death of cunningham had not apparently assuaged his intense hatred of the man or the bitterness which welled out of him toward hull cunningham got his suits me fine now all i ask is that they hang hull for it he cried vindictively seems to be some doubt whether hull did it suggested kirby to draw him on that's so maybe there's evidence you don't know about the words had come out in the heat of impulse shot at kirby tensely and breathlessly olson looked at the man on the horse and lane could see caution grow on him a film of suspicion spread over the pupils beneath the heavy ragged eyebrows i ain't sayin so all i'm dead sure of is that hull

Starting point is 03:03:53 did it. Kirby fired a shot, point-blank, at him. Nobody can be dead sure of that unless he saw him do it. Maybe someone saw him do it. Folks don't tell all they know. Olson looked across the desert beyond the palpitating heat waves to the mountain in the distance. No, that's tough sometimes on innocent people, too. Mean in this nephew of old Cunningham? He'll get out all right. Will he?

Starting point is 03:04:30 There's a girl under suspicion, too. She had no more to do with it than I had, but she's likely to get into mighty serious trouble just the same. I ain't read anything in the papers about any girl, Olson answered sullenly. No, it hasn't got to the papers yet, but it will. It's up to every man who knows anything about this to come clean.

Starting point is 03:04:58 Is it? The farmer looked bleakly at his visitor. Seems to me you take a lot of interest in this. Who are you, anyhow? My name is Kirby Lane. Nephew of the old man? Yes. Olson gave a snort of dry splenetic laughter.

Starting point is 03:05:21 and you're out here selling registered hereherford's i have some for sale but that's not why i came to see you why did you come then asked the scandinavian his blue eyes hard and defiant i wanted to have a look at the man who wrote the note to james cunningham threatening to dry gulch him if he ever came to dry valley again it was a center shot kirby was sure of it he read it in the man's face before anger began to gather in it i'm the man who wrote that letter am i the lips of olson were drawn back in a vicious snarl you're the man you can prove that of course yes how by your handwriting i've seen three specimens of it to-day where one at the court-house one at the bank that holds your note and the third at the office of the enterprise you wrote an article urging the dry valley people to fight cunningham that article in your own handwriting is in my pocket right now. I didn't tell them to gun him, did I? That's not the point. What I'm getting at is that the same man wrote the article that wrote the letter to Cunningham.

Starting point is 03:06:56 Prove it! Prove it! The paper used in both cases was torn from the same tablet. The writing is the same. You've got a nerve to come out here and tell me I'm the man that killed Cunningham, Olson flung out, his face flushing darkly. I'm not saying that. What are you saying then? Shoot it at me straight. If I thought you had killed Cunningham, I wouldn't be here right now. What I thought when I came was that you might know something about it.

Starting point is 03:07:34 I didn't come out here to trap you. My idea is that Hullsson, did it but I've made up my mind you're hiding something I'm sure of it you as good as told me so what is it Kirby resting easily in the saddle with his weight on one stirrup looked straight into the rancher's eyes as he asked the question I'd be likely to tell you if I was wouldn't I jeered Olson why not better tell me than wait for the police to third agree you. If you're not in this killin, why not tell me what you know? I've told my story. After they spotted you in the courtroom, the farmer retorted, and how do I know you told all you know? Maybe you're keeping secrets, too. Kirby took this without batting an eye. An innocent man hasn't anything to fear, he said.

Starting point is 03:08:36 hasn't he? Olson picked up a stone and flung it at a pile of rocks he had gathered fifty yards away. He was left-handed. How do you know he hasn't? Say, just for argument, I do know something. Say I practically saw Cunningham killed and hadn't a thing to do with it. Could I get away with a story like that? You know darn well I couldn't.

Starting point is 03:09:05 Wouldn't the lawyers would be? want to know how come I'd be so handy to the place where the killin was right at the very time it took place? Me, who is supposed to have threatened to bump him off myself? Sure they would. I'd be tying a noose around my own neck. Do you know who killed my uncle? demanded Lane, point blank. Did you see it done?

Starting point is 03:09:32 Olson's eyes narrowed. A crafty light shone shone shone. through the slitted lids. Hold your horses. I ain't said I knew a thing. Not a thing. I was stringing you. Kirby knew he had overshot the mark.

Starting point is 03:09:50 He had been too eager and had alarmed the man. He was annoyed at himself. It would take time and patience and finesse to recover lost ground. Shrewdly he guessed at the rancher's state of mind. the man wanted to tell something was divided in mind whether to come forward as a witness or keep silent his evidence it was clear enough would implicate hull but perhaps indirectly it would involve himself too well whatever it is you know i hope you'll tell it the cattleman said but that's up to you not me if hull is the murderer i will be want the crime fastened on him i don't want him to get off scot free and that's about what's going to happen the fellow's guilty i believe but we can't prove it can't we i ain't sure of that again through the narrowed lids weary guile glittered maybe we can when the right time comes i doubt it lane spoke casual

Starting point is 03:11:06 and carelessly. Any testimony against him loses force if it's held out too long. The question comes up, why didn't the witness come right forward at once? No, I reckon Hull will get away with it, if he really did it. Don't you think it, Olson snapped out. They've pretty nearly got enough now to convict him. The Rough Rider laughed cynically. convict him they haven't enough against him even to make an arrest they've got a dozen times as much against me and they turned me loose he's quite safe if he keeps his mouth shut and he will olson flung a greasewood shrub on a pile of brush his mind kirby could see was busy with the problem before it the man's caution and his vindictive desire for vengeance were at war. He knew something, evidence that would tend to incriminate Hull, and he was afraid to bring it out to the light of day. He worked automatically, and the man on

Starting point is 03:12:20 horseback watched him. On that sullen face, Kirby could read fury, hatred, circumspection, suspicion, the lust for revenge. The man's anger barked at Lane, well what you waiting for he asked harshly nothing i'm going now he wrote his denver address on a card if you find there is any evidence against hull and want to talk it over perhaps you'd rather come to me than the police i'm like you if hull did it i want him found guilty so long he handed olson his card The man tossed it away. Kirby turned his horse toward town. Five minutes later, he looked back. The settler had walked across to the place where he had thrown the card

Starting point is 03:13:20 and was apparently picking it up. The man from Wyoming smiled. He had a very strong hunch that Olson would call on him within a week or ten days. Of course, he was disappointed, but he knew the game had to be played with patience at least he had learned something the man had in his possession evidence vitally important kirby meant to get that evidence from him somehow by hook or crook what was it the man knew was it possible he could have killed cunningham himself and be trying to throw the blame of it on hull was that why he was afraid to come out in the open with what testimony he had kirby could not forget the bitter hatred of cunningham the farmer cherished

Starting point is 03:14:14 that hatred extended to hull what a sweet revenge to kill one enemy and let the other one hang for the crime a detail jumped to his mind olson had picked up a stone and thrown it to the rock pile with his left hand. End of Chapter 17. Chapter 18 of Tangled Trails, a Western Detective Story, by William MacLeod Raine. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Tangled Trails, a Western Detective Story, by William MacLeod Raine. Chapter 18. Burn in a hole in my pocket.

Starting point is 03:15:06 Cole Sanborn passed through the welcome arch at the state. carrying an imitation leather suitcase. He did not take a car, but walked up 17th Avenue as far as the Markham Hotel. Here, he registered, left his luggage, and made some inquiries over the telephone. Thirty minutes later, he was shaking hands with Kirby Lane. You doggone old Hellamile! What you mean coming down here and getting throat in the Calaboose? He demanded, thumping his friend.

Starting point is 03:15:39 on the shoulder with a heavy brown fist i'm sure enough glad to see you mr champine of the world kirby answered falling into the easy vernacular of the outdoor country come to the big town to spend that thousand dollars you won the other day you betcha it's burning a hole in my pocket say you blamed old horn toad how come you not to stay for the finals folks was plum disappointed we didn't ride it off. Tell you about that later. How long you figure into stay in Denver, Cole? I don't know. A week, maybe. Fellow at the Empress wants me to go on that circuit and do stunts, but I don't reckon I will. Claims he's got a trained bronc I can show on. Me, I'm going to be busy as a dog with fleas, said Kirby. I got to find out who killed my uncle. uncle suspicion rests on me on a man named hull on the jap servant and on wild rose on wild rose exclaimed cole in surprise have they gone crazy the police haven't got to her yet old-timer but their suspicions will be headed that way right soon if i don't get busy she thinks her evidence will clear me it won't

Starting point is 03:17:09 It'll add a motive for me to have killed him. The detectives will figure out we did it together, Rose and me. Hells, bells, ain't they got no sense at all? Kirby looked at his watch. I'm headed right now for the apartment where my uncle was killed. Gonna look the ground over. Want to come along? Surest thing, you know.

Starting point is 03:17:38 I'm in this to a... affair you well go ahead i'll take your dust the lithe long-bodied man from basin wyoming clumped along in his high-heeled boots beside his friend both of them were splendid examples of physical manhood the sun tan was on their faces the ripple of health and their blood but there was this difference between them that while it was written on every inch of sandborn that he lived a striker a cow pony, Kirby might have been an irrigation engineer or a mining man from the hills. He had neither the bow legs nor the ungraceful roll of the man who rides most of his waking hours. His clothes were well made, and he knew how to carry them. As they walked across to 14th Street, Kirby told as much of the story as he could, without betraying Esther McClain's part of it.

Starting point is 03:18:39 trusted Sanborn implicitly but the girl's secret was not his to tell from james cunningham kirby had got the key of his uncle's apartment his cousin had given it to him a little reluctantly the police don't want things moved about he had explained they would probably call me down if they knew i'd let you in all i want to do is to look the ground over a bit what the police don't know won't worry him any, the cattleman had suggested. All right, James had shrugged his shoulders and turned over the key. If you think you can find out anything, I don't see any objection to your going in. Sanborn applied his shrewd common sense to the problem as he listened to Kirby. Looks to me like you're overlooking a bet, son, he said. What about this Jap fellow?

Starting point is 03:19:39 Why did he light out so pronto if he ain't in this thing? He might have gone because he's a foreigner and guessed they'd throw it on him. They would, too, if they could. Shucks, he had a better reason than that for cutting his stick. Sure had. He's in this somehow. Well, the police are after him. They'll likely run him down one of these days.

Starting point is 03:20:07 far as I'm concerned, I've got to let his trail go for the present. There are possibilities right here on the ground that haven't been run down yet. For instance, Rose met a man and a woman coming down the stairs while she was going up. Who were they? Might have been any of the tenants here. Yes, but she smelt a violet perfume that both she and I noticed in the apartment. My hunch is that the man and the woman were coming down from my uncle's rooms. Would she recognize them? Rose, I mean, asked Sanborn.

Starting point is 03:20:49 No, it was on the dark stairs. Huh, queer they didn't come forward until they had met a woman going up, that is, if they hadn't anything to do with the crime. Yes, of course there might be other reasons why they're. must keep quiet some love affair for instance sure that might be and that would explain why they went down the dark stairs and didn't take the elevator just the same i'd like to find out who that man and woman are kirby said he lifted his hand in a small gesture this is the paradox apartments a fat man rolled out of the building just as they reached the steps he pulled up and stared down at kirby what what his question hung poised what am i doing out of jail mr hull i'm looking for the man that killed my uncle kirby answered quietly looking straight at him

Starting point is 03:21:57 but why did you lie about the time when you saw me that night hull got excited at once his eyes began to dodge i ain't got a word to say to you not a word not a word he came puffing down the steps and went waddling on his way what do you think of that prize package cole asked lane his eyes following the man guilty as hell said the bronco buster crisply i'd say so too agreed kirby i don't know as we need to look much farther my vote is for mr cass hall with reservations end of chapter eighteen chapter nineteen of tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain this livervox recording is in the public domain tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain chapter nineteen a discovery the men from wyoming stepped into the elevator and kirby pressed the button numbered at the third floor they got out and turned to the right with the yale key his cousin had given him kirby opened the door of apartment twelve he knew that there was not an inch of space in the rooms that the police and the newspaper reporters had not raked as with a fine-tooth comb for clues the desk had been ransacked the books and magazines shaken the rugs taken up there was no chance that he would discover anything new unless it might be by deduction wild rose had reported to him the result of her canvas of the tenants one or two of them she had missed but she had managed to see all the rest

Starting point is 03:24:12 nothing of importance had developed from these talks some did not care to say anything others wanted to gossip a whole afternoon away but knew no more than what the newspapers had told them the single fact that stood out from her inquiries was that those who lived in the three apartments nearest to number twelve had all been out of the house on the evening of the twenty-third the man who rented the rooms next to those who had been out of the house on the evening of the twenty-third the man who rented the rooms next to those of Cunningham had left for Chicago on the 22nd and had not yet returned to Denver. Cole took in the easy chairs, the draperies, and the soft rugs with an appreciative eye. The old boy believed in solid comfort. You wouldn't think to look at this that he'd spend a year on a Bronx back buckinged blizzards. Some luxury, I'll say. Looks like one of them palaces of the vamp-linson.

Starting point is 03:25:12 ladies the movies show. Kirby wasted no time in searching the apartment for evidence. What interested him was its entrances and its exits, its relation to adjoining rooms and buildings. He had reason to believe that between nine o'clock and half-past ten on the night of the 23rd, not less than eight persons in addition to Cunningham had been in the apartment. How had they all managed to get in and out without being seen by each other. Lane talked aloud, partly to clear his own thought, and partly to put the situation before his friend.

Starting point is 03:25:54 Of course, I don't know every one of the eight was here. I'm guessing from facts I do know, making inferences, as you might say. To begin with, I was among those present. So was Rose. We don't need to guess any about that. cole still almost incredulous at the mention of rose as a suspect opened his lips to speak and closed them again with no word uttered he was one of those loyal souls who can trust without asking for explanations the lady of the violet perfume and her escort were here kirby went on at least she was most probably he was too it's a cinch though Hulls were in the rooms. They were scared stiff when I saw him a little later. They lied on

Starting point is 03:26:49 the witness stand so as to clear themselves and get me into trouble in their place. Olson backs up the evidence. He good as told me he'd seen Hull in my uncle's rooms. If he did, he must have been present himself. Then there's the Jap, Horikawa. He'd beat it before the police went to his room to arrest him at daybreak the morning after the murder. How did he know my uncle had been killed? It's not likely anyone told him between half-past ten and half-past five next morning. No, sir, he knew it because his eyes had told him so. I'll say he did, agreed Sanborn.

Starting point is 03:27:37 Good enough. That makes eight of us that came and went. We don't need to figure on Rose and me. I came by the door and went by the fire escape. She walked upstairs and down, too. The violet lady and the man with her took the stairs down. We know that. But how about Hall and Olson and the Jap? Here's another point.

Starting point is 03:28:05 Say it was 9.50 when Rose got here. My uncle didn't reach his rooms before nine o'clock. He changed his shoes, put on a smoking jacket, and lit a cigar. He had it half smoked before he was tied to the chair. That cuts down to less than three-quarters of an hour, the time in which he was chloroformed, tied up to the chair, and shot, and in which, at least six people paid a visit here, one of the six staying long enough to go through his desk and look over a whole lot of papers. Some of these people were sure enough treading close on each other's heels, and I reckon some were making quick getaways.

Starting point is 03:28:52 Looks reasonable, Cole admitted. I'll bet I wasn't the only man in a hurry that night, and not the only one trapped here. The window of the den was open when I came. Don't you reckon someone else beat it by the fire escape? Might have. They passed into the small room where James Cunningham had met his death. Broad daylight, though it was, Kirby felt for an instant a tightening at his heart.

Starting point is 03:29:25 In imagination he saw again the gargoyle grin on the dead face upturned to his. With an effort he pushed from him the gruesome memory. The chair in which the murdered man had been found was gone. The district attorney had taken it for an exhibit at the trial of the man upon whom evidence should fasten. The littered papers had been sorted and most of them removed, probably by James Cunningham, Jr.

Starting point is 03:29:56 Otherwise, the room remained the same. The air was close. Kirby stepped to the window and threw it up. up. He looked out at the fire escape and at the wall of the roominghouse across the alley. Denver is still young. It offers the incongruities of the West. The Paradox apartments had been remodeled and were modern and up to date. Adjoining it was the Wyndham Hotel, a survival of earlier days which could not long escape the march of progress. Lane and his friend stepped out to the platform of the fire escape. Below them was the narrow alleyway, directly in front,

Starting point is 03:30:43 the iron frame of the Wyndham fire escape. A discovery flashed across Kirby's brain and startled him. See here, Cole, if a man was standing on that platform over there, and if my uncle had been facing him in a chair sitting in front of the window, he could have rested his hand on that Raylan to take aim and made a dead center shot. Cole thought it out. Yes, he could if your uncle had been facing the window, but the chair wasn't turned to that way, you told me. Not when I saw it, but someone might have moved the chair afterward. The champion of the world grinned.

Starting point is 03:31:31 Seems to me, old man, you're traveling a wide trail this tree. trip if someone tied up the old man and chloroformed him and left him here convenient then moved him back to the wall after he'd been shot then someone on the fire escape could have done it what's the need of all them ifs since someone in the room had to be in the thing we can figure he fired the shot too whilst he was doing the rest besides your uncle's face was powder-marked showing he was shot from right close yes that's so agreed lane surrendering his brilliant idea reluctantly a moment and his face brightened look cole the corridor of that hotel runs back from the fire-escape if a fellow had been standing there he could have seen into the room if the blind wasn't down sure enough agreed sanborn if the murderer had given him an invite to a grandstand seat but probably he didn't no but it was hot that night a man roomin at the wyndham might have come out to get a breath of air say and if he had he might a seen something some more of them ifs son what are you driving at anyhow olson maybe it was from there he saw what he did sandbourne's face lost its whimsical derision his blue eyes narrowed in concentration of thought that's good guessing kirby it may be way off then again it may be absolutely correct

Starting point is 03:33:25 let's find out if olson stayed at the wyndham whilst he was in denver he'd be more apt to hang out nearer the depot unless he chose the wyndham to be near my uncle maybe so but if he did it wasn't because he meant the old man any good prove to me that the swedes stay there and i'll say he's as liable as hull to be guilty he coulda throat a rope that stone curly cue sticking up out there above us swung across to the fire escape here and walked right in on Cunningham Lane's quick glance swept the abutment above and the distance between the buildings you're shouting Cole he could have done just that or he might have been waiting in the room for my uncle when he came home yes more likely that was the way of it, if we're on a hot trail at all. We'll check up on that first.

Starting point is 03:34:32 Chances are ten to one we're barking up the wrong tree. Right away, we'll have a look at the Wyndham register. They did. The Wyndham was a rooming house rather than a hotel, but the landlady kept a register for her guests. She brought it out into the hall from her room for the Wyoming men to look at. there under date of the twenty-first they found the name they were looking for oscar olson had put up at the wyndham he had stayed three nights checking out on the twenty-fourth the friends walked into the street and back toward the paradox without a word as they stepped into the elevator again lane looked at his friend and smiled

Starting point is 03:35:22 i've a notion mr olson had a right interest in trip to denver he said quietly i'll say he had answered sanborn and that ain't but half of it either he's mighty apt to have another interest in one here one of these days End of Chapter 19. Chapter 20 of Tangled Trails, a Western Detective Story by William MacLeod Rain. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Tangled Trails, a Western detective story by William MacLeod Rain. Chapter 20. The Brass Bed The Rough Riders gravitated back to the fire escape.

Starting point is 03:36:17 Kirby had studied the relation of, his uncle's apartment to the building opposite. He had not yet examined it with reference to the adjoining rooms. While we're cutting trail, might as well be thorough, he said to his friend. The miscreant that did this killin might have walked out the door, or he might have come through the window here. If he did that last, which fork of the road did he take? He could go down the ladder or swing across to the Wyndham and slipped into the cor. Let's make sure we've got all the prospects figured out at that." Before he had finished the sentence, Lane saw another way of flight.

Starting point is 03:37:00 The apartment in front of Cunningham's was out of reach of the fire escape, but the nearest window of the one to the rear was closer. Beneath it ran a stone ledge. An active man could swing himself from the railing of the platform to the coping and force an entrance into that apartment through the window. Kirby glanced up and down the alley. A department store delivery auto was moving out of sight. Nobody was in the line of vision except an occasional pedestrian

Starting point is 03:37:33 passing on the sidewalk at the entrances to the alley. I'm going to take a whirl at it, Lane said, nodding toward the window. How much do they give for burglary in this state? asked sanborn his eyes dancing i'd kind of hate to see you do twenty years they have to catch the rabbit before they cook it old-timer here goes keep an eye peeled and give me the office if any cop shows up maybe the ladies at home i don't allow to rescue you none if she massacres you the world's champion announced grinning wrong guess cole the boss of this house Asianda is a man, and he's in Chicago right now. You're the doggonest go-getter I ever threw in with, Sanborn admitted. All right, go to it. If I got to go to the Kalibuice, I got to go, that's all.

Starting point is 03:38:35 Kirby stepped lightly to the railing, edged far out with his weight on the ledge, and swung to the windowsill. The sash yielded to the pressure of his hands and moved up. a moment later he disappeared from sanborn's view into the room it was the living-room of the apartment into which lane had stepped the walls were papered with blue and the rug was of figured yellow and blue the furniture was of fumed oak the chairs leather padded the self-invited guest met his first surprise on the table it was littered with two or three newspapers the date of the uppermost caught his eye it was a copy of the post of the twenty-fifth he looked at the other papers one was the times and another the news dated respectively the twenty-fourth and the twenty-sixth there was an express on the twenty-eighth each contained long accounts of the developments in the cunningham murder mystery how did these papers come here the appellate the apparel was closed its tenant in chicago the only other persons who had a key and the right of entry were horikawa and the paradox janitor and the house servant had fled to parts unknown who then had brought these papers here and why someone lame guessed who was vitally interested in the murder he based his presumption on one circumstance the sections of the news the sections of the news

Starting point is 03:40:16 newspapers which made no reference to the Cunningham affair had been jammed into the waste paper basket close to an adjoining desk. The apartment held two rooms, a buffet kitchen and a bathroom. Kirby opened the door into the bedroom. He stood paralyzed on the threshold. On the bed, fully dressed, his legs stretched in front of him and his feet crossed, was the missing man, Horikawa. his torso was propped up against the brass posts of the bedstead a handkerchief encircled each arm and bound it to the brass upright behind in the forehead just above the slant oval eyes was a bullet hole the man had probably been dead for a day at least for a good many hours the cattleman had no doubt that it was horikawa his picture a good snapshot taken to his picture a good snapshot taken to his picture a good snapshot taken to his snapshot taken by a former employer at a picnic, where the Japanese had served the luncheon,

Starting point is 03:41:21 had appeared in all the papers and on handbills sent out by James Cunningham, Jr. There was a scar, Y-shaped, and ragged, just above the left eye that made identification easy. Kirby stepped to the window of the living room and called to his friend. "'Wa me to help you gather the loot?' chaffed Cole. serious business old man kirby told him and the look in his face backed the words sanborn swung across to the window and came through what is it he asked quickly i found horakawa found him where the eyes of the men met and cole guessed that grim tragedy was in the air he followed kirby to the bedroom god he exclaimed his gaze was riveted to the bloodless yellow face of the oriental presently he broke the silence to speak again the same crowd that killed cunningham must have done this too probably sure they must same way exactly unless tying him up here was an afterthought to make it look like the other

Starting point is 03:42:44 suggested Lane. He added, after a moment, or for revenge, because Horikawa killed my uncle. If he did, fate couldn't have sent a retribution more exactly just. Sure, that's a heap unlikely. You'd have to figure there were two men that are Apache killers, both connected with this case, both with minds just alike, one of them a Jap and the other probably a white man. A hundred to one shot, I'd call it. No, sir. Chances are the same man bossed both jobs. Yes, agreed Kirby. The odds are all that way. He stepped closer and looked at the greenish yellow flesh. May have been dead a couple of days, he continued. What was the sense in

Starting point is 03:43:39 killing him? What for? How did he come in? do it. Coles boyish face wrinkled in perplexity. I don't make head or tail of this thing. Cunningham's enemies couldn't be his enemies too, do you reckon? More likely, he knew too much and had to be got out of the road. Yes, but... Sanborn stopped, frowning, while he worked out what he had to say. He wasn't killed right after your uncle.

Starting point is 03:44:12 where was he while the police were hunting for him everywhere if he knew something why didn't he come to bat with it what was he waiting for and if the folks that finally bumped him off knew he didn't aim to tell what he knew why for did they figure they had to get rid of him i can't answer your questions right off the real cole maybe i could guess that one or two answers but they likely wouldn't be right for instance i could guess that he was here in this room from the time my uncle was killed till he met his own death in this room in these apartments never left him most likely what's more someone knew he was here and kept him supplied with the daily papers. Who? If I could tell you that, I could tell you who killed him, answered Kirby with a grim, mirthless smile. How do you know all that? Lane told him of the mute testimony of the newspapers in the living room.

Starting point is 03:45:23 Someone brought those papers to him every day, he added. And then killed him. Does that look reasonable to you? we don't know the circumstances say to make a long shot that the jap had been hired to kill my uncle by this other man and say he was beginning to get ugly and make threats or say horikawa knew about the killin of my uncle and was hired by the other man to keep away then he learns from the papers that he's suspected and he gets anxious to go to the police with what he knows wouldn't there be reason enough then to kill him the other man would have to do it to save himself i reckon cole harked back to a proceeding suggestion the revenge theory won't hold water if some friend of your uncle knew the jap had killed him he had sick the law on him he wouldn't pull off any private execution like this kirby accepted this that's true there's another possibility we've been forgetting the two thousand dollars my uncle drew from the bank the day he was killed

Starting point is 03:46:40 if horikawa and some one else are guilty of the murder and the theft they might have quarreled later over the money perhaps the accomplice saw a chance to get away with the whole of it by getting rid of horikawa maybe so by what you tell me your uncle was a big two-fisted scrapper it was a two-man job to handle him this little jap never in the world did it alone what it gets back to is that he was probably in on it and later for some reason his partner gunned him well we'd better telephone for the police and let them do some of the worrying kirby stepped into the living room followed by his friend he was about to reach for the receiver when an exclamation stopped him sanborn was standing before a small writing-desk of which he had just let down the top he had lifted idly a piece of blotting paper and was gazing down at a sheet of paper with writing on it lookie here kirby he called in three strides lane was gazed lane was beside him. His eyes, too, fastened on the sheet, and found there the pot-hooks we have learned to associate with Chinese and Japanese chirography. "'Shows he'd been making himself at home,' the champion Rough Rider said."

Starting point is 03:48:11 Lane picked up the paper. There were two or three sheets of the writing. "'Might be a letter to his folks, or it might be,' his sentence flickered out. He was thinking, I reckon I'll take this along with me and have it translated, Cole. He put the sheets in his pocket after he had folded them. You never can tell. I might as well know what this Horikawa was thinking about first off as the police. There's just an off chance he might have seen Rose that night and tells about it here.

Starting point is 03:48:50 A moment later he was telephoning to the City Hall for the police. police. There was the sound of a key in the outer door. It opened, and the janitor of the paradox stood in the doorway. "'What you do here?' asked the little Japanese quickly. "'We came in through the window,' explained Kirby. "'Thought maybe the man that killed my uncle slipped in here. "'I hear you talk. I come in. You know business here.' true enough shebo but we're not burglars and we're here lucky we are too we've found something mr jennings he in chicago he no like you here

Starting point is 03:49:37 i want to show you something shibbo come kirby led the way into the bedroom shebo looked at his countryman without a muscle of his impassive face twitching some one kill him plenty dead he said evenly quite plenty kirby agreed watching his imperturbable oriental face the cattleman admitted to himself that what he did not know about japanese habits of mind would fill a great many books end of chapter twenty chapter twenty one of tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain this libervox recording is in the public domain tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain chapter twenty one james loses his temper cole grinned whimsically at his friend do we light out now or wait for the cops he asked we wait they'd probably find out anyhow that we'd been here five minutes later a patrol wagon clanged up to the paradox a sergeant of police and two plainclothesmen took the elevator the sergeant heading the party stopped in the doorway of the apartment and led a hard hostile eye travel up and down lane six feet oh that's you he said suspiciously kirby smiled that's right officer we've met before haven't we they had the sergeant was the man who had arrested him at the coroner's inquest it had annoyed him that the authorities had later released the prisoner on bond have you touched the body or moved anything since you came the sergeant demanded

Starting point is 03:51:47 no sir to both questions except the telephone when i used it to reach headquarters the officer made no answer he and the detectives went into the bedroom examined the dead valet's position and clothes made a tour of the rooms and came back to lane who's your friend asked the sergeant superciliously his name is cole sanborn the champion bronco buster yes the sergeant looked at sanborn with increased respect his eyes went back to kirby sullenly what you doin here we were in my uncle's apartment looking things over we stepped out on the fire escape and happened to notice this window here was open a little it just came over me that maybe we might discover some evidence here so i got in by the window saw the body of the jap and called my friend someone hire you to hunt up evidence the officer wanted to know with heavy sarcasm i hired myself my good name is involved i'm going to see the murderer is brought to justice you are eh yes well i'll say you could find him if anybody could you're entitled to your opinion sergeant just as i am to mine but before we're through with this case you'll have to admit you've been wrong lane turned to his friend we'll go now cole if you're ready the sergeant glared at this cool customer who refused to be appalled at the position in which he stood

Starting point is 03:53:40 he had half a mind to arrest the man again on the spot but he was not sure enough of his ground not very long since he had missed a promotion by being overzealous he did not want to make the same mistake twice the wyoming men walked across to seventeenth street and down it to the equitable building james cunningham was in his office he looked up as they entered a cold smile on his lips ah my energetic cousin he said with his habitual touch of irony what's in the wind now kirby told him instantly james became grave his irony vanished. In his face was a flicker almost of consternation at this follow-up murder. He might have been asking himself how much more trouble was coming. We'll get the writing translated. You have it with you? he said. His eyes ran over the pages Lane handed him. I know a Jap we can get to read it for us, a reliable man, one who won't talk if we ask him not to.

Starting point is 03:54:55 The broker's desk buzzer rang. He talked for a moment over the telephone, then hung up again. Sorry, Cunningham said. I'm going to be busy for an hour or two, going to lunch with Miss Phyllis Harriman. She was Uncle James's fiancée, perhaps you know. There are some affairs of the estate to be arranged. I wonder if you could come back later this afternoon, say, about four o'clock. We'll take up then the business of the translation. I'll get in touch with

Starting point is 03:55:31 the Japanese in the meantime. Suits me. Shall I leave the writing here? Yes, if you will. Doesn't matter, of course, but since we have it, I'll put it in the safe. How's the arm? Kirby asked, glancing at the sling his cousin wore. Only sprained. The doctor thinks I must have twisted it badly as I fell. I couldn't sleep a wink all night. The damned thing pained so. James looked as though he had not slept well. His eyes were shadowed and careworn. They walked together as far as the outer office. A slender, dark young woman, beautifully gowned, was waiting there. James introduced her to his cousin and Sanborn as Miss Harriman. She was, Kirby knew at once, the original of the photograph he had seen in his uncle's rooms.

Starting point is 03:56:33 Miss Harriman was a vision of sheathed loveliness. The dark, long-lashed eyes looked out at Kirby with appealing wistfulness. When she moved, the soft lines of her body took on a sinuous grace. From her personality there seemed to emanate an enticing aura of sex mystery. she gave kirby her little gloved hand i'm glad to meet you mr lane she said smiling at him i've heard all sorts of good things about you from james and jack she did not offer her hand to sandbourne perhaps because she was busy buttoning one of the long gloves instead she gave him a flash of her eyes and a nod of the carefully coiffured head kirby said the proper things but he said them with a mind divided for his nostrils were inhaling again the violet perfume that associated itself with his first visit to his uncle's apartment he did not start his eyes did not betray him his face could be wooden on occasion and it told no stories now but his mind was filled with racing thoughts had phyllis harriman been the woman rose had met on the stairs what had she been doing in cunningham's room who was the man with her what secret connected with his uncle's death lay hidden back of the limpid innocence of those dark shadowed eyes

Starting point is 03:58:09 she was one of those women who are forever a tantalizing mystery to men what was she like behind the inscrutable charming mask of her face lane carried this preoccupation with him throughout the afternoon it was still in the hinterland of his thoughts when he returned to his cousin's office his entrance was upon a scene of agitated storm his cousin was in the outer office facing a clerk in his eyes there was a cold fury of anger that surprised kirby he had known james always as self-restrained to the point of chilliness now his anger seemed to leap out and strike savagely gross incompetence and negligence hudson you are discharged sir i'll not have you in my employ an hour longer a man i have trusted and found wholly unworthy i'm sorry mr cunningham the clerk said humbly i don't see how i lost the paper if i did sir I was very careful when I took the deeds and leases out of the safe. It seems hardly possible. But you lost it.

Starting point is 03:59:30 Nobody else could have done it. I don't want excuses. You can go, sir. Cunningham turned abruptly to his cousin. The sheets of paper with the Japanese writing have been lost. This man, by some piece of inexcusable carelessness, took them with a bundle of other documents. to my lawyer's office. He must have taken them. They were lying with the others. Now they can't be found anywhere. Have you phoned to your lawyer? asked Kirby.

Starting point is 04:00:04 Phoneed and been in person. They are nowhere to be found. They ought to turn up somewhere. This clerk probably dropped them. I've sent an advertisement to the afternoon papers. Kirby was taken aback at this unexpected mischance, but there was no use wasting nerve energy and useless fretting. He regretted having left the papers with James, for he felt that in them might be the key to the mystery of the Cunningham case. But he had no doubt that his cousin was more distressed about the loss than he was. He comforted himself with the reflection that a thorough search would probably restore them anyhow.

Starting point is 04:00:47 He asked Hudson a few questions and had the man show them exactly where he had picked up the papers he took to the lawyer. James listened, his anger still simmering. Kirby took his cousin by the arm and led him to the inner office. Frankly, James, I think you were partly to blame, he said. You must have laid the writing very close in the safe to the other papers. Hadn't you better give Hudson a husband? another chance before you fire him?" His disarming smile robbed both the criticism and the suggestion of any offense they may otherwise

Starting point is 04:01:26 have had. In the end, he persuaded Cunningham to withdraw his discharge of the clerk. He doesn't deserve it, James grumbled. He's maybe spoiled our chance of laying hands on the man who killed Uncle. I can't get over my disappointment. don't worry old man lane said quietly we're goin to rope and hogtie that wolf even if horikawa can't point him out to us with his dead hand cunningham looked at him and again the faint ironic smile of admiration was in evidence you're confident kirby why wouldn't i be with you and rose mclean and cole sandbourne and i all follow in the fellow's trail, he can't double and twist enough to make a getaway. We'll ride him down,

Starting point is 04:02:24 sure. Maybe we will, and maybe we won't, the oil broker replied. I'll give odds that he goes scot-free. Then you'd lose, Kirby answered, smiling easily. End of Chapter 21. Chapter 22 of Tangled Trails, a Western Detective's story by William McLeod Rain. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Tangled Trails, a Western detective story by William McLeod rain.

Starting point is 04:03:07 Chapter 22. Are you with me or against me? Miss Phyllis Harriman had breakfasted earlier than usual. Her luxuriant blue-black hair had been dressed, and she was debating the important question as to what gown she would wear. The business of her life was to make an effective carnal appeal, and she had a very sure sense of how to accomplish this. A maid entered with a card,

Starting point is 04:03:38 at which Miss Harriman glanced indolently. A smile twitched at the corners of her mouth, but it was not wholly one of amusement. In the dark eyes a hint of adventure sparked. Her pulses beat with a little glist. of triumph, for this young woman was of the born coquettes. She could no more resist alluring an attractive man and playing with him to his subsequent mental discomfort than she could refrain from bridge drives and dinner dances. This wild man from Wyoming, so strong of

Starting point is 04:04:15 stride, so quietly competent, whose sardonic glance had taken her in so directly and so keenly, was a foam and worthy. of her weapons good gracious she murmured does he usually call in the middle of the night I wonder and does he really expect me to see him now the maid waited she had long ago discovered that miss Phyllis did not always regulate her actions by her words take him into the red room and tell him I'll be down in a minute miss Harriman decided after which there was swift action in the ladies' boudoir. The red room was scarcely more than a cozy alcove set off the main reception room, but it had a note of warmth, of friendly and seductive intimacy. Its walls whispered of tete-a-tete, the cushions hinted at interesting secrets

Starting point is 04:05:14 they were forever debarred from telling. In short, when Miss Harriman was present, it seemed, no less than the clothes she wore, an expression of her personality. After a very few minutes, Miss Phyllis sauntered into the room and gave her hand to the man who rose at her entrance. She was simply but expensively gowned. Her smile was warm for Kirby.

Starting point is 04:05:42 It told him, with a touch of shy reluctance, that he was the one man in the world she would rather meet just now. He did not know that it would have carried the same message to any one of half a dozen men. I'm so glad you came to see me, she said, just as though she were in the habit of receiving young men at eleven in the morning.

Starting point is 04:06:05 Of course I want to know you better. James thinks so much of you. And Jack, added Lane, smilingly. Oh, yes, Jack too, she said, and laughed outright when their eyes met. I'm sure Jack's... very fond of me he can't help showing it occasionally jack's impulsive she explained but he's amenable to influence of the right sort i'm sure he would be he found himself the object of a piquant amused scrutiny under her long lashes it came to him that this paris-gowned long-limbed young sylph was more than willing to let him become intrigued by

Starting point is 04:06:53 her charms but Kirby Lane had not called so early in the day to fall in love i came to see you miss Harriman about the case he said my good name is involved i must clear it i want you to help me he saw a pulse of excitement flutter in her throat it seemed to him that her eyes grew darker as though some shadow of dread had fallen over them the provocative of smile vanished. How can I help you? she asked. If you would answer a few questions... What questions?

Starting point is 04:07:35 All the softness had gone from her voice. It had become tense and sharp. Personal ones. About you and my uncle. You were engaged to him, were you not? Yes. There wasn't any quarrel between you recently. was there?

Starting point is 04:07:54 A flash of apprehension filled her eyes. Then, resolutely, she banished fear and called to her aid, Oter. There was not, though I quite fail to see how this can concern you, Mr. Lane. I don't want to distress you, he said gently. Just now that question must seem to you a brutal one. Believe me, I don't want to hurt you. Her eyes softened, grew wistful and appealing. I'm sure you don't.

Starting point is 04:08:29 You couldn't. It's all so, so dreadful to think about. There was a little catch in her throat as the voice broke. Let's talk of something more cheerful. I want to forget it all. I'm sure you do. We all want to do that. The surest way to get it out of our minds is to solve the mystery

Starting point is 04:08:52 and find out who was guilty. That's why I want you to tell me a few things to clear up my mind. But I don't know anything about it, nothing at all. Why should you come to me? When did you last see my uncle alive? What a dreadful question. It was, let me think, in the afternoon, the day before. And you parted from him on the best of terms?

Starting point is 04:09:21 of course he leaned toward her ever so little his eyes level with hers and steadily fastened upon her that's the last time you saw him until you went to his rooms at the paradox the night he was killed she had lifted her hand to pat into place an escaping tendril of hair the hand remained lifted the dark eyes froze with horror they stared at him as though held by some dreadful fascination from her cheeks the color ebbed kirby thought she was going to faint but she did not a low moan of despair escaped from the ashen lips the lifted arm fell heavily to her lap then kirby discovered that the two in the red room had become three jack cunningham was standing in the doorway. His glance flashed to Lane, accusingly. What's up? What are you doing here? he demanded, abruptly. The Wyoming man rose. I've been asking Miss Harriman a question. A question. What business have you to ask her questions? demanded Jack, hotly. His cousin tried a shot in the dark. I was asking her.

Starting point is 04:10:51 he said, his voice low and even, about that visit you and she paid to Uncle James's rooms the night he was killed. Kirby knew instantly he had scored a hit. The insolence, the jaunty confidence, were stricken from him as by a buffet in the face. For a moment, body and mind alike were lax and stunned. Then courage flowed back into his veins.

Starting point is 04:11:19 He came forward, blustering. What do you mean? What visit? It's a damned lie. Is it? Then why is the question such a knockout to you and Miss Harriman? She almost fainted, and it certainly crumpled you up till you got a second breath. Jack flushed angrily. Of course it shocked her for you to make such a charge against her. It would frighten any woman. by god it's an outrage you come here and try to browbeat miss herriman when she's alone you ask her impudent questions as good as tell her her she she

Starting point is 04:12:02 kirby's eyes were like a glittering rapier probing for the weakness of his opponent's defence i say that she and you were in the rooms of uncle james at nine fifty the evening he was killed i say that you concealed the fact at the evening he was killed i say that you concealed the fact at the inquest. Why? He shot his question at the other man with the velocity of a bullet. Cunningham's lip twitched. His eye wavered. How much did his cousin know? How much was he merely guessing? Who told you we were there? How do you know it? I don't propose to answer every wild accusation, nor to let Miss Harriman be insulted by you. Who are you, anyhow? a man accused of killing my uncle the man who found his valet dead and is suspected of that crime too a fellow who would be lying behind the bars now if my brother hadn't put up the money to save the family from disgrace if we tell all we know the police will grab you again double quick yet you have the nerve to come here and make insinuations against the lady who is mourning my uncle's death I have a good mind to phone for the police right now."

Starting point is 04:13:24 "'Do,' suggested Kirby, smiling. "'Then we'll both tell what we know, and perhaps things will clear up a bit.' It was a bluff, pure and simple. He couldn't tell what he knew any more than his cousin could. The part played by Rose and Esther McLean in the story barred him from the luxury of truth-telling. Moreover, he had no real evidence to back his suspicions. But Jack did not know how strong the restraining influence was.

Starting point is 04:13:59 I didn't say I was going to phone. I said I'd a jolly good mind to, Cunningham replied sulkily. I'd advise you not to start anything you can't finish, Jack. I'll give you one more piece of advice, too. Come clean with what you know. I'm going to find out anyhow. Make up your mind to that. I'm going through with this job till it's done.

Starting point is 04:14:28 You'll pull off your Sherlock Holmes stuff in jail, then, for I'm going to ask James to get off your bond, Jack retorted vindictively. As you please about that, Lane said quietly. He'll choose between you or me. I'll be damned to follow him. stand for his keeping a man out of jail to try and fasten on me a murder I didn't do. I haven't said that you did it. What I say is that you and Miss Harriman know something

Starting point is 04:15:01 and are concealing it. What is it? I'm not a fool. I don't think you killed Uncle any more than I did. But you and Miss Harriman have a secret. Why don't you go to James and make a clean breast of it? he'll tell you what to do the devil he will i tell you we haven't any secret we weren't in uncle's room that night can you prove an alibi for the whole evening both of you the range rider asked curtly none of your business we're not in the prisoners doc it's you that is likely to be there jack tossed out petulantly Phyllis Harriman had flung herself down to sob with her head in the pillows. But Kirby noticed that one small pink ear was in the open to take in the swift sentences passing between the men. I'm intended to make it my business, Lane said, his voice ominously quiet.

Starting point is 04:16:09 You're laying up trouble for yourself, Jack warned blackly. If you want me for an enemy, you're going to. going at this the right way. I'm not looking for enemies. What I want is the truth. You're concealing it. We'll see if you can make it stick. We're not concealing a thing.

Starting point is 04:16:34 Last call for you to show down your cards, Jack. Are you with me or against me? asked Kirby. Against you, you meddling fool. Cunningham burst out in a gust of fury. Don't you meddle with my affairs, unless you want trouble right off the bat. I'm not going to have a Paul Pry nosing around and hinting slanders about me and Miss Harriman. What do you think I am?

Starting point is 04:17:04 I'll protect my good name and this lady's, if I have to do it with a gun. Don't forget that, Mr. Lane. Kirby's steady gaze appraised him coolly. You're excited and talking foolishness. I'm not attacking anybody's good name. I'm looking for the man who killed Uncle James. I'm expecting to find him. If anybody stands in the way, I'm liable to run against him.

Starting point is 04:17:34 The man from Twin Buttes bowed toward the black hair and pink ear of his hostess. He turned up. his heel and walked from the room. End of Chapter 22. Chapter 23 of Tangled Trails, A Western Detective Story, by William MacLeod Rain. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Tangled Trails, a Western detective story by William MacLeod Raine.

Starting point is 04:18:12 Chapter 23. Cousins disagree. It was essential to Kirby's plans that he should be at liberty. If he should be locked up in prison, even for a few days, the threads that had begun to untangle from the snarl, known as the Cunningham mystery, would again be ensnared. He was not sure what action James would take at his brother's demand that he withdraw from the bond, but Lane had no desire to embarrass him by forcing the issue. He set about securing a new bond.

Starting point is 04:18:49 He was, ten minutes later, in the law offices of Irwin, Foster, and Warren, attorneys who represented the cattle interests in Wyoming, with which Kirby was identified. Foster, a stout middle-aged man, with only a few locks of gray hair left, heard what the rough rider had to say. I'll wire to Caldwell and to Norman, as you suggest, Mr. Lane, he said. If they give me instructions to stand back of you, I'll arrange a new bond as soon as possible. Will it take long? I can't afford to be tied up behind the bars right now. Not if I can get it accepted. I'll let you know at once. Kirby rose. He had finished his business. Just a moment, Mr. Lane.

Starting point is 04:19:45 Foster leaned back in his swivel chair and looked out of the window. his eyes did not focus on any detail of the office building opposite they had the far-away look which denotes a preoccupied mind ever been to golden he asked at last abruptly swinging back in his seat and looking at his client no why golden is the gretna green of denver you know when young people elope they go to golden When a couple gets married and doesn't want it known, they choose golden. Very convenient spot. I'm not figuring on getting married right now, the cattleman said, smiling. Still, you might find a visit to the place interesting and useful. I was there on business a couple of weeks ago.

Starting point is 04:20:42 The eyes of the men fastened. Lane knew he was being given a hint that Foster did not want. want to put more directly. What are the interest in points of the town? asked the Twin Butes man. Well, sir, there are several. Of course, there's a school of mines and the mountains right back of the town. Gold was discovered there somewhere about 57, I think. Used to be the capital of the territory before Denver found her feet. I'm rather busy. wouldn't take you long to run over on the interurban the lawyer began to gather toward him the papers upon which he had been working when the client was shown in he added casually

Starting point is 04:21:34 i found it quite amusing to look over the marriage licenses of the last month or two found the names there of some of our prominent citizens well i'll call you up as soon as i know about the bond lane was not entirely satisfied with what he had been told but he knew that foster had said all he meant to say one thing stuck in his mind as the gist of the hint the attorney was advising him to go to the court house and check up the marriage licenses he walked across to the equitable building and dropped in on his cousin james cunningham rose to meet him a bit stiffly the cattleman needed to get him a bit stiffly the cattleman knew that Jack had already been in to see him, or had got him on the wire. Kirby brushed through any embarrassment there might be, and told frankly why he had come. I've had sort of a row with Jack. Under the circumstances, I don't feel that I ought to let you stay in my bond. It might create ill-feeling between you and him.

Starting point is 04:22:44 So I'm arranging to have some Wyoming friends put up whatever's required. you'll understand i haven't any bad feelings against you or against him for that matter you've been bully all through this thing and i'm certainly in your debt what's the trouble between you about asked james i found out that he and miss herriman were in uncle james's rooms the night he was killed i want them to come through and tell what they know how did you find that out the eyes of the oilbroker were hard as jade they looked straight into those of his cousin i can't tell you that exactly put two and two together you mean you guess they were there you don't know it a warm friendly light the brown face of the rough rider he wanted to remain on good terms with james if he could. I don't know it in a legal sense. Morally, I'm convinced of it.

Starting point is 04:23:55 Even though they deny it? Practically, they admit it rather than denied. Do you think it was quite straight, Kirby, to go to Miss Harriman with such a trumped-up charge? I don't. I confess, I'm surprised at you. In voice and expression, James showed his disappointment.

Starting point is 04:24:20 It isn't a trumped-up charge. I wanted to know the truth from her. Why didn't you go to Jack then? I didn't know at that time Jack was the man with her. You don't know it now. You don't know she was there. In point of fact, the idea is ridiculous. You surely don't think for a moment

Starting point is 04:24:45 that she had anything to do with Uncle James his death? No, not in the sense that she helps bring it about, but she knows something she's hiding. That's absurd. Your imagination is too active, Kirby. Can't agree with you. Lane met him eye to eye. Grant for the sake of argument that she was in Uncle's room that night. Your friend Miss Rose McLean was there too, by her own confession. When she came to Jack and me with her story, we respected it. We did not insist on knowing why she was there, and it was of her own free will, she told us. Yet you go to our friend and distress her by implications that must shock and wound her. Was that generous? Was it even fair? The cattleman

Starting point is 04:25:44 stood convicted at the bar of his own judgment. His cousins had been magnanimous to Esther and Rose. More so than he had been to Miss Harriman. Yet, even while he confessed fault, he felt uneasily that there was a justification he could not quite lay hold of and put into words. I'm sorry you feel that way, James. Perhaps I was wrong.

Starting point is 04:26:11 But you want to remember that I wasn't asking about what she knew with any idea of making it public or telling the police, I meant to keep it under my own hat to help run down a cold-blooded murderer. You can't want to run him down any more than we do, and in that we, I include Jack and Miss Harriman as well as myself, the older man answered gravely. But I'm sure you're entirely wrong. Miss Harriman knows nothing about it.

Starting point is 04:26:44 If she had, she would have confided in us. Perhaps she has confided in Jack. Don't you think that obsession of yours is rather, well, unlikely, to put it mildly? Analyze it, and you'll find you haven't a single substantial fact to base it on. This was true. Yet Kirby's opinion was not changed. He still believed that Jack and Miss Heron. had been in his uncle's rooms just before Wild Rose had been there he returned to the subject of the bond it seemed to him best he said in view of Jack's feeling to get other bondsmen he hoped James would not interpret this to mean that he felt less friendly toward him

Starting point is 04:27:36 his cousin bowed rather formally just as you please would you like the matter arranged this after after afternoon? Lane looked at his watch. I haven't heard from my new bondsman yet. Besides, I want to go to Golden. Would tomorrow morning suit you? I dare say, James stifled a yawn. Did you say you were going to Golden? Yes, someone gave me a tip.

Starting point is 04:28:09 I don't know what there's in it, but I thought I'd have a look at the marriage license registry. Cunningham flashed a startled glance at him that asked a peremptory question. Probably waste of time. I've been in the oil business too long to pay any attention to tips. Expect you're right, but I'll trot out there anyhow.

Starting point is 04:28:35 Never can tell. What do you expect to find among the marriage licenses? Haven't the slightest idea. I'll tell you tomorrow what I do find. James made one dry, ironic comment. I rather think you have too much imagination for sleuthing. You let your wild fancies gallop away with you. If I were you, I'd go back to bronco-busting.

Starting point is 04:29:06 Kirby laughed. Dare say, you're right. I'll take your advice after we get to. the man were after. End of Chapter 23. Chapter 24 of Tangled Trails, A Western Detective's story by William McLeod Rain. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Tangled Trails, a Western detective story by William McLeod Rain. Chapter 24. Reverend Nicodemus Rankin forgets and remembers. By appointment, Kirby met Rose. at Graham and Osbournes for luncheon. She was waiting in the tower room for him.

Starting point is 04:29:58 "'Where's Esther?' he asked. Rose mustered a faint smile. She's eating lunch with a handsomer man. "'You can't throw a stone up 16th Street without hidden one,' he answered gaily. They followed the head waitress to a small table for two by a window. Rose walked with the buoyant rhythm of perfect health. Her friend noticed, as she had often done before, that she had the grace of movement which is a corollary to muscles under perfect response. Seated across the table from her, he marveled once more at the miracle of her soft skin

Starting point is 04:30:40 and the peach bloom of her complexion. Many times she had known the sting of sleet and the splash of sun on her face, yet incredibly her cheeks did not tan nor lose their fineness you haven't told me who this handsomer man is kirby suggested cole sandbourne she flushed a little but looked straight at him have you told him about esther no but from something he said i think he guesses her eyes softened he's awfully good to esther i can see he likes her and she likes him why couldn't she have met him first she's so lovable tears brimmed to her eyes that's been her ruin she was ready to believe any man who said he cared for her even when she was a little bit of a trick when people liked her she was grateful to them for it and kind of a little bit of a trick when people liked her she was grateful to them for it and kind of her-a-lawed her she was grateful to them for it and kind of I kind of snuggled up to them. I never saw a more cuddly baby.

Starting point is 04:31:53 Have you found out anything more yet about the man? He asked, his voice low and gentle. No, it's queer how stubborn she can be for all her softness. But she almost told me last night. I'll find out in a day or two now. Of course it was your uncle. The note I found was really. an admission of guilt. Your cousins feel that some settlement ought to be made on Esther out of the

Starting point is 04:32:23 estate. I've been trying to decide what would be fair. Will you think it over and let me know what seems right to you? The waitress came, took their order, and departed. I'm going out to golden today on a queer wild goose chase, Kirby said. A man gave me a hint. he didn't want to tell me the information out and out whatever it is i don't know why what he said was for me to go to golden and look over the list of marriage licenses for the past month or two her eyes flashed an eager question at him you don't suppose it couldn't be that esther was married to your uncle secretly and that she promised not to tell i hadn't thought of that it might be his eyes narrowed in concentration and if jack and miss herriman had just found it out that would explain why they called on uncle james the night he was killed do you want to go to a golden with me she nodded eagerly oh i do kirby i believe we'll find out something there shall we go by the interurban as soon as we're through lunch they walked across arapeho street to the loop and took a golden car it carried them by the viaduct over the platte river and threw the north side into the country

Starting point is 04:34:02 they rushed past truck farms and apple orchards into the rolling fields beyond where the crops had been harvested and the land lay in the mellow bath of a summer sun they swung round table mountain into the little town huddled at the foot of lookout from the terminus of the line they walked up the steep hill to the court house an automobile new and of an expensive make was standing by the curb just as kirby and rose reached the machine a young man ran down the steps of the court house and stepped into the car the man was jack cunningham he took the driver's seat beside him was a veiled young woman in a leather motoring coat in spite of the veil lane recognized her as phyllis harriman cunningham caught sight of his cousin and anger flushed his face without a word he reached for the starter threw in the clutch and gave the engine gas the rough rider watched the car move down the hill i've made a mistake he told his companion i told james i was comin here to-day he'd let jack know and he's beat us to it what harm will that do asked rose the information will be there for us too won't it maybe it will maybe it won't it will maybe it won't we'll soon find out rose caught her friend's arm as they were passing through the hall kirby do you suppose your cousins really know esther was married to your uncle do you think they can be trying to keep it quiet so she can't claim the estate

Starting point is 04:35:56 he stopped in his stride james had deprecated the idea of his coming to golden and had ridiculed the possibility of his unearthing any information of value yet he must have called up jack as soon as he had left the office and jack had hurried to the town within the hour it might be that rose had hit on the reason for the hostility he felt on the part of both cousins to his activities there was something they did not want brought to the light of day what more potent reason could there be for concealment than their desire to keep the fortune of the millionaire in their own hands i shouldn't wonder if you haven't rung the bull's-eye partner he told her we ought to know right soon now the clerk in the recorder's office smiled when kirby said he wanted to look through the license register he swung the book around toward them help yourself what's the big idea another young fellow was in here looking at the licenses only a minute ago the clerk moved over to another desk where he was typewriting. His back was turned toward them. Kirby turned the pages of the book. He and Rose looked them over together. They covered the record for three months without finding anything of interest. patiently they went over the leaves again. Kirby stepped over to the clerk.

Starting point is 04:37:34 Do you happen to remember whether you made out any license application for a man named Cunningham? any time in the past two months he asked for a marriage license yes don't think i have can't remember the name i was on my vacation two weeks maybe it was then can't you find it in the book no know the date kirby shook his head the voice of rose high with excitement came from across the room lookie here her finger ran down the book close to the binding a page had been cut out with a sharp penknife so deftly that they had passed it twice without noticing who did that demanded the clerk angrily probably the young man who was just in here his name is jack cunningham lane answered what in time did he want to do that for if he wanted it why didn't he take a copy the boss'll give me hail columbia that's what a fellow gets for being accommodating he did it so that we wouldn't see it is there any other record kept of the marriages sure there is the preachers and the judges who perform marriages have to turn back to us the certificate within thirty days and we make a record of it.

Starting point is 04:39:13 Can I see that book? I'll do the looking, the clerk said shortly. Whose marriage is it, and what date? Lane gave such information as he could. The clerk mellowed when Rose told him it was very important to her, as officials have a way of doing when charming young women smile at them,

Starting point is 04:39:37 but he found no record of any marriage, of which they knew either of the contracting parties. Once in a while some preacher forgets to turn in his certificate, the clerk said as he closed the book. Old Rankin is the worst that way. He forgets. You might look him up. Kirby slipped the clerk a dollar and turned away. Rankin was a forlorn hope,

Starting point is 04:40:06 but he and Rose walked out to a little house in the suburb. where the preacher lived he was a friendly white-haired old gentleman and he made them very much at home under the impression they had come to get married a slight deafness was in part responsible for this mistake may i see the license he asked after kirby had introduced himself and rose for a moment the cattleman was puzzled his eye went to rose seeking information A wave of color was sweeping into her soft cheeks. Then Lane knew why, and the hot blood mounted into his own. His gaze hurriedly, and in embarrassment, fled from Miss McLean's face. "'You don't quite understand,' he explained to the Reverend Nicodemus Rankin. "'We've come only to—to inquire about someone you married,

Starting point is 04:41:08 or rather to find out if you did marry him. His name is Cunningham. We have reason to think he was married a month or two ago, but we're not sure. The old man stroked his silken white hair. At times, his mind was a little hazy. There were moments when a slight fog seemed to descend upon it. His memory in recent years had been quite treacherous.

Starting point is 04:41:36 Not long since he had forgotten to attend a funeral at which he was to conduct the services. I dare say, I did marry your friend. A good many young people come to me. The license clerk at the court is very kind. He sends them here. The man's name was Cunningham, James Cunningham, Kirby prompted. Cunningham, Cunningham, Cunningham. seems to me i did marry a man by that name come to think of it i'm sure i did to a beautiful young woman the old preacher said do you recall her name i mean her maiden name rose said excitement drumming in her veins

Starting point is 04:42:26 no i don't seem quite to remember it but she was a charming young woman very attractive i might say my wife and daughter mentioned it afterward. May I ask if Mrs. Rankin and your daughter are at present in the house? asked Elaine. Unfortunately, no. They have gone to spend a few days visiting in Idaho Springs. If they were here, they could reinforce any gaps in my memory, which is not all it once was. The Reverend Nicodemus smiled apologetically. was her name ester mclean asked rose eagerly the old parson brought his mind back to the subject with a visible effort oh yes the young lady who was married to your friend he paused at a loss for the name cunningham curvy supplied quite so cunningham well if you're

Starting point is 04:43:36 it might have been m'cloud i rather think it did sound like that mclean miss esther mclean corrected the cattleman patiently the fact is i'm not sure about the young lady's name mother and ellen would know i'm sorry they're not here they talked afterward about how pleasant the young lady was was she fair or dark the old preacher smiled at rose benevolently i really don't know i'm afraid my dear young woman that i am a very unreliable witness you don't recollect any details for instance how did they come and did they bring witnesses with them yes i was working in the garden weeding the strawberry patch i think they came in an automobile alone wife and daughter were the witnesses do you know when mrs rankin and your daughter will be home by next tuesday at the lawythe latest. Perhaps you can call again. I trust there was nothing irregular about the marriage. Not so far as we know. We were anxious about the young lady. She is a friend of ours, Kirby said. By the way, the certificate of the marriage is not on record at the courthouse. Are you sure you

Starting point is 04:45:13 returned it to the clerk? Bless my soul! Did I forget that again? exclaimed the reverend nicodemus i'll have my daughter look for the paper as soon as she returns you couldn't find it now i suppose lane suggested the old gentleman searched rather helplessly among the papers overflowing his desk he did not succeed in finding what he looked for kirby and rose walked back to the court-house they had omitted to a arrange with the license clerk to forward a copy of the marriage certificate when it was filed. The Rough Rider left the required fee with the clerk and a bank note to keep his memory jogged up. Soon as Mrs. Rankin comes home, will you call her up and remind her about looking for the certificate? he asked. Sure, I will. I've got to have it anyhow for the records. And say,

Starting point is 04:46:19 What's the name of that fresh guy who came in here and cut the pages from the register? I'm going after him right. Believe you, me. Kirby gave his cousin's name and address. He had no animosity whatever toward him, but he thought it just as well to keep Jack's mind occupied with troubles of his own during the next few days. Very likely then he would not get in his way so much. There were no sooner clear of the courthouse

Starting point is 04:46:51 than Rose burst out with what was in her mind. It's just as I thought. Your uncle married Esther and got her to keep quiet about the marriage for some reason. Your cousins are trying to destroy the evidence so that the estate won't all go to her. I'll bet we get an offer of a compromise right away. Maybe.

Starting point is 04:47:17 kirby's mind was not quite satisfied somehow this affair did not seem to fit in with what he knew of his uncle cunningham had been always bold and audacious in his actions a law to himself yet if he were going to marry the stenographer he had wronged he might do it secretly to conceal the date on account of the unborn child the eyes of rose gleamed with determination. Her jaw set. I'm going to get the whole story out of Esther, soon as I get back to town, she said doggedly. But she did not, nor for many days after. End of Chapter 24. Chapter 25 of Tangled Trails, a Western Detective story

Starting point is 04:48:18 by William McLeod Rain. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain chapter twenty five a conference of three kirby heard his name being paged as he entered his hotel why not at the telephone sir the bell-hop told him he stepped into a booth and the voice of rose came excited and tremulous it was less than ten minutes since he had left her at the door of her boarding-house he had left her at the door of her boarding-house and he had left her boarding-house and the voice of her boarding-house. house. Something's happened, Kirby. Can you come here right away? she begged. Then, unable to keep back any longer the cry of her heart, she broke out with her tidings. Esther's gone. Gone where? he asked. I don't know. She left a letter for me. If you'll come to the house, or shall I meet you downtown? I'll come. I'll come.

Starting point is 04:49:26 Be there in five minutes. He more than kept his word. Catching a car on the run at the nearest corner, he dropped from it as it crossed Broadway and walked to Cherokee. Rose opened the house door when he rang the bell and drew him into the parlor. With the catch of the breath, she blurted out again the news. She was gone when I got home. I found this letter.

Starting point is 04:49:55 Her eyes sought. his comfort. He read what Esther had written. I can't stand it any longer, dearest. I'm going away where I won't disgrace you. Don't look for me. I'll be taken care of till afterward. And, oh, Rose, don't hate me, darling. Even if I am wicked, love me. And try some time to forgive your little sister. Esther. Did anybody see her go? Lane asked. I don't know. I haven't talked with anybody but the landlady. She hasn't seen Esther this afternoon, she said.

Starting point is 04:50:37 I didn't let on. I was worried. What does she mean that she'll be taken care of till afterward? Who will take care of her? I don't know. Have you any idea where she would be likely to go, whether there is any friend who might have offered her a temporary home? No, Rose considered. She wouldn't go to any old friend.

Starting point is 04:51:04 You see, she's awfully sensitive, and she'd have to explain. Besides, I'd find out she was there. That's true. I ought never to have left her last spring. I should have found work here and not gone galloping all over the country, country. Her chin trembled. She was on the verge of tears. Nonsense, you can't blame yourself. We each have to live our own life. How could you tell what was coming? Betcha we find her right away. Maybe she let out something to Cole. She doesn't look to me like a girl who could play out a stiff hand alone.

Starting point is 04:51:50 She isn't. She's dependent. has leaned on someone rose had regained control of herself quickly she stood straight and listen mistress of her emotions but her clear cheeks were colorless i'm worried kirby dreadfully esther hasn't the pluck to go through alone she she might no need to finish the sentence her friend understood his strong hand went out enclosed on hers. Don't you worry, partner. It'll be all right. We'll find her and take her somewhere into the country where folks don't know.

Starting point is 04:52:35 Faintly, she smiled. You're such a comfort. Show, we'll get busy right away. Denver ain't such a big town that we can't find one little girl, muy pronto. His voice was steady and cheerful, almost light. first off we'll check up and see if any one saw her go what did she take with her one suit-case how much money can you make a guess she had only a dollar or two in her purse she had money in the bank i'll find out if she drew any let me do that i'll find coal too too you make some inquiries round the house here

Starting point is 04:53:23 kind of easy like meet you here at six o'clock or maybe we're better meet downtown say at the boston chop house cole was with kirby when he met rose at the restaurant we'll go in and get something to eat lane said we'll talk while we're waiting that way we'll not lose any time they found a booth and kirby ordered the dinner as soon as the waiter had gone he talked business find out anything rose yes a girl at the house who works for the telephone company saw esther get into an automobile a block and a half from the house a man helped her in i pretended to laugh and asked her what sort of a lookin man he was she said he was a live one well dressed and handsome the car was a limousine good fits in with what i found out kirby said the bank was closed but i got in the back door by pounding at it the teller at the k r window was still there working at his accounts esther did not draw any money to-day or yesterday why do you say good cole wanted to know is it good for our little friend to be in the power of this good-looking guy with a big car and her without a bean of her own i don't get it who is the man how come she to go with him she sure had no notion o going when we was eaten together an hour before

Starting point is 04:55:09 i don't see who he could be she never spoke of such a man to me rose murmured greatly troubled i don't reckon she was very well acquainted with him lane said shaking out his napkin the talk was suspended while he ladled the soup into the plates and the waiter served them not till the man's back was turned did rose fling out her hot challenge to kirby why would she go with a man she didn't know very well where would she be going with him the flame in her cheeks the stab of her eyes dared him to think lightly of her sister it was in her temperament to face all slights with high spirit his smile reassured maybe she didn't know where she was going that was his business let's work this out from the beginning kirby passed rose the crackers she rejected them with a little gesture of impatience i don't want to eat i'm not hungry lane's kind eyes met hers steadily but you must eat you'll be of no help if you don't keep up your strength rather than fight it out she gave up we know right off the real esther didn't plan this he continued continued. Before we knew the man was in it, you felt it wasn't like her to run away alone, Rose, didn't you?"

Starting point is 04:56:47 Yes. She hadn't drawn any money from her account, so she wasn't making any plans to go. The man worked it out and then persuaded Esther. It's no surprise to me to find a Mr. Man in this thing. I'd begun to guess it before you told me. The question is that you is, what man? The girl's eyes jumped to his. She began to see what he was working toward. Cole, entirely in the dark, stirred uneasily. His mind was still busy with a possible love tangle.

Starting point is 04:57:27 What man or men would benefit most if Esther disappeared for a time? We know of two it might help, the man from Twin Butes went on. your cousins she cried almost in a whisper yes if we've guessed rightly that esther was married to uncle james that would make her his heir with her and their hands and away from us they would be in a position to drive a better bargain they know that we're hot on the trail of the marriage if they're kind to her and no doubt they will be they can get anything they want from her, in the way of an agreement as to the property. Looks to me like the fine Italian hand of Cousin James. We know Jack wasn't the man. He was busy at Golden right then. Kind of leaves James in the spotlight, doesn't it? Rose drew a long, deep breath. I'm so glad. I was afraid, thought maybe she would do something desperate. But if she's

Starting point is 04:58:38 looked after it's a lot better we'll soon have her back until then they'll be good to her won't they they'll treat her like a queen don't you see that's their game they don't want a lawsuit they're playing for a compromise kirby leaned back and smiled expansively in his audience of two he began to fancy himself tremendously as a detective end of chapter twenty five chapter twenty six of tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain this libravox recording is in the public domain tangled trails a western detective story by william m'clad rain chapter twenty six cutting trail kirby's efforts to find james cunningham after dinner were not successful he was not at his rooms at the country club or at his office nor was he at a dinner dance where he was among the invited guests a bit of information rose had gathered from the society columns of the previous sundays news his cousin reached him at last next morning by means of his business telephone an appointment was arranged in five sentences if james felt any surprise at the delegation of three which filed in to see him he gave no sign of it he bowed sent for more chairs from the outer office and seated his visitors all with a dry close smile hovering on the edge of irony kirby cut short preliminaries you know why we're here and what we want he said abruptly i confess i don't unless to report on your trip to golden james countered suavely

Starting point is 05:00:48 was it successful may i ask if it wasn't you know why it wasn't the eyes of the two men met neither of them dodged in the least or gave to the rigor of the other's gaze. Referring to Jack's expedition, I presume. You don't deny it, then. My dear Kirby, I never waste breath in useless denials. You saw Jack. Therefore, he must have been there. He was.

Starting point is 05:01:24 He brought away with him a page cut from the marriage license registry. James lifted a hand of protest. test. Ah, there we come to the parting of the ways. I can't concede that. No, but you know it's true, said Kirby, bluntly. Not at all. He surely would not mutilate a public record. We needn't go into that. He did. But that didn't keep us from getting the information we wanted. No? mermined the monosyllable with polite indifference but he watched lynx-eyed the strong brown face of his cousin we know now the secret you wanted to keep hidden in the courthouse at golden

Starting point is 05:02:17 i grant you energy in ferreting out other people's business dear cousin if you're always so so altruistic let us say i wonder how you have time to devote to your own affair affairs we intend to see justice done miss esther mclean mrs james cunningham i should say you can't move us from that intention or the expression on the oilbroker's face was either astonishment or the best counterfeit of it kirby had ever seen i beg pardon what did you say i told you what you said you already know that Esther McLean was married to Uncle James at Golden on the 21st of last month. Miss McLean and Uncle James married at Golden on the 21st of last month? Are you sure? Aren't you? What did you think we found out?

Starting point is 05:03:25 Cunningham's eyes narrowed. A film of caution spread over them. oh i don't know you're so enterprising you might discover almost anything it's really a pity with your imagination that you don't go into fiction or oil promoting suggested cole with a grin or is that the same thing let's table our cards james his cousin said you know now why we're here on the contrary i'm more in the dark than ever kirby was never given to useless movements of his limbs or body he had the gift of repose of wonderful poise now not even his eyelashes flickered we want to know what you've done with esther mclean but my dear fellow why should i do anything with her you know why as well as i do somehow you've persuaded her to go somewhere and hide herself you want her in your power to force or cajole her into a compromise of her right to uncle james's estate we won't have it a satiric smile touched the face of cunningham without warming it that active imagination of yours again you do let it run away with it

Starting point is 05:04:57 you. You were seen getting into a car with Miss McLean. Did she step in of her own free will? We don't claim an abduction. On your own statement of the case, then, you have no ground of complaint whatever. Do you refuse to tell us where she is?" Kirby asked. I refuse to admit that I know where the young lady is. is. We'll find her. Don't make any mistake about that. Kirby rose. The interview was at an end. Cole Sanborn strode forward. He leaned over the desk toward the oil broker, his blue eyes drilling into those of the broker. We sure will. And if you've heard our little friend, if she's got any grievance against you and the way you treat her, I'll certainly wreck you proper, Mr. Cunningham."

Starting point is 05:06:03 James flushed angrily. Get out of here, all of you. Or I'll send for the police and have you swept out. I'm fed up on your interference. Is it interference for Miss McLean here to want to know where her sister is? asked Kirby quietly. Why should you all assume I know? because the evidence points to you absurd you come down here from wyoming and do nothing but make trouble for me and jack even though we try to stand your friend i've had about enough of you sorry you look at it that way kirby's smile was friendly it was even wistful i appreciate what you did for me but i've got to go through with what i've started i can't quit on the job because i'm under an obligation to you by the way i've arranged the matter of the bond where to take it up at the district attorney's office at eleven this morning

Starting point is 05:07:13 glad to hear it i want to be quit of you snapped cunningham tartly outside kirby gave directions to his lieutenants it's up to you two to dig up some facts i'm going to be busy all morning with this bond business so's i can keep out at jail rose you go up to the secretary of state's office and find the number of the license of my cousin's car and the kind of machine it is then you'd better come back and take a look at all the cars parked within three or four blocks of here he may have driven it down when he came to work this morning look at the speedometer and see what the mileage record is of the last trip taken cole you go to this address that's where my cousin lives find out at what garage he keeps his car if they don't know go to all the garages within several blocks of the place see if it's a closed car get the make and the number and the last trip mileage meet me here at twelve o'clock say both of you suits me said cole but wise me up what's the idea in the mileage just this james was out of town last night probably. We couldn't find him anywhere. My notion is that he's taken Esther somewhere into the mountains. If we can get the mileage of the last trip, all we have to do is divide it by two to know how far away Esther is.

Starting point is 05:08:57 Then we'll draw a circle round Denver at that distance and... Cole slapped his thigh with his hat. Bullie! You're sure the white-haired lad in this deep. Detective game. Maybe he didn't set the speedometer for the trip, suggested Rose. Possible. Then again, more likely, he did. James is a methodical, chap. Another thing while you're at the private hotel where he lives, Cole.

Starting point is 05:09:30 Find out if you can where James goes when he fishes or drives into the mountains. Perhaps he's got a cottage of his own, or or some favorite spot. I'm on my way, old-timer, Cole announced with enthusiasm. At luncheon, the committee reported progress. Cole had seen James Cunningham's car. It was a sedan. He had headed out of the garage all afternoon and evening

Starting point is 05:10:01 and had brought it back just before midnight. The trip record on the speedometer registered 92 miles. From his pocket, Kirby drew an automobile map and a pencil. He notched on the pencil a mark to represent 46 miles from the point, based on the scale of miles, shown at the foot of the map. With the pencil as a radius, he drew a semicircle from Denver as the center. The curved line passed through Loveland, Long's Peak, and across the snow range to Tabernash. it included georgetown gray's peak mount evans and castles from there it swept on to palmer lake i'm not including the plains country to the east kirby explained you'll have enough territory to cover as it is cole by the way did you find anything about where james goes into the hills no

Starting point is 05:11:06 well we'll make some more inquiries perhaps the best thing for you to do would be to go into the small towns around denver and find out if any of the garage people noticed a car of that description passing through that would help a lot it would give us a line on whether he went up bare canyon platte canyon into northern colorado or south toward the palmer lake country you've allowed forty-six miles by an air line rose pointed out he couldn't have gone as far as long's peak or evans nowhere nearly as far because the roads are so winding when you get in the hills he could hardly have reached estes park right you'll have to check up the road distances from denver cole your job's like looking for a needle in a haystack i'll put a detective agency on james he might take a notion to run out to the cash any fine evening he likely will to make sure esther is contented or he'll send jack rose added we'll try to keep an eye on him too this is my job is it cole asked rising you and rose can work together on it my job's here in town on the murder mystery if we work both of them out finding esther and proving who killed your uncle i think we'll learn that it's all the same mystery anyhow rose said drawing on her gloves cole nodded sagely you've said something rose say when not if we work em out we'll be cuttin hot tail poco tempo kirby prophesied smiling up at them

Starting point is 05:13:13 end of chapter twenty six chapter twenty seven of tangled trails a western detective story by william m'clod rain This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Tangled Trails, a Western Detective story by William MacLeod Rained. Chapter 27 The detective gets two surprises. Kirby stared down at the document in front of him. He could scarcely believe the evidence flashed by his eyes to his brain. It was the document he had asked the county recorder at Golden to send him.

Starting point is 05:14:00 him and it certified that on july twenty first james cunningham and phyllis herriman had been united in marriage at golden by the reverend nicodemus rankan this knocked the props from under the whole theory he had built up to account for the disappearance of esther mclean if esther were not the widow of his uncle then the motive of james in helping her to vanish was not apparent perhaps he told the truth and knew nothing about the affair whatever but kirby was puzzled why had his uncle who was openly engaged to phyllis harriman married her surreptitiously and kept that marriage a secret it was not in character and he could see no reason for it foster had sent him to golden on the tacit hint that there was some clue in the license register to the mystery of james What bearing had this marriage on it, if any? It explained, of course, the visit of Miss Harriman to his uncle's apartments on the night he was murdered. She had an entire right to go there at any time, and if they were keeping their relation a secret would naturally go at night when she could slip in unobserved. But Kirby's mind wandered up and down blind alleys. The dissoned. The dissoninged. The dissoninged

Starting point is 05:15:29 of this secret seemed only to make the tangle more difficult. He had a hunch that there was a clue at Golden that he had somehow missed, and that feeling took him back there within three hours of the receipt of the certificate. The clerk in the recorder's office could tell him nothing new, except that he had called up Mrs. Rankin by telephone, and she had brought up the delayed certificate at once. Kirby lost no time among the records. He walked to the Rankin House and introduced himself to an old lady, sunning herself on the porch.

Starting point is 05:16:08 She was a plump, brisk little person with snapping eyes younger than her years. I am sorry I wasn't at home when you called. Can I help you now? she asked. I don't know. James Cunningham was my uncle. We thought he had married a girl who was a sister of the friend with me the day I called. But it seems we were mistaken. He married Phyllis Harriman, the young woman to whom he was engaged. Mrs. Rankin smiled, the placid motherly smile of experience. I've noticed that men sometimes do marry the girls to whom they are engaged.

Starting point is 05:16:52 Yes, but... Kirby broke off and tried another tack. How old was the lady? And was she dark or fair? Miss Harriman? I should think she may be twenty-five. She is dark, slender, and beautifully dressed, rather an expensive sort of young lady, perhaps.

Starting point is 05:17:18 Did she act as though she were much, well, in love with Mr. Cunningham? the bright eyes twinkled she's not a young woman who wears her heart on her sleeve i judge i can't answer that question my opinion is that he was very much in love with her why do you ask you have read about his death since of course he said is he dead no i didn't know it the bird-like eyes opened wider That's strange, too. It's on account of the mystery of his death that I'm troubling you, Mrs. Rankin. We want to clear it up, of course. But two James Cunningham's haven't died mysteriously, have they? She asked.

Starting point is 05:18:14 The nephew isn't killed, too, is he? Oh, no, just my uncle. Then we're mixed up somewhere. how old was your uncle he was past fifty-six just past that's not the man my husband married not the man oh aren't you mistaken mrs rankin my uncle was strong and rugged he did not look his age the old lady got up swiftly please excuse me a minute she moved with extraordinary agility into the house it was scarcely a minute before she was with him again a newspaper in her hand in connection with the cunningham murder mystery several pictures were shown among them were photographs of his uncle and two cousins this is the man whose marriage to miss harriman i witnessed she said her finger was pointing to the likeness of the likeness of her her finger was pointing to the likeness of his cousin james cunningham end of chapter twenty seven chapter twenty eight of tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain

Starting point is 05:19:43 this librivox recording is in the public domain tangled trails a western detective story by william m'cloud rain chapter twenty eight the finger of some suspicion points the words of the preacher's little wife were like a bolt from a sunny heaven kirby could not accept them without reiteration never in the wildest dreams of the too vivid imagination of which his cousin had accused him had this possibility occurred to him do you mean that this man the younger one is the husband of phyllis herriman his finger touched the reproduction of his cousin's photograph. Yes, he's the man my husband married her to on the 21st of July. You're quite sure of that? I ought to be, she answered rather dryly.

Starting point is 05:20:44 I was a witness. A young woman came up the walk from the street. She was a younger and more modern replica of Mrs. Rankin. The older lady introduced her. Daughter, this is Mr. Lane, the gentleman who called on Father the other day while we were away. Mr. Lane, my daughter, Ellen.

Starting point is 05:21:08 Briskly she continued, showing her daughter the picture of James Cunningham, Jr. Did you ever see this man, dear? Ellen took one glance at it. He's the man father married the other day. When? his mother asked it was let me see about the last week in july why married to who asked mrs rankin colloquially to that lovely miss herriman of course the old lady wheeled on kirby triumphantly are you satisfied now that i'm in my right mind she demanded smilingly have to ask your pardon if i was rude he said meeting or smile but the fact is it was such a surprise i couldn't take it in

Starting point is 05:22:05 this gentleman is the nephew of the mr cunningham who was killed he thought it was his uncle who had married miss herriman the mother explained to ellen the girl turned to kirby you know i've wondered about that myself the society column of the papers said it was the older mr cunningham that was going to marry her and i've seen since your uncle's death notices in the paper about his engagement to miss herriman but i thought it must have been a mistake since it was the younger mr cunningham she did marry maybe the reporters got the two mixed they do sometimes get things wrong in the papers you know this explanation was plausible but kirby having been made a little bit of the papers you know to have inside information he remembered the lovely photograph of the young woman in his uncle's rooms and the always Phyllis written across the lower part of it he recalled the evasive comments of both James and his brother whenever any reference had been made to the relation between Miss Harriman and their uncle no Phyllis Harriman had been engaged to marry James Cunningham senior he was sure enough of that in point of fact he had seen at the district attorney's office a letter written by her to the older man a letter which acknowledged that they were to be married in october it had been one of a dozen papers turned over to the prosecutor's office for examination then she had jilted the land promoter for his nephew did his uncle know of the marriage of his nephew that was something kirby meant to find out if he could the news he had just heard lit up avenues of thought as a searchlight throws a shaft into the darkness

Starting point is 05:24:04 it brought a new factor into the problem at which he was working roughly speaking the cattleman knew his uncle the habits of mind that guided him the savage and relentless passions that swayed him if the old man knew his favorite nephew and his fiance had made a mock of him he would move swiftly to a revenge that would hurt the first impulse of his mind would be to strike james from his will and even if his uncle had not yet discovered the secret marriage he would soon have done so it could not have been much longer concealed this thing was as sure as any contingency in human life can be if cunningham had lived his nephew james would never have inherited a cent of his millions the older man had died in the nick of time for james already kirby had heard a hint to this effect it had been at a restaurant much affected by the business men of the city during the lunch hour two men had been passing his table on their way out one lowering his voice had said to the other james cunningham ought to give a medal to the fellow that shot his uncle didn't come a day too soon for him between you and me j c has been speculating heavy and has been hit hard he was about due to throw up the sponge luck for him i'll say it was on the way back from golden while he was being rushed through the golden fields of summer that suspicion of his cousin hit kirby like a blow in the face.

Starting point is 05:25:52 Facts began to marshal themselves in his mind, an irresistible phalanx of them. James was the only man, except his brother, who benefited greatly by the death of his uncle. Not only was this true, the land promoter had to die soon to help James, just how soon Kirby meant to find out. Phyllis and a companion had been in the victim's apartment,

Starting point is 05:26:19 either at the time of his death or immediately afterward. That companion might have been James, and not Jack. James had lost the sheets with the writing left by the Japanese valet Horikawa. The rage he had vented on his clerk might easily have been a blind. When James knew he was going to Golden to look up the marriage register, he had at once tried to forestall him by destroying the information. Kirby tried to fight off his suspicions. He wanted to believe in his cousin.

Starting point is 05:26:57 In his own way, he had been kind to him. He had gone on his bond to keep him out of prison after he had tried to conceal the fact of his existence at the coroner's inquest. But doubts began to gnaw at the Wyoming man's confidence in him. Had James befriended him merely to be in a position to keep closer tab on anything he discovered, had he wanted to be close enough to throw him off the track with the wrong suggestions?

Starting point is 05:27:25 The young cattleman was ashamed of himself for his doubts, but he could not down them. His discovery of the marriage changed the situation. It put his cousin James definitely into the list of the suspects. As soon as he reached town, he called at the law offices of Erwin Foster and Warren. the member of the firm he wanted to see was in i've been to golden mr foster he said when he was alone with that gentleman now i want to ask you a question the lawyer looked at him smiling warily both of the james cunninghams had been clients of his i make my living giving legal advice he said i don't want legal advice just now kirby answered i want to ask you if you know whether my uncle knew that james and miss herriman were married foster looked out of the window and drummed with his finger-tips on the desk yes he said at last he knew yes do you know when he found out

Starting point is 05:28:45 i can answer that too he found out on the evening of the twenty-first two days before his death i told him after dinner at the city club you had just found it out yourself that afternoon how did you decide that the james cunningham mentioned in the license you saw was the younger one by the age given how did my uncle take the news when you told him he took it standing the lawyer said didn't make any fuss but looked like the day of judgment for the man who had betrayed him what did he do wrote a note and called for a messenger to deliver it who too kirby asked colloquially i don't know probably the company has a record of all calls. If so, you can find the boy who delivered the message. I'll get busy right away. Foster hesitated, then volunteered another piece of information. I don't suppose you know that your uncle sent for me next day

Starting point is 05:30:02 and told me to draft a new will for him and get it ready for his signature. Did you do it? Yes, I handed it to him the afternoon of the day. he was killed. It was found unsigned among his papers after his death. The old will still stands. Leaving the property to James and Jack? Yes. And the new will? Except for some bequests and ten thousand for a fountain at the city park, the whole fortune was to go to Jack. So that if he had lived twenty-four-hour hours longer, James would have been disinherited.

Starting point is 05:30:49 Foster looked at him out of eyes that told nothing of what he was thinking. That's the situation exactly. Kirby made no further comment, nor did the lawyer. Within two hours, the man from Twin Butes had talked with the messenger boy, refreshed his memory with a tip, and learned that the message Cunningham had sent from the city club had been addressed to his nephew, Jack. End of Chapter 28. Chapter 29 of Tangled Trails, a Western Detective Story by William MacLeod Rain.

Starting point is 05:31:34 This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Tangled Trails, a Western Detective story by William MacLeod Rain. Chapter 29. Come clean, Jack! Jack Cunningham, co-air with james of his uncle's estate was busy in the office he had inherited settling up one of the hundred details that had been left at loose ends by the promoter's sudden death he looked up at the entrance of lane what do you want he asked sharply want to talk with you well i don't care to talk with you what are you doing here anyhow i told the boy to tell you tell you I was too busy to see you."

Starting point is 05:32:24 That's what he said," Kirby opened his slow, whimsical smile on Jack. But I'm right busy, too, so I brushed him aside and walked in. In dealing with this forceful cousin of his, Jack had long since lost his indolent insolence of manner. You can walk out again, then. I'll not talk, he snapped. kirby drew up a chair and seated himself when uncle james sent a messenger for you to come to his rooms at once on the evening of the twenty-first what did he want to tell you the steady eyes of the cattleman bored straight into those of cunningham who said he sent a messenger for me it doesn't matter who just now there are two witnesses what did he want

Starting point is 05:33:21 that's my business so you say i'm beginning to wonder if it isn't the business of the state of colorado too what do you mean i mean that uncle sent for you because he had just found out your brother and miss harryman were married jack flashed a startled look at him it seemed to him his cousin showed an uncanny knowledge at times you think so he wanted to tell you that he was going to cut your brother out of his will and leave you sole heir and he wanted you to let james know it right away kirby was guessing but he judged he had scored jack got up and began to pace the room he was plainly agitated look here why don't you go back to wyoming and mind your own business you're not in this it's none of your affair what are you staying here for hounding the life out of james and me none of my business that's good jack and me out on bond charged with the murder of uncle james i'd say it was quite some of my business i'm gonna stick to the job make up your mind to that then leave us alone retorted jack irritably you act as though you thought we were a pair of murderers Why do you block anyway?

Starting point is 05:35:01 Why aren't you frank and open? Why did you steal that record at Golden? Why did James lose the Jap's confession? If it was a confession? Why did he get Miss McLean to disappear? Answer those questions to my satisfaction before you talk about me button in with suspicions against you. Jack slammed a fist down on the corner of the desk.

Starting point is 05:35:29 i'm not going to answer any questions i'll say you've got a nerve you're the man charged with this crime the man that's liable to be tried for it you've got a rope around your neck right this minute and you go around high and mighty trying to throw suspicion on men that there's no evidence against you said you had a quarrel with your uncle that night no i believe you called it a difference of opinion at the inquest what was that disagreement about find out i'll never tell you was it because you tried to defend james to him tried to get him to forgive the treachery of his fiancee and his nephew again jack shot at him a look of perplexed and baffled wonder that brown indomitable face back of which was so much strength of purpose and so much keenness of apprehension began to fill him with alarm this man let no obstacle stop him he would go on till he had uncovered the whole tangle they were trying to keep hidden for god's sake man stop this snooping around you'll get off we'll back you there's nowhere near enough evidence to convict you let it go at that implored jack i can't do that i've got to clear my name do you think i'm willing to go back to my friends with a scotch verdict hanging over me he did it but we haven't enough evidence to prove it come clean jack are you and james in this thing is that why you want me to drop my investment

Starting point is 05:37:22 No, of course we're not. But damn it, do you think we want the name of my brother's wife dragged through the mud? Why should it be dragged through the mud if you're all innocent? Because Gossips cackle and people never forget. If there was some evidence against her and against James, no matter how little, 20 years from now people, people never forget. If there was some evidence against her and against James, no matter how little, 20 years from now, people would still whisper that they had killed his uncle for the fortune, though it couldn't be proved. You know that. Just as they're going to whisper about Rose McLean if I don't clear things up. No, Jack, you've got the wrong idea.

Starting point is 05:38:10 What we want to do is for us all to jump in and find, the man who did it. Then all gossip against us stops. That's easy to say. How are you going to find the guilty man? asked Jack sulkily. If you'd tell what you know, we'd find him fast enough. How can I get to the bottom of the thing when you and James won't give me the facts? Jack looked across at him doggedly. I've told all I'm going to tell. the long lithe body of the man from the wyoming hills leaned forward ever so slightly don't you think it don't you think it for a minute you'll come clean whether you want to or not or i'll put that rope you mentioned round your brother's throat jack looked at this man with the nerves of chilled steel and shivered

Starting point is 05:39:11 what could he do against a single-track mind with such driving force back of it had kirby got anything of importance on james or was he bluffing talk's cheap he sneered uneasily you'll find how cheap it is james had been speculating he was down and out another week an he'd have been a bankrupt uncle discovers how he's been tricked by him and Miss Harriman. He serves notice that he's cutting James out of his will, and he sends for a lawyer to draw up a new one. James and his wife go to the old man's rooms to beg off. There's a quarrel, maybe. Anyhow, this point sticks up like a sore thumb.

Starting point is 05:40:02 If Uncle hadn't died that night, your brother would have been a beggar. Now he's a millionaire, and James was in his room the very hour in which he was killed. You can't prove that, Jack cried, his voice low and hoarse. How do you know he was there? What evidence have you? Kirby smiled easily and confidently.

Starting point is 05:40:30 The evidence will be produced at the right time. He rose and turned to go. Jack also got up, white to the lips. hold on don't don't do anything in a hurry i'll talk with you to-morrow here in the forenoon or say in a day or two i'll let you know then his cousin nodded grimly the hard look passed from his eyes as he reached the corridor had to throw a scare into him to make him come through he murmured an apology to himself end of chapter twenty nine chapter thirty of tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain this libervox recording is in the public domain tangled trails a western detective story by william m'cloud rain chapter thirty kirby makes a call kirby had been bluffing when he said he had evidence to prove that james was in his uncle's room the very hour of the murder, but he was now convinced that he had told the truth.

Starting point is 05:41:54 James had been there, and his brother, Jack, knew it. The confession had been written in his shocked face when Kirby flung out the charge. But James might have been there and still be innocent, just as was the case with him and Rose. The cattleman wanted to find the murderer, but he wanted almost as much to find that James had nothing to do with the crime. He eliminated Jack, except perhaps as an accessory after the fact. Jack had a tell-tale face, but he might be cognizant of guilt without being deeply a party to it. He could be insolent, but faults of manner are not a crime. Besides, all Jack's interests lay in the other direction. If his uncle had lived a day longer, he would have been sole heir to the estate.

Starting point is 05:42:49 As he wandered through the streets, Kirby's mind was busy with the problem. Automatically, his legs carried him to the paradox apartments. He found himself there before he even knew he had been heading in that direction. Mrs. Hull came out and passed him. She was without a hat and probably was going to the corner grocery on 15th. I've been neglecting friend Hull, he murmured to himself. I reckon I'll just drop in and ask him how his health is. He was not sorry that Mrs. Hull was out. She was easily, he judged, the dominant member of the firm.

Starting point is 05:43:33 If he could catch the fat man alone, he might gather something of importance. Hull opened the door of the apartment. to his knock. He stood glaring at the young man, his prominent eyes projecting, the red capillaries in his beefy face filling. What'd you want? he demanded. A few words with you, Mr. Hull. Kirby pushed past him into the room, much as an impudent agent does. Well, I don't aim to have no truck with you at all, blustered the fat man. you've just naturally wore out your welcome with me before you ever sat down i'll ask you to go right now here's your hat what's your hurry murmured kirby by way of quotation sure i'll go but don't get on the prod hull i came to make some remarks and to ask a question i'll not hurt you any haven't got smallpox or anything i don't want you here if the police knew you was here they'd be liable to think we was talking about about what happened upstairs then they would be right that's exactly what we're going to talk about

Starting point is 05:44:55 no sir i ain't got a word to say not a word the big man showed signs of panic then i'll say it the dancing light died out of kirby's eyes they became hard and steady as agate. Who killed Cunningham, Hull? The fishy eyes of the man dodged. A startled oath escaped him. How do I know? Didn't you kill him? God Almighty, no!

Starting point is 05:45:30 Hull dragged out the red bandana and gave his apoplectic face first aid. He mopped perspiration from the overlapping roll of fat above his collar. I don't know a thing about it. Honest, I don't. You got no right to talk to me that away. You're a tub of iniquity, Hull. Also, you're a right, poor liar. You know a lot about it. You were in my uncle's rooms just before I saw you on the night of his death. You were seen there. Who says so? Quavered the wretched man. You'll know who at the proper time. I'll tell you one thing.

Starting point is 05:46:16 It won't look good for you that you held out all you know till it was a showdown. I ain't holding out, I tell you. What business you got to come here deviling me I'd like for to know? I'm not deviling you. I'm telling you to come through with what you know, or you'll sure get in trouble. There's a witness against you. When he tells what he saw,

Starting point is 05:46:43 shebo the word burst from the man's lips in spite of him kirby did not bat a surprised eye he went on quietly i'll not say who except this shebo is not the only one who can tell enough to put you on trial for your life if you didn't kill my uncle you'd better take my tip hull tell what you know it'll be better for you mrs hull stood in the doorway thin and sinister the eyes and her yellow face took in the cattleman and passed to her husband what's he doing here she asked biting off her word sharply i was asking mr hull if he knew who killed my uncle explained kirby her eyes narrowed maybe you know she retorted not yet i'm trying to find out can you give me any help mrs hull their eyes crossed and fought it out what do you want to know she demanded i'd like to know what happened in my uncle's rooms when mr hull was up there say about half-past nine maybe a little before or a little after he claims to have a witness hull managed to get out from a dry throat a witness of what snapped the woman that-that i was in cunningham's rooms for an instant the woman quailed a spasm of fear flashed over her face and was gone he'll claim anything to get out of the hole he's in she said dryly then swiftly her anger pounced on the wyoming man

Starting point is 05:48:40 you get out of my house we don't have to stand your impudence and what's more we won't do you hear get out or i'll send for the police i ain't scared any of you." The amateur detective got out. He had had the worst of the bout, but he had discovered one or two things. If he could get Olson to talk and could separate the fat flabby man from his flinty wife, it would not be hard to frighten a confession from Hall of all he knew. Moreover, in his fear, Hall had let slip one admission. Shebow, the little janitor, had some evidence against him.

Starting point is 05:49:26 Hull knew it. Why was Shibo holding it back? The fat man had practically said that Shibo had seen him come out of Cunningham's rooms, or at least that he was a witness he had been in the apartment. Yet he had withheld the fact when he had been questioned by the police. Had Hull bribed him to keep quiet? The cattleman found Shibo watering the lawn. of the parking in front of the paradox.

Starting point is 05:49:55 According to his custom, he plunged abruptly into what he wanted to say. He had discovered that if a man is not given time to frame a defense, he is likely to give away something he had intended to conceal. Shibo, why did you hide from the police that Mr. Hull was in my uncle's rooms the night he was killed? The janitor shot in one slant, startled glance at Kirby, before the mask of impassivity wiped out expression from his eyes. You know he plod about everything. You busy, busy, all like honeybee.

Starting point is 05:50:34 Me, I just janitor, mine to own business. I wonder now. Kirby's level gaze took the man in carefully. Was he as simple as he wanted to appear? No talk when not having to be. anything to tell." Sheebo moved the sprinkler to another part of the lawn. Kirby followed him.

Starting point is 05:51:00 He had a capacity for patience. Did Mr. Hull ask you not to tell about him? Shebo said nothing, but he said it with indignant eloquence. Did he give you money not to tell? I don't want to go to the police with this if I can help it, Sheibo. Better come through to me. you go police and say I know who make Mr. Cunningham dead? If I have to.

Starting point is 05:51:31 The janitor had no more remarks to make. He lapsed into an angry, stubborn silence. For nearly half an hour Kirby stayed by his side. The cattleman asked questions. He suggested that, of course, the police would soon find out the facts after he went to them. He even went beyond his brief, and implied that shortly, Shiba would be occupying a barred cell. But the man from the Orient contributed no more to the talk. End of Chapter 30. Chapter 31 of Tangled Trails, a Western Detective Story by William

Starting point is 05:52:19 McLeod Rain. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 31 The Mask of the Red Bandana It had come by special delivery An ill-written little note scrawled on cheap ruled paper torn from a tablet If you want to know who killed Cunningham I can tell you

Starting point is 05:52:44 Meet me at the Denmark building Room 419 at 11 tonight Come alone One who knows kirby studied the invitation carefully was it genuine or was it a plant he was no handwriting expert but he had a feeling that it was a disguised script there is an inimitable looseness of design in the chirography of an illiterate person he did not find here the awkwardness of the in-expert rather the elaborate imitation of an amateur ignoramus yet he was not sure he could give no definite reason for this fancy and in the end he tossed it overboard he would keep the appointment and see what came of it moreover he would keep it alone except for a friend hanging under the left arm at his side kirby had brought no revolver with him to denver occasionally he carried one on the range to frighten coyotes and to kill rattlers but he knew where he could borrow one and he proceeded to do so

Starting point is 05:54:01 not that there was any danger in meeting the unknown correspondent kirby did not admit that for a moment there are people so constituted that they revel in the mysterious they rap their most common actions in hints of reserve and weighty silence. Perhaps this man was one of them. There was no danger whatever. Nobody had any reason to wish him serious ill. Yet Kirby took a forty-five with him when he set out for the Denmark building. He did it because that strange sixth sense of his had warned him to do so. During the day he had examined the setting for the night's adventure.

Starting point is 05:54:45 he had been to the denmark building and scanned it inside and out he had gone up to the fourth floor and looked at the exterior of room four nineteen the office door had printed on it this design the gold hill milling and mining company but when kirby tried the door he found it locked the denmark building is a little out of the heart of the denver business district it was built far up town at a time when real estate was booming adjoining it is the rockford building the two dominate a neighborhood of squat two-story stores and rooming houses in dull seasons the offices in the two big landmarks are not always filled with tenants the elevators in the denmark had ceased running hours since kirby took the narrow stairs which wound round the elevator shaft he trod the iron treads very slowly very softly he had no wish to advertise his presence if there was to be any explosive surprise he did not want to be at the receiving end of it he reached the second story crossed the landing and began the next flight the place was dark as a midnight pit at the third floor its blackness was relieved slightly by a ray of light from a transom far down the corridor kirby waited to listen he heard no faintest sound to break the stillness again his foot found the lowest tread and he crept upward in the daytime he had laughed at the caution which had led him to borrow a weapon from an acquaintance at the same time he had laughed at the caution which had led him to borrow a weapon from an acquaintance at the

Starting point is 05:56:39 stockyards, but now every sense shouted danger. He would not go back, but each forward step was taken with infinite care. And his care availed him nothing. A lifted foot struck an empty soap-box with a clatter to wait the seven sleepers. Instantly he knew it had been put there for him to stumble over. A strong searchlight flooded the stairs and focused on him. He caught a momentary glimpse of a featureless face standing out above the light, a face that was nothing but a red bandana handkerchief

Starting point is 05:57:20 with slits in it for eyes, and a pair of feet below at the top of the stairway. The searchlight winked out. There was a flash of lightning and a crash of thunder. A second time the pocket flash found Kirby. It found him, crouched low and reaching for the forty-five under his arm. The booming of the revolver above reverberated down the pit of the stairway.

Starting point is 05:57:50 Arrow swift, with the live ease of a wild thing from the forest, Kirby ducked round the corner for safety. He did not wait there, but took the stairs down, three at astride. Not till he had reached the ground floored he stopped to listen for the pursuit. No sound of following footsteps came to him. By some miracle of good luck he had escaped the ambush. It was characteristic of him that he did not fly wildly into the night. His brain functioned normally, coolly.

Starting point is 05:58:27 Whoever it was had led him into the trap, had lost his chance. Kirby reasoned that the assassin's mind would be bent on making his own safe escape before the police arrived the cattleman waited crouched behind an out jutting pillar in the wall of the entrance every minute he expected to see a furtive figure sneak past him into the street his hopes were disappointed it was nearly midnight when two men talking cheerfully of the last gusher inn the burke burnett field emerged from the stairway and passed into the street they were tenants who had stayed late to do some unfinished business there was a drug store in the building cornering on two streets kirby stepped into it and asked a question of the clerk at the prescription desk is there more than one entrance to the denmark building no sir the clerk corrected himself well there's another way out the producers and developers shalen oil company have a suite of offices that run into the rockford building they've built an alley to connect between the two buildings it's on the fifth floor is it open could a man get out of the denmark building now by way of the rockford entrance easiest in the world all he'd have to do would be to cross the alley bridge go down the rockford stairs and walk into the street kirby wasted no more time he knew that the man who had to do would be to cross the alley bridge go down the rockford stairs and walk into the street kirby wasted no more time he knew that the man who had

Starting point is 06:00:14 tried to murder him had long since made good his getaway by means of the fifth-story bridge between the buildings. As he walked back to the hotel where he was stopping, his eyes and ears were busy. He took no dark alley chances, but headed for the bright lights of the main streets, where he would be safe from any possibility of a second ambush. His brain was as busy as his eyes. Who had planned this attempt on his life, and so nearly carried it to success? Of one thing, he was sure. The assassin who had flung the shots at him down the narrow stairway of the Denmark was the one who had murdered his uncle.

Starting point is 06:01:02 The motive for this ambuscade was fear. Kirby was too hot on the trail that might send him to the gallows. The man had decided to play safe by following him. the old theory that dead men tell no tales. End of Chapter 31. Chapter 32 of Tangled Trails, a Western detective story by William McLeod Rain. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 32. Jack takes off his coat.

Starting point is 06:01:46 Afterward, when Kirby Lane looked back upon the weeks spent in Denver, trying to clear up the mysteries which surrounded the whole affair of his uncle's death, it seemed to him that he had been at times incredibly stupid. Nowhere did this accent itself so much as in the part of the tangle which related to Esther McLean. From time to time Kirby saw Cole. He was in and out of town. Most of his time was spent running down faint trails which spun themselves out and became lost in the hills. The champion Rough Rider was indomitably resolute in his intention of finding her.

Starting point is 06:02:29 There were times when Rose began to fear that her little sister was lost to her for always. But Sanborn never shared this feeling. You wait, I'll find her, he promised, and if I can lay my hands in the man that's done her a meanness, i'll certainly give them hospital sharks a job patching him up his gentle eyes had frozen and the cold hard light in them was almost deadly kirby could not get it out of his head that james was responsible for the disappearance of the girl yet he could not find a motive that would justify so much trouble on his cousin's part he was at a moving pitcher-house on curtis street with rose when the explanation popped into his mind. They were watching an old-fashioned melodrama, in which the villain's letter is laid at the door of the unfortunate hero. Kirby leaned toward Rose in the darkness and whispered, Let's go. Go where? she wanted to know in surprise. They had seated themselves not five minutes

Starting point is 06:03:42 before. I've got a hunch. Come. she rose and on the way to the aisle brushed past several irritated ladies not till they were standing on the sidewalk outside did he tell her what was on his mind i want you to see that note from my uncle you found in your sister's desk he said she looked at him and laughed a little you certainly want what you want when you want it do your hunches often take you like that right out of a perfectly good show you've paid your money to see we've made a mistake it was seeing that fellow in the play that put me wise have you got the note with you no it's at home if you like we'll go and get it they walked up to the pioneer's monument and from there over to her boarding-place kirby looked the little note over carefully what a chump i was not to look at this before, he said. My uncle never wrote it. Never wrote it?

Starting point is 06:04:56 Not his writing at all. Then whose is it? I can make a darn good guess, can't you? She looked at him, eyes dilated, on the verge of a discovery. You mean... I mean that J.C. might stand for at least two other men we know, Your cousin, James? More likely, Jack.

Starting point is 06:05:24 His mind beat back to fugitive memories of Jack's embarrassment when Esther's name had been mentioned in connection with his uncle. Swiftly his brain began to piece the bits of evidence he had not understood the meaning of before. Jack's the man. You may depend on it. My uncle hadn't anything to do with it. We jumped at that conclusion too quick, he went on. You think that she's with him? No, she's likely out in the country or in some small town.

Starting point is 06:06:01 He's having her look after, probably an attack of conscience. Even if he's selfish as the devil, he isn't heartless. If we could be sure she's all right, but we can't. rose turned on him a wistful face twisted by emotion i want to find her kirby i'm her sister she's all i've got can't you do something i'll try she noticed the hardening of the lean jaw the tightening of the muscles as the back teeth clenched don't don't do anything rash she begged her hand rested lightly on his arm Their eyes met. He smiled grimly. Don't worry.

Starting point is 06:06:52 Maybe I'll call you up later tonight and report progress. He walked to the nearest drug store and used the telephone freely. At the end of 15 minutes, he stepped out of the booth. His cousin Jack was doing some evening work at the offices, where he was now in charge of settling up his uncle's affairs. kirby found him there a man stenographer was putting on his coat to leave but jack was still at his desk he looked up annoyed was that you telephoned me he asked yes i told you i'd let you know when i wanted to see you so you did but you didn't let me know the shoes on the other foot now i want to see you so you did but you didn't let me know the shoes on the other foot now i want to see you to see you."

Starting point is 06:07:46 I'm not interested in anything you have to say." The stenographer had gone. Kirby could hear his footsteps echoing down the corridor. He threw the catch on the lock and closed the door. I can promise to keep you interested, he said very quietly. Jack Rose. He wore white shoes, ducked trousers, a white peak shirt, and a blue serge coat that fitted his graceful figure perfectly.

Starting point is 06:08:19 What did you do that for? he demanded. Open that door. Not just yet, Jack. I've come for a settlement. It's up to you to say what kind of one it'll be. Cunningham's dark eyes glittered. He was no physical coward. Moreover, he was a trained athlete not long out of college.

Starting point is 06:08:45 he had been the middleweight champion boxer of the university if this tough brown cousin wanted a set too he would not have to ask twice for it suits me fine he said what's your proposition i've been a blind idiot didn't see what was right before my eyes i reckon you've had some laughs at me well i hope you enjoyed them there aren't any more grins coming to you." Kirby spoke coldly, implacably, his voice grating like steel on steel. Meaning in plain English? That you've let a dead man's shoulders carry your sins. You heard us blame Uncle James for Esther McLean's trouble, and you never said a word to set us right.

Starting point is 06:09:41 Yet you're the man, you damned scoundrel! jack went white to the lips then flushed angrily you can't ever mind your own business can you i want just two things from you the first is to know where you've taken her the second to tell you that you're going to make this right and see that you do it when you talk to me like that i've nothing to say no man living can bully me you won't come through is that it you may go to the devil for all of me their stormy eyes clashed the girl you took advantage of hasn't any brother the wyoming man said i'm electing myself to that job for a while if i can i'm going to wail the life out of you jack slipped out of his coat and tossed it on the desk even in that moment while kirby was concentrating for the attack the rough rider found time to regret that so good-looking a youth one so gallantly poised and so gracefully graceless should be a black-hearted scamp hop to it invited the college man under thick dark lashes his black eyes danced with excitement kirby lashed out with his right his right, hard and straight. His cousin ducked with the easy grace of a man who has spent

Starting point is 06:11:19 many hours on a ballroom floor. The cattleman struck again. Jack caught the blow and deflected it, at the same time uppercutting swiftly for the chin. The counter landed flush on Kirby's cheek and flung him back to the wall. He grinned and plunged again. A driving left, caught him off balance and flung him from his feet. He was up again instantly, shaking his head to clear it of the dizziness that sang there. It came to him that he must use his brains against this expert boxer, or suffer a knockout. He must wear Jack out, let him spend his strength in attack, watch for the chance that was bound to come if he could weather the storm long enough. Not at all loathe, Jack took the offensive. He went to work coolly to put out his foe. He landed three for one, timing and placing his blows carefully to get the maximum effect. A second time Kirby hit the floor.

Starting point is 06:12:31 Jack hoped he would stay down. The clubman was a little out of condition. He was beginning to breathe fast. His cousin had landed hard two or three times. on the body. Back of each of these blows there had been a punishing force. Cunningham knew he had to win soon, if at all. But Kirby had not the least intention of quitting. He was the tough product of wind and sun and hard work. He bored in and asked for more, still playing for his opponent's wind. Kirby knew he was the stronger man, in far better condition. He could afford to wait, and Jack could not. He killed the boxer's attacks with deadly counterblows, moving in and out lively as a cat. The Rough Rider landed close to the solar plexus.

Starting point is 06:13:29 Jack winced and gave ground. Kirby's fist got home again. He crowded Jack, feeling that his man was weakening. Jack rallied for one last job. Desperate set to, hoping for a chance blow to knock Kirby out. He scored a dozen times. Lane gave ground, slowly, watchfully, guarding as best he could. Then his brown fist shot out and up.

Starting point is 06:14:01 It moved scarcely six inches, straight for the college boxer's chin. Jack's knees sagged. He went down, rolled over, and lay still. Kirby found water and brought it back. Jack was sitting up, his back propped against the wall. He swallowed a gulp or two and splashed the rest on his face. I'll say you can hit like the kick of a mule, he said. If you'd been a reasonable human, I ought to have got you at that.

Starting point is 06:14:37 Don't you ever stay down? Kirby could not repress a little smile. In spite of himself, he felt a sneaking admiration for this insusient youth, who could take a beating like a sportsman. You're some little mixer yourself, he said. Thought I was, before I bumped into you. Say, give me a hand up. I'm a bit groggy yet. Kirby helped him to his feet.

Starting point is 06:15:09 the immaculate shirt and trousers were spattered with blood mostly kirby's the young dandy looked at himself and a humorous quirk twitched at the corner of his mouth some scrap let's go into the lavatory and do some reconstruction work he said side by side at adjoining wash bowls perfectly amicably they repaired as far as possible the damages of war not till they had put on again their coats did kirby hark back to the purpose of the meeting you haven't told me yet what i want to know out of a damaged eye jack looked at him evenly and that's only part of it i'm not going to either he had said the last word kirby could not begin all over again to thrash him it was not reasonable and if he did he knew quite well he would get nothing out of the man. If he would not talk, he would not. The Bronco Buster walked back to his hotel. A special delivery letter was in his box. It was postmarked golden. As he handed it to him, the clerk looked him over curiously. It had been some time since he had seen a face so badly cut up and swollen. You ought to see the other

Starting point is 06:16:39 fellow, Kirby told him, with a lopsided grin as he ripped open the envelope. Before his eyes had traveled halfway down the sheet, the cowman gave a modulated whoop of joy. Good news? asked the clerk. Kirby did not answer. His eyes were staring in blank astonishment at one sentence in the letter. The note was from Cole Sandborn. This is what Kirby read.

Starting point is 06:17:09 red in it. Well, old-timer, there ain't no trail so blamed along, but what it's got a turn in it somewheres. I done found Esther, a Platte Canyon, and everything's okay, as you might say. I reckon you're wondering how come this to be postmarked golden. Well, old partner, I'm sure enough married at last, but I had a great time getting Esther to see this my way. She's one swell little girl, and there's only one thing I hate. Before she would marry me, I had to swear up and down I wouldn't touch the yellow wolf who got her into trouble. But she didn't say nothing about you, so I will just slip you his name. It wasn't your uncle at all, but that crooked oil broker nephew of his, James Cunningham. If you can must him up proper

Starting point is 06:18:07 for me, you'll sure be doing a favor to, yours respectably, Cole Sanborn. P.S. Esther sends bushels of love to Rose and will write tomorrow. I'll say I'm going to make her one happy kid. Cole. Kirby laughed in sardonic mirth. He had fought the wrong man. It was James Cunningham, not Jack, and, of course, Jack had known it all the time and been embarrassed by it. He had stuck loyally to his brother and had taken the wailing of his life rather than betray him. Kirby took off his hat to Jack. He had stood pat to a fighting finish.

Starting point is 06:18:57 He was one good square sport. Even as he was thinking this, Kirby was moving toward the telephone booth. he had promised to report progress for once he had considerable to report end of chapter thirty two chapter thirty three of tangled trails a western detective story by william m'cloud rain this libervox recording is in the public domain chapter thirty three olson tells a story when rose heard from esther next day she and kirby took the interest to Urban for Golden. Esther had written that she wanted to see her sister because Cole was going to take her back to Wyoming at once. The sisters wept in each other's arms and then passed together into Esther's bedroom for an intimate talk. The younger sister was still happy only in moments of forgetfulness, though she had been rescued from death in life. Cole had found her comfortably

Starting point is 06:20:11 situated at a farmhouse, a mile or two back from the canyon. She had gone there under the urge of her need at the instigation of James Cunningham, who could not afford to have the scandal of his relations with her become public at the same time as the announcement of his marriage to Phyllis Harriman. The girl loved Cole and trusted him. Her heart went out to him in a warm glow of gratitude. But the shadow of her fault was a barrier in her mind between them and would be long after his kindness had melted the ice in her bosom we've got it all fixed up to tell how we was married when i come down to Denver last April only we kept it quiet because she wanted to hold her job a while

Starting point is 06:21:00 Cole explained to his friend once I get her back there in God's hills she'll sure enough forget all about this trouble the way I look at it, she was just like a little kid that takes a misstep in the dark and falls and hurts himself. You know how a wounded deer can look at a fellow so sorrowful and hurt? Well, that's how her brown eyes looked at me when I come round the corner of the house up Platte Canyon and seen her sitting there staring at hell. Kirby shook hands with him in a sudden stress of emotion. You'll do to take along, old Alice.

Starting point is 06:21:41 a lie, you sure enough will. Oh, shucks, retorted Cole, between disgust and embarrassment. I always claimed to be a white man, didn't I? You can't give a fellow credit for doing the thing he'd rather do than anything else. But prod a peg in this. I'm going to make that little girl plum happy. She thinks she won't be, that she's lost the right to be. She's way off.

Starting point is 06:22:11 i can see her perkin up already i got a real honest-to-god laugh out of her this morning kirby knew the patience the steadiness and the kindliness of his friend esther had fallen into the best of hands she would find again the joy of life he had no doubt of that gayety and laughter were of her heritage he said as much to rose on the way home she agreed for the first time since she left cheyenne the girl was her old self esther's problem had been solved far more happily than she had dared to hope i'm gonna have a gay time apologin to jack said kirby his eyes dancing it's not so blamed funny at that but i can't help laughing every time i think o how he must have been grinning up his sleeve at me for my fool mistake i'll say he brought it on himself though he was feeling guilty on his brother's account and i didn't get his embarrassment right james is a pretty cool customer from first to last he never turned a hair when the subject was mentioned what about him rose asked the cattleman pretended alarm now don't you he remonstrated don't you expect me to manhandle james too i'm like napoleon another victory like the battle of last night would sure put me in the hospital i'm a peaceable citizen i'm a peaceable citizen a poor lone cowboy far away from home.

Starting point is 06:23:58 Where I come from, it's as quiet as a peace conference. This wildest Denver stuff gets my nerve. She smiled into his battered face. A dimple nestled in her soft, warm cheek. I see it does. It's a pity about you. I didn't suppose your cousin Jack had it in him to spoil your beauty like that. neither did i he said answering her smile i sure picked on the wrong man he's one handy lad with his dibs put me down twice before we decided to call it off i like that young fellow better not like him too much you may have to work against him yet true enough he admitted falling grave again as to james

Starting point is 06:24:54 We'll ride close herd on him for a while, but we'll ride wide. Looks to me like he may have to face a jury and fight for his life right soon. Do you think he killed your uncle? I don't want to think so. He's a bad egg, I'm afraid. But my father's sister was his mother. I'd hate to have to believe it. But in your heart you do believe it, she said, Jenner.

Starting point is 06:25:24 He looked at her. I'm afraid so, but that's a long way from knowing it. They parted at her boarding house. A man rose to meet Kirby when he stepped into the rotunda of his hotel. He was a gaunt, broad-shouldered man with ragged eyebrows. Well, I came, he said, and his voice was harsh. glad to see you mr olson come up to my room we can talk there more freely the scandinavian rancher followed him to the elevator and from there to his room why don't they arrest hull he demanded as soon as the door was closed not evidence enough suppose i can give evidence say i practically saw hull do it would they have

Starting point is 06:26:22 arrest him or me?" They'd arrest him, Kirby answered. They don't know you're the man who wrote the threatening letter. Huh, grunted the rancher, suspiciously. That's what you say, but you're not the whole works. Kirby offered a chair and a cigar. He sat down on the bed himself. Better spill your story to me, Olson.

Starting point is 06:26:50 two heads are better than one he said carelessly the swede sullen eyes bored into him before that frank and engaging smile his doubts lost forth i got to take a chance might as well be with you as anyone the wyoming man struck a match held it for the use of his guest then lit his own cigar for a few moments they smoked in silence kirby leaned back easily against the head of the bed he did not intend to frighten the rancher by hurrying him when cunningham worked that crooked irrigation scheme of his on dry valley i reckon i was one of them that hollered the loudest probably i talked foolish about what all i was going to do about it i wasn't blowing off hot air either if i'd if i'd a good chance at him or at hull either i would surely have called for a showdown and gunned him if i could but that wasn't what i came to denver for i had to arrange about getting my mortgage renewed he stopped and took a nervous puff or two at the cigar kirby nodded in a friendly fashion without speaking he did not want by anything he might say to divert the man's mind from the track it was following i took a room at the wyndham because the place had been recommended to me by a neighbor of mine who knew the landlady when i went there i didn't know that either cunningham or hull lived next door that's a god's truth i didn't well i saw hull go in there the very day i got to town but the first i knew your uncle lived there was ten or maybe fifteen minutes before you was

Starting point is 06:28:48 killed. I wouldn't say but what it was twenty minutes come to that. I wasn't paying no attention to time. Olson's eyes challenged those of his host. His suspicion was still smoldering. An unhappy remark, a look of distrust might still have dried up the stream of his story. But he found in that steady regard nothing more damnatory than a keen boy. interest maybe you recollect how hot those days were well in my cheap stuffy room opening on the air shaft it was hudder in hell with the lid on when i couldn't stand it any longer i went out into the corridor and down it to the fire escape outside the window it was a lot cooler there i lit a stogie and sat on the railing smoking maybe for a quarter maybe for a quarter of a quarter of an hour. By and by, someone come into the apartment right across the alley from me. I could see the lights come on. It was a man. I saw him step into what must be the bedroom.

Starting point is 06:30:04 He moved around there some. I couldn't tell what he was doing because he didn't switch on the light, but he must have been a change into his easy coat and his slippers. I know that because he came into the room just opposite the fire escape where I was sitting on the rail. He threw on the lights, and I saw him plain. It was Cunningham, the old crook who had beat me out of $1,500. Kirby smoked steadily, evenly. Not a flicker of the eyelids showed the excitement racing through his blood. At last, he was coming close to the heart of the mystery that surrounded the deaths of his uncle and his valet. I reckon I saw red for a minute,

Starting point is 06:30:52 Olson continued. If I'd been carrying a gun, I might have used it right there and then, but I hadn't one, lucky for me. He sat down in a big easy chair and took a paper from his pocket. It looked like some kind of a legal document. He read it through,

Starting point is 06:31:12 then stuck it in one of the cubby holes of his desk. i forgot to say he was smoking and not a stogie like i was but a big cigar he'd unwrapped from a silver paper after taking it from a boxful he lighted the cigar after coming into the small room kirby said in the voice of a question yes didn't i say so took it from a box on a stand near the chair well when he got through with the paper he leaned back and kind of shut his eyes like he was thinking something over. All of a sudden, I saw him straighten up and get rigid. Before he could rise from the chair, a woman came into the room, and after her, a man. The man was Cass Hall. End of Chapter 33. This Librovoc's recording is in the public domain. Chapter 34. From the fire escape.

Starting point is 06:32:33 The woman. What was she like? She was tall and thin and flat-chested. I didn't know her at the time, but it must have been Hull's wife. You said you didn't know what time this was, Kirby said. No, my old watch had quit doing business. and I hated to spend the money to get it fixed. The mainspring was busted, a jeweler told me. Who spoke first after they came into the room?

Starting point is 06:33:08 Your uncle. He laid the cigar down on the stand and asked them what they wanted. He didn't rise from the chair, but his voice rasped when he spoke. It was the woman answered. She took the lead all through. We've come for a seat. settlement, she said, and we're going to have it right now. He stiffened up at that. He'd come back at her with,

Starting point is 06:33:35 You can't get no shotgun settlement out of me. Words just poured from that woman's mouth. She roasted him to a turn, told how he was crooked as a dog's hind leg, and every deal he touched was dirty, said he couldn't even be square to his own partners, that he couldn't get a man, woman or child in Colorado to say he'd ever done a good act. Believe me, she laid him out proper, and every word of it was true, far as I know. Well, sir, that old reprobate uncle of yours never batted an eye. He slid down in his chair a little so he could be comfortable while he listened. He grinned up at her like she was some kind of specimen that broke loose from a circus, and he was interested in the way it acted.

Starting point is 06:34:27 That didn't calm her down, none. She rip-raired right along, with a steady flow of words, mostly adjectives. Finally, she quit, and she was plum-white with anger. Quite through, your uncle asked, with that ice-cold voice of his. She asked him what he intended to do about a settlement. Not a thing,

Starting point is 06:34:54 he told her. I did aim to give Hull 2,000 to get rid of him, but I've changed my mind, ma'am. You can go whistle for it. 2000? Did he say 2,000? Kirby leaned forward eagerly. That's what he said,

Starting point is 06:35:15 2000, answered Olson. Then that explains why he drew so much from the bank that day. I had it figured out so. If the woman hadn't come at him with that acid tongue of hers, he'd intended to buy Hull off cheap. But she got his gorge up. He wouldn't stand for her line of talk. What took place then? the cattleman questioned.

Starting point is 06:35:44 Still without rising from the chair, Cunningham ordered them to get out. Hull was standing kind of close. to him he had his back to me comingham reached out and opened a drawer of the stand beside him the fat man took a step forward I could see his gun flash in the light he swung it down on your uncle's head and the old man crumpled up so it was Hull killed him after all Kirby said drawing a long breath of relief then to his surprise when he thought about it later a glitter of malicious cunning lit the eyes of the rancher that's what i'm telling you it was hull i stood there and saw just what i've been given you

Starting point is 06:36:37 was my uncle senseless then you bet he was his head sagged clear over against the back of the chair what did they do then that's where i drop out. Mrs. Hall stepped straight to the window. I crouched down back of the railing. It was dark and she didn't see me. She pulled the blind down. I waited there a while, and afterward there was a sound of a shot. That would be when they set the bullet through the old man's brain. What did you do? I didn't know what to do. I'd talked a lot of wild talk about how Cunningham ought to be shot or strung up to a pole. If I went to the police with my story, like enough, they'd light on me as the killer. I milled the whole thing over. After a while,

Starting point is 06:37:37 I went into a public booth downtown and phoned to the police. You recollect maybe the papers spoke about the man who called up headquarters with the news of Cunningham's death. Yes, I recollect that hour. right kirby did not smile he did not explain that he was the man but he resolved to find out whether two men had notified the police of his uncle's death if not olson was lying in at least one detail he had a suspicion that the man had not given him the whole truth he was telling part of it but he was holding back something a sly and furtive look in his eyes helped to build this impression in the mind of the man who listened to the story you didn't actually see hull fire the shot that killed my uncle then olson hesitated a fraction of a second no you don't know that it was he that fired it no it might have been the woman but it ain't likely he handed her the gun to do it with is it for that matter I don't know that the crack over the head didn't kill Cunningham. Maybe it did.

Starting point is 06:38:59 That's all you saw? Again, the almost imperceptible hesitation. Then, that's all, the Dry Valley Rancher said sullenly. What kind of a gun was it? Kirby asked. Too far away, couldn't be sure. Big is a forty-five? couldn't have been the evidence was that it was done with an automatic the evidence was that the wound in the head was probably made by a bullet from an automatic we're talking now about the blow on the head what are you driving at the rancher asked scowling he wouldn't bring two different kinds of gun with him that's a cinch

Starting point is 06:39:50 no but we haven't proved yet he fired the shot you heard later the chances are that he did but legally we have no evidence that somebody else didn't do it i guess a jury would be satisfied he fired it all right probably it looks bad for hull don't you think you ought to go to the police with your story then we can have hull arrested they'll give him the third degree my opinion is he'll break down under it and confess. Olson consented with obvious reluctance, but he made a condition precedent to his acceptance. Let's see Hall first, just you and me. I ain't strong for the police. We'll go to them when we've got an open-and-shut case.

Starting point is 06:40:44 Kirby considered. This story didn't wholly fit the facts as he knew them. for instance there was no explanation in it of how the room where cunningham was found murdered had become saturated with the odor of chloroform nor was it in character that hull should risk firing a gun the sound of which might bring detection on him while his victim lay helpless before him another blow or two in the skull would have served his purpose noiselessly the cattleman knew from his observation of this case that the authorities had a way of muddling things perhaps it would be better to wait until the difficulties had been smoothed out before going to them that suits me he said we'll tackle hull when his wife isn't with him he goes downtown every day about ten o'clock we'll pick him up in a taxi run him out into the country somewhere and put him over the country somewhere and put him over the jumps the sooner the quicker how about tomorrow morning suits me too but will he go with us he'll go with us kirby said quietly end of chapter thirty four chapter thirty five of tangled trails a western detective story by william mcleod rain this libervox recording is in the public domain chapter thirty-five

Starting point is 06:42:23 Like a Thief in the Night. From ten thousand bulbs, the moving picture houses of Curtis Street were flinging a glow upon the packed sidewalks when Kirby came out of the hotel and started uptown. He walked to the Wyndham, entered, and slipped up the stairs of the rooming house unnoticed. From the third story, he ascended by a ladder to the flat roof. He knew exactly what he had come to investigate. From one of the windows of the fourth floor at the paradox, he had noticed the clothes line which stretched across the Wyndham roof from one corner to another.

Starting point is 06:43:08 He went straight to one of the posts which supported the rope. He made a careful study of this, then walked to the other upright support, and examined the knots which held the line fast here. I'm some good little guesser, he murmured to himself, as he turned back to the ladder and descended to the floor below. He moved quietly along the corridor to the fire escape and stepped out upon it. Then, very quickly and expertly, he coiled a rope, which he took from a paper parcel that had been under his arm. At one end of the coil was a loop.

Starting point is 06:43:50 He swung this lightly round his head once or something. twice to feel the weight of it. The rope snaked forward and up. Its loop dropped upon the stone abutment he had noticed when he had been examining the exteriors of the building with Cole Sandborn. It tightened when he gave a jerk. Kirby climbed over the railing and swung himself lightly out into space. A moment and he was swaying beside the fire escape of the paradox. He caught the iron rail and pulled himself to the platform. By chance the blind was down. There was no light within, but after his eyes had become used to the darkness, he tried to take a squint at the room from the sides of the blind. The shade hung an inch or two from the window frame,

Starting point is 06:44:43 so that by holding his eye close he could get more than a glimpse of the interior. He tapped gently on the glass. the lights inside flashed on from one viewpoint he could see almost half the room he could go to the other side of the blind and see most of the other half a man sat down in a chair close to the opposite wall letting his hands fall in the arms a girl stood in front of him and pointed a paper knife at his head holding it as though it were a revolver the head of the man fell sideways kirby tapped on the window-pane again he edged up the sash and stepped into the room the young woman turned to him eagerly a warm glow in her shell-pink cheeks well she inquired worked out fine rose kirby said i could see the whole thing still that doesn't prove anything the other man put in. He belonged to the staff of the private detective agency with which Kirby was dealing. The Wyoming man smiled. It proves my theory as possible. Knowing Olson, I'm willing to

Starting point is 06:46:06 gamble, he didn't sit still on the fire escape and let that drawn blind shut him off from what was going on inside. He was one mighty interested observer. Now he must have known that there was a clothes line in the roof. From the street, you can see a washing hanging out there any old time. In his place, I'd have bopped up to the roof and got that line, which is exactly what he did, I'll bet. The line had been tied to the posts with a lot of knots. He hadn't time to untie it, so he cut the rope. It's been spliced out since by a piece of rope of a different kind. How do you know that's been done since, the detective asked? A fair question, Kirby nodded.

Starting point is 06:46:59 I don't. I'll find out about that when I talk with the landlady of the Wyndham. If I'm right, you can bet that cut rope has puzzled her some. She can't figure out why anyone would cut her rope down and then leave it there. If you can show me her. rope was cut that night, I'll say you're right, the detective admitted. And if you are right, then the swede must have been a right here when your uncle was killed. May have been, Kirby corrected. We haven't any authentic evidence yet as to exactly when my uncle was

Starting point is 06:47:39 killed. We're getting the time narrowed down. It was between 9.30 and 9.50. We know that. you know that the professional sleuth asked according to your story you didn't get into the apartment until after ten o'clock it might have been done any time up till then the eyes of kirby and rose met they had private information about who was in the rooms from about nine fifty five till ten ten the cattleman corrected his statement all right say between 930 and 1005. During that time Hull may have shot my uncle, or Olson may have opened the window while my uncle lay there helpless, killed him, stepped out of the window again, and slipped down by the fire escape. All they'd have to do then would be to walk into the Wyndham, replace the rope on the roof, and next morning leave for dry valley. The detective nodded. If he cut the rope, let me find out from the landlady whether it was cut that night.

Starting point is 06:48:57 Good, we'll wait for you at the corner. Ten minutes later, the detective joined them in front of the drugstore where they were standing. The hard eyes in his cold gambler's face were lit up for once. I'll say the man from Missouri has been shown he said. I led on to the dame at the Wyndham that I was after a gang of young sneak thieves in the neighborhood. Pretty soon I drifted her to the night of the 23rd, said they'd been especially active

Starting point is 06:49:30 that night and had used a rope to get into a second story of a building. She woke up. Her clothes line on the roof had been cut that very night. She remembered the night on account of it being the one when Mr. Cunningham was killed. Could the boys have used it to get into the store and then brought it back, I thought likely? Bulley! We're one step nearer than we were. We know Olson was looking in the window from the fire escape just outside. The detective slapped his thigh. It lies between Hull and the Swede. That's a cinch. I believe it does, agreed Rose.

Starting point is 06:50:17 Kirby made no comment. He seemed to be absorbed in speculations of his own. The detective was reasoning from a very partial knowledge of the facts. He knew nothing about the relations of James Cunningham to his uncle, nor even that the younger Cunningham, or at least one of them, had been in his uncle's apartment the evening of his death. he did not know that rose had been there wherefore his deductions even though they had the benefit of being trained ones were of slight value in this case will you take the key back to the chief of police kirby asked him as they separated better not tell him who was with you or what we were doing i'm liable to tell him a whole lot the detective answered with heavy irony i'm a very very irony i'm liable to tell him a whole lot the detective answered with heavy irony i'm a very

Starting point is 06:51:11 I'm figuring on running down this murderer myself, if anyone asks you. Wish you luck, Kirby said with perfect gravity. End of Chapter 35. Chapter 36 of Tangled Trails, a Western Detective Story by William McLeod Rain. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 36. A Ride in a Taxi. Kirby was quite right. when he said that Hull would go with them. He was on his way downtown when the taxi caught him

Starting point is 06:51:56 at 14th and Welton. The cattleman jumped out from the machine and touched the fat man on the arm as he was waddling past. We want you, Hull, he said. A shadow of fear flitted over the shallow eyes of the land agent, but he attempted at once to bluster. Who wants me? What do you want me for? i want you in that cab the man who saw you in my uncle's room the night he was killed is with me you can either come with us now and talk this thing over quietly or i'll hang on to you and call for a policeman it's up to you either way is agreeable to me beads of perspiration broke out on the fat man's forehead he dragged from his left hip pocket the familiar bandana handkerchief. With it, he dabbed softly at his modelled face.

Starting point is 06:52:57 There was a faint, a very faint note of defiance in his voice, as he answered, I don't know as I've got any call to go with you. I wasn't in Cunningham's rooms. You can't touch me, can't prove a thing on me. It won't cost you anything to make sure of that, Kirby suggested, in his low, even tone. I'm paying for the ride. If you got anything to say to me, right here's a good place to unload it. The man's will was wobbling. The cattleman could see that.

Starting point is 06:53:36 Can't talk here with the hundred people passing. What's the matter, man? What are you afraid of? We're not going to hit you over the head with the butt of a six-shooter. Hull flung at him a look of startled terror. what did he mean or was there anything significant in the last sentence was it just a shot in the dark i'll go on back to the paradox if you want to see me why theirs as good a place as any we're choosing the place hull not you you'll either step into that cab or into a patrol wagon their eyes met and fought the shallow protuberant ones wavered. Oh, well, it ain't worth chewing the rag over. I reckon I'll go with you. He stepped into the cab. At sight of Olson, he showed both dismay and surprise. He had heard

Starting point is 06:54:37 of the threats the Dry Valley man had been making. Was he starting on a journey, the end of which would be summary vengeance? A glance at Lane's face reassured him. This young fellow would be no accomplice at murder, yet the chill at his heart told him he was in for serious trouble. He tried to placate Olson with a smile and made a motion to offer his hand. The Scandinavian glared at him. The taxi cab swung down 14th across the viaduct to Lake Place and from it to Federal Boulevard. Hull moistened his lips with his tongue and broke the side. silence.

Starting point is 06:55:21 Where are we going? he asked at last. Where we can talk without being overheard, Kirby answered. The cab ran up the steep slope to inspiration point and stopped there. The men got out. Come back for us in half an hour, the cattleman told the driver. In front and below them lay the beautiful valley of Clear Creek. Beyond it were the foothills, and back of them the line of the front range stretching from Pike's Peak at the south up to the Wyoming line. Greys and Lungs and Mount Evans stood out like giant sentinels in the clear sunshine.

Starting point is 06:56:08 Hull looked across the valley nervously and brought his eyes back with a jerk. Well, what's it all about? What'd you want? I know now why you lied at the inquest about the time you saw me on the night my uncle was killed, Kirby told him. I didn't lie. Maybe I was mistaken. Any man's liable to make a mistake. You didn't make a mistake. You deliberately twisted your story so as to get me into my uncle's apartment 40 minutes or so earlier than I was. Your reason was a good one. If I was in his rooms at the time he was shot, that let you out completely. So you tried to lie me into the death cell at Canyon City.

Starting point is 06:57:00 Hull's bandana was busy. Nothing like that. I wouldn't play no such a trick on any man. No, sir. You wouldn't, but you did. Don't stall, Hull. We've got you right. The rancher from Dry Valley broke in venomously.

Starting point is 06:57:21 You bet we have, you rotten crook. I'll pay you back proper for that deal you and Cunningham slipped over on me. I'm going to put a rope around your neck for it. I sure am. Why, you big fat stiff, I was standing watching you when you knocked out Cunningham with the butt of your gun. From Hull's red face, the color fled. He teetered for a moment on the balls of his feet,

Starting point is 06:57:50 then sank limply to the cement bench in front of him. He tried to gasp out a denial, but the words would not come. In his throat there was only a dry rattle. He heard, as from a long distance, Lane's voice addressing him, We've got it on you, Hull. Come through and come clean. I, I swear to God, I didn't do it, didn't kill him, he gasped at last. Then who did, your wife? demanded Olson.

Starting point is 06:58:29 Neither of us. I'll tell you all the whole story. Do you know who did kill him? I come pretty near no one, but I didn't see it done. Who then? Your cousin, James Cunningham. End of Chapter 36. Chapter 37 of Tangled Trails, a Western detective story by William McLeod Rain.

Starting point is 06:59:08 This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 37 On the Grill In spite of the fact that his mind had, at times, moved toward his cousin James as the murderer, Kirby experienced a shock at this accusation. He happened to glance at Olson, perhaps to see the effect of it upon him. The effect was slight, but it startled, Kirby. For just an instant, the Dry Valley farmer's eyes told the truth, shouted it as plainly as

Starting point is 06:59:45 words could have done. He had expected that answer from Hull. He had expected it because he, too, had reasoned to believe it the truth. Then the lids narrowed, and the man's lips lifted in a sneer of rejection. He was covering up. Pretty near up to you to find someone else to pass the buck, too, ain't it? he taunted. Suppose you tell us the whole story, Hull. The white man said. The fat man had one last flare of resistance. Olson here says he's seen me crack Cunningham with the butt of my gun. How did he see me? Where does he claim he was when he seen it? I was standing on the fire escape of the Wyndham across the alley, about ten or fifteen feet away. I heard every word that was said by

Starting point is 07:00:44 Cunningham and your wife. Oh, I've got you good. Hull threw up the sponge. He was caught and realized it. His only chance now was to make a clean breast of what he knew. Where shall I begin? he asked weakly, his voice quavering. At the beginning, we've got plenty of time, Kirby replied. Well, you know how you're all. uncle beat me in that dry valley scheme of his first place i didn't know he couldn't get water enough if he give the farmers a crooked deal i hadn't a thing to do with that when i talked up the idea to them i was acting in good faith lie number one interrupted olson bitterly hadn't we better let him tell his story in his own way kirby suggested if we don't start any arguments he ain't so liable to get mixed up in his facts by my way of figuring he owed me about four to six thousand dollars he wouldn't pay hull went on i tried to get him to see it right thinking at first he was just bull-headed but pretty soon i got wise to it that he plain intended to do me

Starting point is 07:02:10 a course i wasn't gonna stand for that and i told him so what do you mean when you say you weren't going to stand for it my uncle told a witness that you said you'd give him two days then you'd come at him with a gun the fat man mopped a perspiring face with his bandana his eyes dodged maybe i told him so i don't recollect when he was he's sore, a fellow talks a heap of foolishness. I wasn't looking for trouble, though. Not even after he threw you downstairs? No, sir, he didn't exactly throw me down. I kind of slipped. If I'd been expecting trouble, wouldn't I have let Mrs. Hull go up to his rooms with me? Kirby had his own view on that point, but he did not express it. He rather thought, thought that Mrs. Hull had driven her husband upstairs and had gone along to see that he stood

Starting point is 07:03:15 to his guns. Once in the presence of Cunningham, she had taken the bit in her own teeth, driven to it by temper. This was his guess. He knew he might be wrong. But I knew how violent he was, the fat man went on, so I slipped my six-gun into my pocket before we started. What kind of a gun? Kirby asked. A sawed off 38. Do you own an automatic?

Starting point is 07:03:50 No, sir. Wouldn't know how to work one. Never had one in my hands. You'll get a chance to prove that, Olson jeered. He doesn't have to prove it. His statement is assumed to be true until it is proved false, Kirby answered. Hull's eyes signaled gratitude.

Starting point is 07:04:14 He was where he needed a friend badly. He would be willing to pay almost any price for Lane's help. Cunningham had left the door open. I reckon because it was hot. I started to push the bell, but Mrs. Hull, she walked right in, and of course then I followed. He wasn't in the sitting room.

Starting point is 07:04:36 but we seen him smoking in the small room off in the parlor, so we just went in on him. He acted mean, right from the start, hollered at Mrs. Hull, what was we doing there? She up and told him, real civil, that we wanted to talk the business over and see if we couldn't come to some agreement about it. He kept right on insulting her,

Starting point is 07:05:02 and one thing led to another. Mrs. Hull, she didn't. get mad but she told him where he'd have to head in at fact is we'd about made up our minds to sue him well he went clean off the handle then and said he wouldn't do a thing for us and how we was to get right out hull paused to wipe the small sweat beads from his forehead he was not enjoying himself a cold terror constricted his heart was he slipping a noose over his own head was he telling more than he should he wished his wife were here to give him a hint she had the brains as well as the courage and audacity of the family well sir i claim self-defense hull went on presently a man's got no call to stand by and see his wife shot down cunningham reached for a drawer and started to pull out an automatic gun knowing him i was scared i beat him to it and lambed him one over the head with my gun my idea was to head him off from drawn on mrs hull but i reckon i hit him to it and lambed him one over the head with my gun my idea was to head him off from drawn on mrs hull but i reckon i hit him him harder than I'd aimed to. It knocked him senseless.

Starting point is 07:06:27 And then, Kirby said, when he paused, I was struck all of a heap, but Mrs. Hull, she didn't lose her presence of mind. She went to the window and pulled down the curtain. Then we figured, seeing as how we'd got in a bad so far, we might as well try a bluff. We tied your uncle to the chair. intended fur to make him sign a check before we turned him loose right at that time the telephone rang did you answer the call yes sir it kept ringing finally the wife said to answer it pretendin i was cunningham we was kind of scared someone might butt in on us your uncle had said he was expecting some folks what did you do i took up the receiver and listened then i said hello fellow at the other end said this you uncle james kinda gruff like i said yes

Starting point is 07:07:37 then james talking he said we're on our way over now i was struck all of a heap not knowing what to say so i called back so i called back who he came back with Phyllis and I I hung up and then we talked it over the wife and me we didn't know how close James as he called himself was when he was talking he might be at the drug store in the next corner for all we knew we were in one hell of a hole and it didn't look like there was any way out we decided to beat it right then and that's what we did you left the apartment yes sir with my uncle still tied up hull nodded we got panicky and cut our stick did anybody see you go the jabber was in the hall fixing one of the windows that was stuck did he say anything not then afterward he come to me after the murder was discovered next day i reckon it was in the afternoon just before the inquest and said i could lend him five hundred dollars well i knew right away it was a hold-up but i couldn't do a thing i dug up the money and let him have it has he bothered you since Hull hesitated. Well, no.

Starting point is 07:09:25 Meaning that he has? Hull flew the usual flag of distress, a red bandana mopping a perspiring apoplectic face. He kind of hinted he wanted more money. Did you give it to him? I didn't have it right handy. I stalled. That's the truck.

Starting point is 07:09:50 with a blackmailer. Give way to him once, and he's got you in his power, Kirby said. The thing to do is to tell him right off the reel to go to Halifax. If a fellow can afford to, Olson put in significantly, when you've just got through a little private murder of your own, you ain't exactly free to tell one of the witnesses against you to go very far. Tell you, I didn't kill you. Cunningham, Hull retorted, sullenly.

Starting point is 07:10:23 Someone else must have come in and did that after I left. Sounds reasonable, Olson murmured with heavy sarcasm. Was the hall lit when you came out of my uncle's rooms? Kirby asked suddenly. Yes, I told you Shibo was working at one of the windows. So Shibu saw you and Mrs. Hull's. Hull plainly? I ain't denying

Starting point is 07:10:53 he saw us, Hull replied testily. No, you don't deny anything we can prove on you, the dry valley man jeered. And Shibo didn't let up on you. He kept annoying you afterward, the cattleman persisted.

Starting point is 07:11:12 Well, he... I reckon he aims to be reasonable now, Hull said, uneasily. why now what's changed his views the fat man looked again at this brown-faced youngster with the single-track mind who never quit till he got what he wanted why was he shaken the bones of shibbo's blackmailing did he know more than he had told it was on the tip of hull's tongue to tell something more a damnatory fact against himself but he stopped in time he was in deep enough water already he could not afford to tell the dynamic cattleman anything that would make an enemy of him well i reckon he can't get blood from a turnip as the old sayan is the land agent returned kirby knew that hull was concealing something material but he saw he could not at the present moment wring it from him he had not in point of fact the faintest idea of what it was. Therefore, he could not lay hold of any lover with which to pry it loose.

Starting point is 07:12:27 He harked back to another point. Do you know that my cousin and Miss Harriman came to see my uncle that night? I mean, do you know of your own eyesight that they never reached his apartment? Well, we know they reached the paradox and went up in the elevator. Me and the wife watched at the window. Your cousin James wasn't with Miss Harriman. The dude one was with her. Jack, exclaimed Kirby, astonished.

Starting point is 07:13:01 Yep. How do you know? How did you recognize them? Saw them as they passed under the streetlight, about twenty feet from our window. We couldn't have been mistook as to the dude fellow. Of course, we don't know Miss Harriman, but the one. woman walking beside the young fellow surely looked like the one that fainted at the inquest when you was testifying how you found your uncle dead in the chair I reckon when you said it she got to see in a picture of one of the young fellows gunning their

Starting point is 07:13:35 uncle one of them you just said James wasn't with her no he come first maybe three four minutes before the others what time did he reach the paradox it might have been ten or maybe only five minutes after we left your uncle's room the wife and me was talking it over whether i hadn't ought to slip back upstairs and untie your uncle before they got here then he come and that settled it i couldn't go can you give me the exact time he reached the apartment house well i'll say it was a quarter to ten do you know or are you guessing i know our clock struck the quarter too whilst we looked at them coming down the street at them or at him at him i mean can't stick to his own story olson grunted a slip of the story a slip of the tongue. I meant him. And Jack and the lady were three or four minutes behind him? Kirby reiterated. Yes. Was your clock exactly right? Maybe five minutes fast. It gains. You know they turned in at the

Starting point is 07:15:12 paradox? All three of them. Mrs. Hull, she opened the door a moment. might and saw him go up in the elevator. It moves kind of slow, you know. The heavy-set young fellow went up first. Then, two, three minutes later, the elevator went down, and the dude and the young lady went up. Kirby put his foot on the cement bench and rested his forearm on his knee. The cattleman's steady eyes were level with those of the unhappy man making the confession. did you at any time hear the sound of a shot well i-i heard somethin at the time i thought maybe it was a tire in the street blowing out but come to think of it later we figured it was a shot you don't know for sure well come to that i-i don't reckon i do not to say for certain sure a-oh attempt to that i-i don't reckon i do not to say for certain sure a tense litheness had passed into the rough rider's figure it was as though every sense were alert to catch and register impressions at what time was it you thought you heard this shot i dunno to the minute

Starting point is 07:16:38 was it before james cunningham went up in the elevator was it between the time he went up and the other two went up or was it after jack cunningham and man Miss Harriman passed on the way up. Seems to me it was... Hold on, Kirby raised a hand in protest. I don't want any guesses. You know or you don't. Which is it? I reckon it was between the time your cousin James went up and the others followed.

Starting point is 07:17:13 You reckon? I'm asking for definite information. A man's life. life may hang on this. The cattleman's eyes were ice-cold. Hull swallowed a lump in his fat throat before he committed himself. Well, it was. Was between the two trips of the elevator, you mean? Yes. Your wife heard this sound, too? Yep, we spoke of it afterward. do you know anything else that could possibly have had any bearing on my uncle's death no sir honest i don't olson shot a question at the man on the grill did you kill the jap servant too as well as his boss i didn't kill either one or the other so help me

Starting point is 07:18:14 do you know anything at all about the jap's death did you see anything suspicious going on at any time kirby asked no sir nothing at all the rough rider signalled the taxicab which was circling the lake at the foot of the hill presently it came up the incline and took on its passengers drive to the paradox apartments kirby director He left Hull outside in the cab while he went in to interview his wife. The lean woman with the forbidding countenance opened the door. Metaphorically speaking, Kirby landed his knockout instantly. I've come to see you on serious business, Mrs. Hull. Your husband has confessed how he did for my uncle. Unless you tell the whole truth, he's likely to go to

Starting point is 07:19:14 the death cell she gasped her fear-filled eyes fastened on him her hand moved blindly to the side of the door for support end of chapter thirty seven chapter thirty eight of tangled trails a western detective story by william mccloud rain this libravox recording is in the public domain chapter thirty eight a full morning but only for an instant. A faint color dribbled back into her yellow cheeks. He could almost see her courage flowing again into her veins. "'That's a lie,' she said flatly. "'I don't expect you to take my word. Hull is in front of the house here under guard. Come and see if you doubt it.' She took him promptly at his suggestion. One look at her husband's fat huddled figure and

Starting point is 07:20:23 stricken face was enough. You chicken-hearted louse! She spat at him scornfully. They had evidence. A man saw us, he pleaded. What man? This man! His trembling hand indicated Olson.

Starting point is 07:20:45 He was standing on the fire escape across the alley. She had nothing to say. The wind had died out of the safe. of her anger. We're not going to arrest Hull yet, not technically, Kirby explained to her. I'm arranging to hire a private detective to be with him all the time. He'll keep him in sight from morning till night. Is that satisfactory, Hull?

Starting point is 07:21:13 Or do you prefer to be arrested? The wretched man murmured that he would leave it to Lane. good then that's the way it'll be kirby turned to the woman mrs hull i want to ask you a few questions if you'll kindly walk into the house please she moved beside him the shock of the surprise still palsied her will in the main her story corroborated that of hull she was not quite sure when she had heard the shot in its relation to the trip of the elevator up and down. The door was closed at the time. They had heard it while standing at the window. Her impression was that the sound had come after James Cunningham

Starting point is 07:22:04 had ascended to the floor above. Kirby put one question to the woman innocently that sent the color washing out of her cheeks. Which of you went back upstairs to untim my uncle after you had run away in a fright? neither of us she answered teeth chattering from sheer funk i understood mr hull to say he never said that you must be mistaken maybe so you didn't go back then the monosyllable no came quavering from her yellow throat i don't want you to feel that i'm here to take an advantage of you mrs hull Kirby said.

Starting point is 07:22:53 A good many have been suspected of these murders. Your husband is one of these suspects. I'm another. I mean to find out who killed Cunningham and Horikawa. I think I know already. In my judgment, your husband didn't do it. If he did, so much the worse for him. No innocent person has anything to fear from me.

Starting point is 07:23:19 But this is the point I'm making. now if you like I'll leave a statement here signed by me to the effect that neither you nor your husband has confessed killing James Cunningham it might make your mind a little easier to have it she hesitated well if you like he stepped to a desk and found paper and pen I'll dictate it if you'll write it mrs Hull not quite easy in her mind the woman sat down and took the pen he offered this is to certify kirby began and dictated a few sentences slowly she wrote the statement word for word as he gave it using her left hand the cattleman signed it he left the cattleman signed it he left the paper with her after the arrangement for the private detective to watch hull had been made olson and lane walked together to the hotel of the ladder come up to my room a minute and let's talk things over kirby suggested as soon as the door was closed the man from twin butes turned on the farmer and flung a swift demand at him now olson i'll hear the rest of your story the eyes of the swede grew hard and narrow what's biting you i've told you my story some of it not all of it what d'ye mean

Starting point is 07:25:00 you told me what you saw from the fire-escape of the wyndham but you didn't tell me what you saw from the fire-escape of the paradox who says i saw anything from there i say so you trying to hang this killin on me demanded olson angrily not if you didn't do it kirby looked at him quietly speculatively undisturbed by the heaviness of his frown but you come to me and tell the story of what you saw so you say yet all the time you're holding back why what's your reason how do you know i'm holding back the ranchman asked sulkily kirby knew that in his mind suspicion dread fear hatred and the desire for revenge were once more at open war i'll tell you what you did that night answered kirby without the least trace of doubt in voice or manner when mrs hull pulled down the blind you ran up to the roof and cut down the clothes-line you went back to the fire-escape fixed up some kind of a lariat and flung the loop over an abutment sticking from the wall of the paradox you swung across to the fire-escape of the paradox you swung across to the fire-escape of the paradox there you could see into the room where cunningham was tied to the chair how could i if the blind was down the blind doesn't fit close to the woodwork of the window looking in from the right you can see the left half of the room if you look in from the other side you see the other part of it that's just what you did for the moment olson was struck dumb

Starting point is 07:27:04 how could this man know exactly what he had done unless someone had seen him you know so much i reckon i'll let you tell the rest the scandinavian said with uneasy sarcasm afraid you'll have to talk olson either to me or to the chief at headquarters you've become a live suspect figure it out yourself you threaten cunningham by mail. You make threats before people orally. You come to Denver and take a room in the next house to where he lives. On the night he's killed by your own admission, you stand on the platform a few feet away and raise no alarm while you see him slugged. Later you hear the shot that kills him, and still you don't call the officers. Yet you're so interested in the crime that you run up. upstairs, cut down the clothes line, and at some danger swing over to the paradox. The question the police will want to know is whether the man who does this, and then keeps it secret,

Starting point is 07:28:18 may not have the best reason in the world for not wanting it known. What you mean the best reason in the world? They'll ask what's to have prevented you from opening the window and stepping in while my uncle was tied up, from shooting him and slipping down the fire escape, and from walking back upstairs to your own room at the Wyndham." Are you claiming that I killed him? Olson wanted to know. I'm telling you that the police will surely raise the question. If they do, I'll tell them who did, the rancher blurted out wildly.

Starting point is 07:29:02 I'd tell him first if I'd tell him first if I'd in your place. It'll have a lot more weight than if you keep still until your backs against the wall. When I do, you'll sit up and take notice. The man who shot Cunningham is your own cousin, the dry valley man flung out vindictively. Which one? The smug one, James. You saw him do it? I heard the shot while I was on the roof. When I looked round the edge of the blind five minutes later, he was going over the papers in the desk,

Starting point is 07:29:43 and an automatic pistol was there right by his hand. He was alone? At first he was. In about a minute, his brother and Miss Harriman came into the room. She screamed when she saw your uncle, and most fainted. the other brother the young one kind of caught her and steadied her he was struck all of a heap himself you could see that he looked at james and he said my god you didn't that was all no need to finish of course james denied it he had jumped up to help support miss herriman out of the room maybe a couple of minutes later he came back alone he went right straight back to the desk found inside of three seconds the legal document i told you i'd seen his uncle reading glanced it over turned to the back page jammed the paper back in the cubby hole and then switched off the light

Starting point is 07:30:50 a minute later the light was switched off in the big room too then i reckoned it was time to beat it down the fire escape i did i went back into the wyndham carrying the clothes line under my coat walked upstairs without meeting anybody left the rope on the roof and got out of the house without being seen that's the whole story kirby said the whole story i'd swear it on a stack of bibles did you fix the rope for a lariat up on the roof or wait till you came back to the fire fire escape. I fixed it on the roof, made the loop and all there. Figured I might be seen if I stood around too long on the platform. So that you must have been away quite a little while. I reckon so, probably a quarter of an hour or more. Can you locate more definitely the exact time you heard the shot? No, I don't reckon I can.

Starting point is 07:32:05 Kirby asked only one more question. You left next morning for Dry Valley, didn't you? Yes, none of my business if they stuck hull for it. He was guilty as sin, anyhow. If he didn't kill the old man, it wasn't because he didn't want to. Maybe he did. The testimony at the inquest, as I read the papers, left it that maybe the blow on the head had killed Cunningham.

Starting point is 07:32:37 Anyhow, I wasn't going to mix myself in it. Kirby said nothing. He looked out of the window of his room without seeing anything. His thoughts were focused on the problem before him. The other man stirred uneasily. Think I did it? he asked. The cattleman brought his gaze back to the dry valley settler. You? Oh, no, you didn't do it.

Starting point is 07:33:08 There was such quiet certainty in his manner that Olson drew a deep breath of relief. By, Jupiter, I'm glad to hear you say so. What made you change your mind? Haven't changed it. Knew that all the time. Well, not all. the time i was millin you over in my mind quite a bit while you were holding out on me couldn't be dead sure whether you were hiding what you knew just to hurt hull or because of your own guilt still i don't see how you're sure yet i might have gone in by the window and gunned cunningham like you said yes you might have but you didn't i'm not going to have you arrested olson

Starting point is 07:33:58 but i want you to stay in denver for a day or two until this is settled we may need you as a witness it won't be long i'll see your expenses are paid while you're here i'm free to come and go as i please absolutely kirby looked at him with level eyes he spoke quite as a matter of course you're no fool olson you wouldn't say stir up suspicion against yourself again by running away now after I tell you that my eye is on the one that did it." The Swede started. You mean, now? Not this very minute, Kirby laughed. I mean I've got the person spotted. At least I think I have.

Starting point is 07:34:52 I've made a lot of mistakes since I started rounding up this fellow with the brand of cane. maybe i'm makin another but i've a hunch that i'm riding heard on the right one this time he rose olson took the hint he would have liked to ask some questions for his mind was filled with a burning curiosity but his host's manner did not invite them the rancher left up and down his room kirby paced a beat from the window to the door and back again his mind was busy dissecting analyzing classifying some one had once remarked that he had a single-track mind in one sense he had the habit of it was to follow a train of thought to its logical conclusion he did not hop from one thing to another inconsequently Just now his brain was working on his cousin, James. He went back to the first day of his arrival in Denver and sifted the evidence for and against him.

Starting point is 07:36:07 A stream of details, fugitive impressions, and mental reactions flooded through. For one of so cold a temperament, James had been distinctly friendly to him. He had gone out of his way to find body, for him when he had been arrested. He had tried to smooth over difficulties between him and Jack. But Kirby, against his desire, found practical reasons of policy to explain these overtures. James had known he would soon be released through the efforts of other cattlemen. He had stepped in to win the Wyoming cousin's confidence in order that he might prove an asset rather than a liability to,

Starting point is 07:36:53 to his cause. The oil broker had readily agreed to protect Esther McLean from publicity, but the reason for his forbearance was quite plain now. He had been protecting himself, not her. The man's relation to Esther proved him selfish and without principle. He had been willing to let his dead uncle bear the odium of his misdeed. Yet beneath a surface of his cold, manner, James was probably swept by heady passions. His love for Phyllis Harriman had carried him beyond prudence, beyond honor. He had duped the uncle whose good will he had carefully fostered for many years and at the hour of his uncle's death he had been due to reap the whirlwind. The problem sifted down to

Starting point is 07:37:50 two factors. One was the top of the top of time element. The other was the temperament of James. A man may be unprincipled and yet draw the line at murder. He may be a seducer and still lack the courage and the cowardice for a cold-blooded killing. Kirby had studied his cousin, but the man was more or less of a sphinx to him. Behind those cold calculating eyes, what was he thinking? Only once had he seen him thrown off his poise. That was when Kirby and Rose had met him coming out of the paradox white and shaken, his arm wrenched and strained.

Starting point is 07:38:35 He had been nonplussed at sight of them. For a moment he had let his eyes mirror the dismay of his soul. The explanation he had given was quite inadequate as a cause. Twenty-four hours later, Kirby had discovered the dead body of the Japanese valet, Horikawa. The man had been dead perhaps a day. More hours than one had been spent by Kirby pondering on the possible connection of his cousin's momentary breakdown and the servant's death. Had James come fresh from the murder of Horikawa? It was possible that the Oriental might have held

Starting point is 07:39:17 evidence against him and threatened to divulge it. James, with the fear of death in his heart, might have gone each day into the apartment where the man was lurking, taking to him food and newspapers. They might have quarreled. The strained tendons of Cunningham's arm could be accounted for a good deal more readily on the hypothesis of a bit of expert jujitsu than on that of a fall downstairs. were pieces in the puzzle Kirby could not fit into place. One of them was to find a sufficient cause for driving Horikawa to conceal himself when there

Starting point is 07:40:00 was no evidence against him of the crime. The time element was tremendously important in the solution of the mystery of Cunningham's death. Kirby had studied this a hundred times. On the back of an envelope he jotted down once more, such as a little. memoranda as he knew or could safely guess at some of these he had to change slightly as to time to make them dovetail into each other 845 uncle jay leave city club 855 uncle jay reaches rooms 855 to 910 get slippers

Starting point is 07:40:44 etc smokes 855 to 920 olson watching from w fire escape nine ten to nine thirty hulls in apartment nine thirty to nine forty x nine thirty seven to nine forty two approximately time olson heard shot nine twenty to nine forty two o'lson heard shot nine twenty to nine forty two olson busy on roof with rope etc then then at window till nine fifty three nine forty to nine fifty three james in apartment nine forty four to nine fifty jack and phyllis in apartment nine fifty five to ten o five wild rose in rooms ten o'clock i reach rooms ten twenty twenty meet Ellis. 1025. Call police. That was the time schedule as well as he had been able to work it out. It was incomplete. For instance, he had not been able to account for Horikawa in it at all, unless he represented X in that ten minutes of time unaccounted for. It was inaccurate.

Starting point is 07:42:14 Olson was entirely vague as to time, but he could. could be checked up pretty well by the others. Hall was not quite sure of his clock, and Rose could only say that she had reached the paradox quite a little after quarter to ten. Fortunately, his own arrival checked up hers pretty closely, since she could not have been in the room much more than five minutes before him.

Starting point is 07:42:42 Probably she had been even less than that. James could not have left the apartment. more than a minute or so before Rose arrived. It was quite possible that her coming had frightened him out. So far as the dovetailing of time went, there was only the ten minutes or less between the leaving of the hulls and the appearance of James left unexplained. If someone other than those mentioned on his pencilled memoranda

Starting point is 07:43:13 had killed Cunningham, it must have been between half-past nine, and 20 minutes to 10. The X he had written in there was the only possible unknown quantity. By the use of hard work and common sense, he had eliminated the rest of the time, so far as outsiders were concerned.

Starting point is 07:43:37 Kirby put the envelope in his pocket and went out to get some luncheon. I'll call it a morning, he told himself with a smile. End of Chapter 38. Chapter 39 of Tangle Trails, a Western Detective story by William MacLeod Ring. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 39.

Starting point is 07:44:12 Kirby invites himself to a ride. The Twin Buttes man had said he would call it a morning, but he carried with him to the restaurant, the problem that had become the pivot of all of all. his waking thoughts. He had an appointment to meet a man for lunch, and he found his guest waiting for him inside the door. The restaurant was an inconspicuous one on a side street. Kirby had chosen it for that reason. The man who stepped into the booth with him and sat down on the opposite seat was Hudson, the clerk whom James had accused of losing the sheets of paper

Starting point is 07:44:52 with the Japanese writing. I've got it at last, he said as soon as he was alone. Thought he would never go out and leave the key to the private drawer inside the safe, but he left the key in the lock for just five minutes while Miss Harriman came to see him about something this morning. He walked out with her to the elevator. I ducked into his office. There was the key in the drawer,

Starting point is 07:45:20 and in the drawer right at the bottom under some room. papers, I found what I wanted." He handed to Kirby the sheets of paper found in the living room of the apartment where Horikawa had been found dead. The cattleman looked them over and put them in his pocket. Thought he wouldn't destroy them. He derent. There might come a time when the translation of this writing would save his life.

Starting point is 07:45:48 He couldn't tell what the Jap had written, but there might be a twist to it, favorable to him. At the same time, he daren't give it out and let anyone translate it, so he'd keep it handy, where nobody could get at it but himself. I reckon that just about even's the score between me and Mr. James Cunningham, the clerk said vindictively. He bawled me out before a whole room full of people when he knew all the time I hadn't lost the papers. I stood it because right then I had to. but i've dug up a better job and start on it monday he's been claiming he was so anxious to get these sheets back to you well i hope he's satisfied now he had no right to keep em they weren't his i'll have em translated then turn the sheets over to the police if they have any bearing in the case of course they may be just a private letter or something of that sort

Starting point is 07:46:52 the clerk went on to defend himself of what he had done cunningham had treated him outrageously besides they weren't his papers he had no business to hold back evidence in a murder case because it did not suit him to have it made public didn't mr lane think he had done right in taking the papers from the safe when he had a chance mr lane rather dodged the ethics of the case of hudson he had of course instigated the theft of the papers he was entitled to them james had appropriated them by a trick besides it was a matter of public and private justice that the whole cunningham mystery be cleared up as soon as possible but he was not prepared to pass on hudson's right to be the instrument in the case the man was of course a confidential employee of the oil broker there was one thing to be said in his favor kirby had not offered him anything for what he had done nor did he want anything in payment it was wholly a gratuitous service the cattleman had made inquiries he knew of a japanese interpreter used in the the courts. Foster had recommended him as entirely reliable. To this man, Kirby went. He explained what he wanted. While the Japanese clerk read in English the writing to him, and afterward rode out on a typewriter the translation of it, Kirby sat opposite him at the table to make sure that there

Starting point is 07:48:33 was no juggling with the original document. The affair was moving to its climax. Within a few hours now, Kirby expected to see the murderer of his uncle put under arrest. It was time to take the chief of police into his confidence. He walked down 16th toward the City Hall. At Curtis Street, the traffic officer was semaphoring with energetic gesture, the east and westbound vehicles to be on their way. Kirby jay walked across the street diagonally, and passed in front of an electric-headed south.

Starting point is 07:49:13 He caught one glimpse of the driver and stood smiling at the door with his hat off. I want to see you just a minute, Miss Harriman. May I come in? Her long, dark eyes flashed at him. The first swift impulse was to refuse, but she knew he was dangerous. He knew much that it was vital to her social standing

Starting point is 07:49:37 must not be published. She sparred for time. What do you want? He took this as an invitation and whipped open the door. Better get out of the traffic, he told her, where we can talk without being disturbed. She turned up 15th. If you have anything to say, she suggested,

Starting point is 07:50:02 and swept her long-lashed eyes round at him, with the manner of delicate disdain she held it, I've been wondering about something, he said. When James telephoned my uncle on the evening he was killed, that you and he were on the way to his rooms, he said you were together. But James reached there alone, you and Jack arriving a few minutes later. Did James propose that he go first? The young woman did not answer,

Starting point is 07:50:35 but there was no longer disdain in her fear-filled eyes. filled eyes. She swung the car, as though by a sudden impulse, to the left, and drove to the building where the older James Cunningham had had his offices. If you want to ask me questions, you better ask them before Jack, she said as she stepped out. Suits me exactly, he agreed. Her lithe, long body moved beside him gracefully, its every motion perfectly synchronized. In her close-fitting, stylish gown, she was extremely handsome. There was a kind of proud defiance in the set of her oval jaw,

Starting point is 07:51:18 as though even in the trouble that involved her, she was a creature set apart from others. Mr. Lane has a question he wants to ask you, Jack, she said when they were in the inner office. Kirby smiled, and in his smile, were friendliness and admiration. First off, I have to apologize for some things I said two days ago. I'll eat humble pie.

Starting point is 07:51:46 I accused you of something. You're not the man. I found out. Yes? Jack, standing behind his desk in the slim grace of well-dressed youth, watched him warily. We found out at last who the man is. indeed jack knew that esther mclean had been found by her friends and taken away no doubt she had told them her story did the cattleman mean to expose james before the woman he knew to be his wife that wouldn't be quite what he would expect of lane

Starting point is 07:52:27 incidentally i have some news for you one of your uncle's stenographers a miss mclean has just been married to a friend of mine the champion roughrider perhaps you may have heard of him his name is cole sandbourne jack did not show the great relief he felt glad to hear it he said simply did we come here to discuss stenographers asked the young woman with a little curl of the lip you mentioned a question mr lane hadn't we better get that out of the way kirby put to jack the same query he had addressed to her what's the drift of this what do you want to prove jack asked curtly the eyes and the brown face plunged deep into those of jack cunningham not a thing i've finished my case except for a detail or two within two two hours, the murderer of Uncle James will be arrested. I'm offering you a chance to come through with what you know before it's too late. You can kick in if you want to. You can stay out if you don't. But don't say afterward I didn't give you a chance. What kind of a chance are you given me? Let's get clear on that. Are you proposing I turn state's evidence on James? Is that what you're

Starting point is 07:53:59 driving at? Did James kill Uncle James? Of course he didn't, but you may have it in that warped mind of yours that he did. What I think doesn't matter. All that will count is the truth. It's bound to come out. There are witnesses that saw you come to the paradox, a witness that actually saw you in Uncle's rooms. If you don't believe me, me, I'll tell you something. When you and Miss Harriman came into the room where my uncle had been killed, James was sitting at the desk looking over papers. A gun was lying close by his hand. Miss Harriman nearly fainted, and you steadied her. Miss Harriman, or rather Mrs. James Cunningham, nearly fainted again. She caught at the back of a chair and stood rigid, looking at Kirby with

Starting point is 07:54:58 dilated, horror-filled eyes. He knows everything, everything. I think he must be the devil, she murmured from bloodless lips. Jack, too, was shaken badly. For God's sake, man, what do you know? he asked hoarsely. I know so much that you can't safely keep quiet any longer. The whole matter is going to the police. It's going to them this afternoon.

Starting point is 07:55:31 What are you going to do? If you refuse to talk, then it will be taken to mean guilt. Why should it go to the police? Be reasonable, man. James didn't do it, but he's in an awful hole. No jury on earth would refuse to convict him with the evidence you've piled up. Can't you see that? Kirby smiled.

Starting point is 07:55:56 This time his smile was grim. I ought to know that better than you. I'll give you two hours to decide. Meet you at James's office then. There are some things we want to talk over alone, but I think Miss Harriman had better be there ready to join us when we send for her. Going through with this, are you? I'm going through in spite of hell and high water.

Starting point is 07:56:27 Jack strode up in time. down the room in a stress of emotion. You're going to ruin three lives because you're so pig-headed, or because you want your name in the papers as a great detective. Is there anything in the world we can do to head you off? Nothing. And if lives are ruined, it's not my fault. I'll promise this.

Starting point is 07:56:53 The man or woman I point to as the one who killed Uncle James will be the one that did it. If James is innocent, as you claim he is, he won't have it saddled on him. Shall I tell you the thing that's got you worried? Down in the bottom of your heart, you're not dead sure he didn't do it, either one of you. The young woman took a step toward Kirby, hands outstretched in dumb pleading. She gave him her soft, appealing eyes, a light of proud humility in them. don't do it she begged he's your own cousin and my husband i love him perhaps there's some woman that loves you if there is remember her and be merciful

Starting point is 07:57:44 his eyes softened it was the first time he had seen her taken out of her selfishness she was one of those modern young women who take but do not give at least that had been his impression of her. She had specialized, he judged, in graceful and lovely self-indulgence. A part of her code had been to get the best possible bargain for her charm and beauty, and as a result of her philosophy of life, time had already begun to enamel on her a slight hardness of finish. Yet she had married James instead of his uncle. She had risked the loss of a large fortune to follow her heart. Perhaps, if children came, she might still escape into the thoughts and actions

Starting point is 07:58:35 that gave life its true value. A faint Sphinx-like smile touched his face. No use worrying. That doesn't help any. I'll go as easy as I can. We'll meet in two hours at James's office. He turned and left the room. End of Chapter 39.

Starting point is 07:59:07 Chapter 40 of Tangled Trails, a Western Detective story by William MacLeod Rain. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 40. The Mills of the Gods. Kirby Lane did not waste the two hours that lay before the appointment he had made for a meeting at the office of his cousin James. He had a talk with the halls, and another with the chiefs. of police. He saw Olson and Rose McLean. He even fought the time to forge two initials at the foot of a typewritten note on the stationery of James Cunningham and to send the note to its destination by a messenger. Rose met him by

Starting point is 07:59:53 appointment at the entrance to the equitable building and they rode up in the elevator together to the office of his cousin. Miss Harriman, as she still called herself in public, was there with Jack and her husband. James was ice-cold. He bowed very slightly to Rose. Chairs were already placed. For a moment, Kirby was embarrassed. He drew James aside.

Starting point is 08:00:23 Cunningham murmured in exchange of sentences with his wife, then escorted her to the door. Rose was left with the three cousins. i suppose jack has told you of the marriage of esther mclean kirby said as soon as the door had been closed james bowed still very stiffly kirby met him eye to eye he spoke very quietly and clearly i want to open the meeting by telling you on behalf of this young woman and myself that we think you an unmitigated cur we are debarred from saying so before your wife but it's a pleasure to tell you so in private is that quite clear the oilbroker flushed darkly he made no answer you not only took advantage of a young woman's tender heart you were willing our dead uncle should bear the blame for it have you any other word than the one i have used to suggest as a more fit in one the wyoming man asked bitingly. Jack answered for his brother. Suppose we pass that count of the indictment,

Starting point is 08:01:40 unless you have a practical measure to suggest in connection with it. We plead guilty. There was a little gleam of mirth in Kirby's eyes. You and I have discussed the matter already, Jack. I regret I expressed my opinion so vigorously then. We have nothing practical. to suggest if you are referring to any form of compensation. Esther is happily married, thank God. All we want is to make it perfectly plain what we think of mr. James Cunningham. James acknowledged this and answered That is quite clear. I may say that I entirely concurring your estimate of my conduct. I might make explanations, but I can make none that justify me to my In that case, we may consider the subject closed, unless Miss McLean has something to say.

Starting point is 08:02:40 Kirby turned to Rose. She looked at James Cunningham, and he might have been the dirt under her feet. I have nothing whatever to say, Kirby. You express my sentiments exactly. Very well, then we might open the door and invite in Miss Harriman. There are others who should be along soon that have a claim also to be present. What others? asked Jack Cunningham. The other suspects in the case. I prefer to have them all here.

Starting point is 08:03:19 Anyone else? The Chief of Police. James looked at him hard. This is not a private conference, then? that's a matter of definitions i have invited only those who have a claim to be present kirby answered to my office i think if you prefer the chief's office we'll adjourn and go there the broker shrugged no very well kirby stepped to the door connecting with an outer office and threw it open mr and mrs hall olson and the chief of police followed Phyllis Harriman into the room. More chairs were brought in. The chief sat nearest the door, one leg thrown lazily across the other. He had a fat brown cigar in his

Starting point is 08:04:16 hand. Sometimes he chewed on the end of it, but he was not smoking. He was an Irishman, and as it happened, open-minded. He liked this brown-faced young fellow from Wyoming, never had believed him guilty from the first. Moreover, he was willing his detective bureau should get a jolt from an outsider. It might spur them up in future. Chief, is there anything you want to say? Kirby asked. Not a word. I'm sitting in a parquet seat. It's your show, son. Kirby's disarming smile won the chief's heart. I want to say now that I have to say now that I I've talked with the chief several times.

Starting point is 08:05:04 He's given me a lot of good tips, and I've worked under his direction." The head of the police force grinned. The tips he had given Lane had been of no value, but he was quite willing to take any public credit there might be. He sat back and listened now, while Kirby told his story. Outside of the chief, everyone here is connected closely with this case and his case. involved in it. It happens that every man and woman of us were in my uncle's apartments, either at the time of his death or just before or after." Kirby raised a

Starting point is 08:05:44 hand to meet Olson's protest. Oh, I know, you weren't in the rooms, but you were on the fire escape outside. From the angle of the police you may have been in. All you had to do was to pass through an open window. there was a moment silence while kirby hesitated in what order to tell his facts hull mopped the back of his overflowing neck phyllis cunningham moistened her dry lips a cord in her throat ached tensely suspicion fell first on me and on hull kirby went on you've seen it all thrashed out in the papers i had been unfriendly to my uncle for years and i was seen going to his rooms and leaving them that evening my own suspicion was directed to hull especially when he and mrs hull at the coroner's inquest changed the time so as to get me into my uncle's apartment half an hour earlier than i had been there I'd caught them in a panic of terror when I knocked on their door. They'd lied to get me into trouble.

Starting point is 08:06:57 Hull had quarreled with Uncle James and had threatened to go after him with a gun in two days after that time. And it was just forty-eight hours later he was killed. It looked a lot like Hull to me. I had one big advantage, Chief, a lot of inside of him. facts not open to you the cattleman explained I knew for instance that miss mclean here had been in the rooms just before me she was the young woman my uncle had the appointment to meet there before ten o'clock you will remember mr

Starting point is 08:07:36 Blanton's testimony miss McClain and I compared notes so we were able to shave down the time during which the murder must have taken place we worked together. She gave me other important data. Perhaps she had better tell in her own words about the clue she found that we followed. Rose turned to the chief. Her young face flew a charming flag of color. Her hair, in crisp tendrils beneath the edge of the small hatchy wore, was the ripe gold of wheat tips in the shock. The tender blue of violets was in her eyes. The tender blue of violets was in her eyes. I told you about how I had found Mr. Cunningham

Starting point is 08:08:22 tied to his chair, Chief. I forgot to say that in the living room there was a faint odor of perfume. On my way upstairs I passed in the dark a man and a woman. I had got a whiff of the same perfume then. It was violet. So I knew they had been in the apartment

Starting point is 08:08:42 just before me. Mr. Lane discovered later, that Miss Harriman used that scent, which opened up a new field of speculation, Kirby went on. We began to run down facts and learned that my cousin James had secretly married Miss Harriman at Golden a month before. My uncle had just learned the news. He had a new will made by his lawyer, one that cut James off without a cent and left his property to Jack Cunningham. That will was never signed, Jack broke in quickly. Kirby looked at Jack and smiled cynically.

Starting point is 08:09:24 No, it was never signed. Your brother discovered that when he looked a will over at Uncle's desk a few minutes after his death. James did not wink an eye in distress. The hand of the woman sitting beside him went out instantly to his in a warm, swift pressure. she was white to the lips but her thought was for the man she loved and not for herself kirby scored another mark to her credit cumulative evidence pointed to james cunningham continued kirby he tried to destroy the proof of his marriage to miss herriman he later pretended to lose an important paper that might have cleared up the case he tried to get me to drop the matter and go back to Wyoming. The coil wound closer around him.

Starting point is 08:10:20 About this time, another factor attracted my attention. I had the good luck to unearth at Dry Valley, the man who had written threatening letters to my uncle and to discover that he was staying next door to the paradox, the very night of the murder. More, my friend Sanborn and I, guessed he had actually been on the fire, of the Wyndham and seen something of importance through the window.

Starting point is 08:10:50 Later, I forced a statement from Olson. He told all he had seen that night. Kirby turned to the rancher from Dry Valley and had him tell his story. When he had finished, the cattleman made comment. On the face of it, Olson's story leaves in doubt the question of who actually killed my uncle. If he was telling the whole truth, his evidence points either to the hulls or my cousin James. But it was quite possible he had seen my uncle tied up and helpless and had himself stepped through the window and shot him.

Starting point is 08:11:29 Am I right, Chief? The Chief nodded grimly. Right, son! You told me you didn't think I did it, Olson burst out bitterly. And I tell you. you so again, Kirby answered, smiling. I was mentioned in possibilities. On your evidence it lies between my cousin James and the Halls. It was the Hulls that had tied him up after Cass Hull knocked him senseless. It was Hull who had given him two days more to live, and that's not all.

Starting point is 08:12:05 Not an hour and a half ago I had a talk with Mrs. Hull. She admitted, under pressure, that she returned to my uncle's apartment again to release him from the chair. She was alone with him, and he was wholly in her power. She is a woman with a passionate sense of injury. What happened then nobody else saw? Mrs. Hull opened her yellow, wrinkled lips to speak, but Kirby checked her. Not yet, Mrs. Hull, I'll return to the subject. If you wish, you can defend yourself then. he stopped a second time to find the logical way of proceeding with his story the silence in the room was tense the proverbial pin could have been heard only one person in the room except kirby knew where the lightning was going to strike that person sat by the door chewing the end of a cigar impassively a woman gave a strangled little sob of pent emotion i've been leaving horikawa out of the story the cattleman went on i've got to bring him in now he's the hinge on which it all swings the man or woman that killed my uncle killed horikawa too

Starting point is 08:13:29 james cunningham sitting opposite kirby with his cold eyes steadily fixed on him for the first time gave visible signs of his anxiety it came in the form of a little gulping sound in his throat cole sandbourne and i found horikawa in the room where he had been killed the doctors thought he must have been dead about a day just a day before this time miss mcclaine and i met James Cunningham coming out of the Paragon. He was white and shaking. He was suffering from nausea, and his arm was badly strained. He explained it by saying he had fallen downstairs. Later, I wondered about that fall. I'm still wondering. Had he just come out of the apartment where Horikawa was hiding? Had the tendons of that arm been strained by a jiu-jitsu-twe? twist? And had he left Horikawa behind him, dead on the bed? James, white to the lips, looked steadily at his cousin.

Starting point is 08:14:41 A very ingenious theory. I've always complimented you on your imagination, he said, a little hoarsely, as though from a parched throat. You do not desire to make any explanation, Kirby asked. Thanks. No, I'm not on trial for my life here, am I? answered the oil broker quietly, with obvious irony. His wife was sobbing softly. The man's arm went around her and tightened in wordless comfort. From his pocket, Kirby drew the envelope upon which he had a few hours earlier, penciled the time schedule relating to his uncle's death.

Starting point is 08:15:26 one of the points that struck me earliest about this mystery was that the man who solved it would have to work out pretty closely the time element inside of an hour ten people besides uncle james were in his rooms they must a trot on each other's heels right fast i figured so i checked up the time as carefully as i could here's the schedule i made out maybe you'd like to see it. He handed the envelope to James. Jack rose and looked over his brother's shoulder. His quick eye ran down the list. I get the rest of it, he said, but what does X mean? X is the ten minutes of uncle's time I can't account for. Some of us were with him practically every other minute. X is the whole unknown quantity. It is the time in which he was probably actually killed.

Starting point is 08:16:33 It is the man who may, by some thousandth chance, have stepped into the room and killed him while none of us were present, explained Kirby. If there is such an unknown man, you can cut the time down to five minutes instead of ten, providing your schedule is correct, James cut in. For according to it, I was there part of the time,

Starting point is 08:16:59 and Mrs. Hull part of the rest of it. Yes, agreed his cousin. But you may have decided that Mrs. Hull is X, or that I am, jeered James. If so, that ends it. No need for a judge or jury. Kirby turned to the man by the door. Chief, one of the quick ones. things about this mystery is that all the witnesses had something to conceal. Go right through the list and it's true of every one of us. I'm talking about the important witnesses,

Starting point is 08:17:36 of course. Well, Cole and I found a paper in the living room of the apartment where Horikawa was killed. It was in Japanese. I ought to have turned it over to you, but I didn't. I was kind of playing a lone hand. At that time, I didn't suspect my cousin James at all. We were working together on this thing. At least I thought so. I found out better later. I took the paper to him to get it translated, thinking maybe Horikawa might have written some kind of a confession. James lost that paper. Anyhow, he claimed he did. My theory, is that Horikawa had some evidence against him. He was afraid of what that paper would tell.

Starting point is 08:18:30 Unfortunately for your theory, it was a clerk of mine who lost the paper. I had nothing to do with it, James retorted coldly. No doubt the paper has been destroyed, but not by me. Quite by accident, I judge. His cousin let off a bomb beneath the broker's feet. you'll be glad to know that the paper wasn't destroyed he said i have it with a translation in my pocket at the present moment james clutched the arms of his chair his knuckles grew white with the strain where-where did you find it he managed to say in the most private drawer of your safe where you hit it kirby replied quietly cunningham visibly fought for his composure he did not speak until he had perfect self-control then it was with a sneer

Starting point is 08:19:33 and this paper which you allege you found in my safe after a burglary which no doubt you know is very much against the law does it convict me of the murder of my uncle the tension in the room was nerve-shattering men and women were men and women suspended breathing while they waited for an answer. On the contrary, it acquits you of any guilt whatever in the matter. Phyllis Cunningham gave a broken little sob and collapsed into her husband's arms. Jack rose, his face working, and caught his brother by the shoulder. These two had suffered greatly, not only because of their fear for him, but because of the fear of his guilt that had poisoned their peace. James, too, was moved, as much by their love for him as by the sudden relief that had

Starting point is 08:20:32 lifted from his heart. But his pride held him outwardly cold. "'Since you've decided I didn't do it, Mr. Lane, perhaps you'll tell us then who did,' he suggested presently. There came a knock at the door. A whimsical smile twitched at the corners of Kirby's mouth. He did not often have a chance for dramatics like this. Why, yes, that seems fair enough, he answered.

Starting point is 08:21:05 He's knocking at the door now. Enter X. End of Chapter 40. Chapter 41 of Tangled Trails, a Western Detective story by William McLeod Rain. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 41. Enter X. Shebo stood in the threshold and sent a swift glance around the room.

Starting point is 08:21:43 He had expected to meet James alone. That first slant look of the long eyes forewarned him that nemesis was at hand, but he faced without a flicker of the lids the destiny he had prepared for himself. You write me note, come see you now, he said to Cunningham. James showed surprise. No, I think not. You know want me? The chief's hand fell on the shoulder of the janitor.

Starting point is 08:22:17 I want you, Shebo. You write me note, come here now? No, I reckon Mr. Lane wrote that. i plenty busy what you want me for for the murders of james cunningham and horikawa before the words were out of his mouth the chief had his prisoner handcuffed shebo turned to kirby you tell him police i kill him mr cunningham and horikawa yes i plenty sorry i no kill you you did your business you did your business best Shebo, took three shots at ten feet, rotten shooting. Do you mean that he actually tried to kill you? James asked in surprise.

Starting point is 08:23:11 In the Denmark building the other night at 11 o'clock, and I'll say he made a bad mistake when he tried and didn't get away with it. For I knew that the man who was aiming to gun me was the same one that had killed Uncle James. He had got to worry. for fear I was following too hot a trail. Did you recognize him? Jack said. Not right then. I was too busy ducking for cover.

Starting point is 08:23:40 Safety first was my motto right then? No, when I first had time to figure on who could be the gentleman that was so eager to make me among those absent, I rather laid it to cousin James, with Mr. Cass Hall second on my list of suspects. the fellow had a searchlight and he flashed it on me i could see above it a bandana handkerchief over the face i'd seen a bandana like it in hull's hands but i had to eliminate hull the gunman on the stairs had small neat feet no larger than a woman's hull's feet are well sizable they were huge was not too much to call them as a dozen eyes focused on his boots the fat man drew them back of the rungs of his chair this attention to personal details of his confirmation was embarrassing those small feet stuck in my mind kirby went on couldn't seem to get rid of the idea they put james out of consideration unless of course he had hired a killer and that didn't look reasonable to me i'll tell the truth i thought of mrs hull dressed as a man and then i thought of shebo had you suspected him before this from olson

Starting point is 08:25:09 not of the murders i had learned that he had seen the halls come from my uncle's rooms and had kept quiet hall admitted that he had been forced to bribe him i tackled shebo with it and threatened to tell the police evidently he had been forced to bribe him i tackled shebo with it and threatened to tell the police evidently he was became frightened and tried to murder me. I got a note making an appointment at the Denmark building at 11 in the night. The writer promised to tell me who killed my uncle. I took a chance and went. The cattleman turned to Mrs. Hull. Will you explain about the note, please? The gaunt, tight-lipped woman rose, as though she had been called on at school to recite. I wrote the note, she said shebo made me I didn't know he meant to kill mr. Lane he said he'd tell everything if I didn't she sat down she had finished her little piece so I began to focus on shebo he might be playing a lone hand or he might be a tool of my cousin James a detective hired by me saw him leave James's office that didn't absolutely settle the point. He might have seen something and be blackmailing him, too.

Starting point is 08:26:32 That was the way of it, wasn't it? He turned point-blank to Cunningham. Yes, the broker said. He had us right, not only me, but Jack and Phyllis, too. I couldn't let him drag her into it. The day you saw me with the strained tendon, I had been with him and Horikawa in the apartment next to the one Uncle James rented. We quarreled. I got furious and caught Shibo by the throat to shake the little scoundrel. He gave my arm some kind of a jujitsu twist. He was at me every day. He never let up. He meant to bleed me heavily. We couldn't come to terms. I hated to yield to him. And did you? I promised him an answer soon.

Starting point is 08:27:28 No doubt he came today thinking he was going to get it. Kirby went back to the previous question. Next time I saw Shebo, I took a look at his feet. He was wearing a pair of shoes that looked to me mighty like those worn by the man that ambushed me. They didn't have any cap pieces across the toes. I'd noticed that even while he was shooting at me. it struck me that it would be a good idea to look over his quarters in the basement shebo was one human weakness he's a devotee of the moving pictures nearly every night he takes in a show on curtis street

Starting point is 08:28:11 the chief lent me a man and last night we went through his room at the paradox we found there a flashlight a bandana handkerchief with holes cut in it for the eyes and in the man mattress, $2,000 in big bills. We left them where we found them, for we didn't want to alarm Shibo. The janitor looked at him without emotion. You've plenty devil, man, he said. We hadn't proved yet that Shibo was going in alone, Kirby went on, paying no attention to the interruption. Someone might be using him as a tool. Horacawa's confession clears that up. Kirby handed to the chief of police the sheets of paper found in the apartment where the valet was killed. Attached to these by a clip was the translation.

Starting point is 08:29:09 The chief read this last aloud. Horikawa, according to the confession, had been in Cunningham's rooms, sponging and pressing a suit of clothes when the promoter came home on the afternoon. afternoon of the day of his death. Through a half-open door he had seen his master open his pocketbook and count a big roll of bills. The figures on the outside one showed that it was a treasury note for fifty dollars. The valet had told Shebo later and they had talked it over, but with no thought in Horikawa's mind of robbery. He was helping Shibo fix a window screen at the end of the hall that evening when they saw the hulls come out of

Starting point is 08:29:54 Cunningham's apartment. Something furtive in the manner struck the valet's attention. It was in the line of his duties to drop in and ask whether the promoter's clothes needed any attention for the next day. He discovered after he was in the living room that Shibo was at his heels. They found Cunningham trussed up to a chair in the smaller room. he was unconscious evidently from a blow in the head the first impulse of horikawa had been to free him and carry him to the bedroom but shibo interfered he pushed his hand into the pocket of the smoking jacket and drew out a pocket-book it bulged with bills in two sentences shebo sketched a plan of operations they would steal the money and lay the blame for it on the halls cunningham's own testimony would convict the fat man and his wife the evidence of the two japanese would corroborate this cunningham's eyelids flickered there was a bottle of chloroform on the desk the promoter had recently suffered pleurisy pains and had been advised by his doctor to hold a little of the drug against the place where they caught him most sharply

Starting point is 08:31:17 shebo snatched up the bottle drenched a handkerchief with some of its contents and dropped the handkerchief over the wounded man's face a drawer was open within reach of cunningham's hand in it lay an automatic pistol the two men were about to hurry away shebo turned at the door to his dismay he saw that the handkerchief had slipped from cunningham's face and the man was looking at him He had recovered consciousness. Cunningham's eyes condemned him to death. In their steely depths, there was a gleam of triumph. He was about to call for help. Shibo knew what that meant. He and Horikawa were in a strange land.

Starting point is 08:32:07 They would be sent to prison, an example made of them, because they were foreigners. Automatically, without an instant of delay, he acted to protect himself. Two strides took him back to Cunningham. He reached across his body for the automatic and sent a bullet into the brain of the man bound to the chair. Horikawa, to judge by his confession, was thunderstruck.

Starting point is 08:32:34 He was an amiable little fellow who never had stepped outside the law. Now he was caught in the horrible meshes of a murder. He went to pieces and began to sob. Shibu stopped him sharply. Then they heard someone coming. It was too late to get away by the door. They slipped through the window to the fire escape and from it to the window of the adjoining apartment.

Starting point is 08:33:02 Horikawa, still sick with fear, stumbled against the rail as he clambered over it and cut his face badly. Shebo volunteered to go downstairs and get him some sticking plans. On the way down, Shiboh had met the younger James Cunningham as he came out of the elevator. Returning with first aid supplies a few minutes later, he saw Jack and Phyllis. It was easy to read between the lines that Shibo's will had dominated Horikawa.

Starting point is 08:33:36 He had been afraid that his companion's wounded face would lead to his arrest. If so, he knew it would be followed by a confession. a confession. He forced Horikawa to hide in the vacant apartment till the wound should heal. Meanwhile, he fed him and brought him newspapers. There were battles of will between the two. Horikawa was terribly frightened when he read that his flight had brought suspicion on him. He wanted to give himself up at once to the police. They quarreled. Sheibo always gained the temporary advantage, but he saw that under a grilling third degree his countryman would break down. He killed Horikawa because he knew he could not trust him.

Starting point is 08:34:26 This last fact was not, of course, in Horikawa's confession, but the dread of it was there. The valet had come to fear, Shibo. He was convinced in his shrinking heart that the man meant to get rid of him. It was under some impulse of self-protection that he had written the statement. Sheibo heard the confession read without the twitching of a facial muscle. He shrugged his shoulders, accepting the inevitable with the fatalism of his race. He weak, he no good, he got yellow streak, I bossum, was his comment. Did you kill him? asked the,

Starting point is 08:35:11 chief i kill em both cunninglam and horikawa you kill me now maybe yes officers led him away phyllis cunningham came up to kirby and offered him her hand you're hard on me james i don't know why you're so hard but you've cleared us all i say thanks awfully for that i've been horribly frightened that's the truth It seemed as though there wasn't any way out for us. Come and see us and let's all make up, cousin Kirby. Kirby did not say he would, but he gave her his strong grip and friendly smile. Just then his face did not look hard. He could not tell her why he had held his cousin on the grill so long

Starting point is 08:36:06 that it had been in punishment for what he had done to a defenseless friend of his in the name of love. what he did say suited her perhaps as well i like you better right now than i ever did before cousin phyllis you're a good little sport and you'll do to ride the river with jack could not quite let matters stand as they did he called on kirby that evening at his hotel it's about james i want to see you he said then stuck for lack of words with which to clothe his idea. He prodded at the rug with the point of his cane. Yes, about James, Kirby presently reminded him, smiling. He's not so bad as you think he is, Jack blurted out. He's as selfish as the devil, isn't he? Well, he is and he isn't. He's got a generous streak in him. You may not believe it,

Starting point is 08:37:12 but he went on your bond because he liked you. Come, Jack, you're trying to seduce my judgment by the personal appeal, Kirby answered, laughing. I know I am. What I want to say is this. I believe he would have married Esther McLean if it hadn't been for one thing. He fell desperately in love with Phyllis afterward. The odd thing is that she loves him, too. They didn't dare to be above board about it on account of Uncle James.

Starting point is 08:37:47 They treated him shabby, of course. I don't deny that. You can hardly deny that, Kirby agreed. But damn it, one swallow doesn't make a summer. You've seen the worst side of him all the way through. I dare say I have. Kirby let his hand fall in the well-tailed. shoulder of his cousin.

Starting point is 08:38:13 But I haven't seen the worst side of his brother, Jack. He's a good scout. Come up to Wyoming this fall, and we'll go hunting up the Jackson Hole country. What say? Nothing I'd like better, answered Jack promptly. We'll arrange a date later. Just now, I've got to beat it. Go on driving with a lady.

Starting point is 08:38:41 Jack scored for one. once. She's a good scout, too. If she isn't, I'll say there never was one, his cousin assented. End of Chapter 41. Chapter 42 of Tangled Trails, a Western Detective story, by William McLeod Rain. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 42. The New World Kirby took his lady love, driving in a rented fliver. It was a Colorado night, with a young moon looking down through the cool, rare atmosphere found only in the Rockies. He drove her through the city to Berkeley and up the hill to Inspiration Point. They talked only in intermittent snatches.

Starting point is 08:39:45 Rose had the gift of comradeship. Her tongue never rattled. With Kirby, she did not need to make talk. they had always understood each other without words but to-night their silences were filled with new and awkward significances she guessed that an emotional crisis was at hand with all her heart she welcomed and shrank from it for she knew that after to-night life could never be the same to her it might be fuller deeper happier but it could not hold for her the freedom she had guarded and cherished. At the summit he killed the engine. They looked across the valley to the hills dimmed by night's velvet dusk. We're through with all that back there, he said, and she knew he meant the tangled trails of the past weeks into which their fate had led them. We don't have to keep our minds full of suspicions and try to find out things in mean secret ways. There, in front of our minds,

Starting point is 08:40:53 front of us is God's world, waiting for you and me, Rose. Though she had expected it, she could not escape a sense of suddenly stilled pulses, followed by a clamor of beating blood. She quivered, vibrating, trembling. She was listening to the call of mate to mate sounding clear above all the voices of the world. A flash of soft eyes darted at him. He was to be her man. and the maiden heart thrilled at the thought she loved all of him she knew his fine clean thoughts his brave and virile life the splendid body that was the expression of his personality

Starting point is 08:41:39 there was a line of golden down on his cheek just above where he had shaved her warm eyes dared to linger fondly there for he was still gazing at the mountains his eyes came home to her and as he looked he knew he longed for her in every fiber of his being he asked no formal question she answered none under the steady regard of his eyes she made a small rustling movement toward him her young and lissom body was in his arms a warm and palpitating thing of life and joy he held her close her eye her eyelashes swept his cheek and sent a strange delightful tingle through his blood kirby held her head back and looked into her eyes again under the starlight their lips slowly met the road lay clear before them after many tangled trails end of chapter forty two end of tangled trails End of Tangled Trails, A Western Detective Story, by William MacLeod Rain.

Classic Audiobook Collection - Tangled Trails by William MacLeod Raine ~ Full Audiobook [adventure]

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.