“That’s right,” agreed Pinkham. “And what I hear is right he and the Sturte- wnt’s weren't any too friendly. They held sizable mortgage on his property, and he as moving heaven and earth to get them , renew it. I understand,” he added, “that ns PHONE 298 P.O. BOX 351 D. Chapman & Co. Ltd. MOTOR HAULAGE CONTRACTORS and WAREHOUSEMEN KELOWNA, B.C. sss SS Ss\><—<——— ee ———— JOSEPH ROSSI CONTRACTOR Concrete -:- e Kelowna, B. C. Masonry -:- H. S. DRYSDALE Mill Supplies, Saws, Pulleys, Belting and Hardwoods Furniture Manufacturing and Repairing Loggers’ and Farmers’ Supplies Caravans and Truck Bodies Boat Building Oars, Paddles and Marine Hardware Paints, Etc. 229 Ellis Street KELOWNA, B.C. KELOWNA SAWMILL co. LTD. LUMBER AND BUILDING SUPPLIES e KELOWNA Franklin 5 E. A. FRANKLIN “Franklin’s for Values” “Everything for the Home’ KELOWNA, B.C. B.C. Telephone 45 British Columbia Orchards | Co-operative Association Growers, Packers and Carload Distributors of Okanagan Fruit and Produce Cold Storage Operators KELOWNA, British Columbia, Canada FOURTEENTH EDITION they were a pretty hardboiled pair when it came to making a deal.” For a moment Pratt eyed the other gravely. “Whoever vamoosed with that stolen cash,” he hauled a handful of silver from his pocket, “had a hole in his pocket all right. We trailed him to the railroad depot, but couldn’t locate Bates there to find out if he'd accepted any of this stolen money for a ticket.” Again puzzled detectives re-hashed the case from every angle. There seemed little doubt now that the murderer had enticed the housekeeper from the house on some false errand, lain in wait, pounced on her from the bushes, crept up on Thomas from behind and struck him down as he filled the woodbox, then brained his brother as he lay asleep in bed without a thought of im- pending danger. Checking with State police, detectives again combed the community. The only ° relatives in the vicinity were Mrs. Daniel Blake, whose probity was beyond question, and William Sturtevant who lived with his young wife in a moderate-sized colonial type home nearby. William, a husky, good- looking young man in his early 20's, assured detectives he hadn’t seen his uncles for nearly 9 months, but offered to render any help he could. A check-up on Zeb Thomp- son, last to see the murdered trio alive, re- vealed that he was highly respected through- _ out the community, and also appeared to be above suspicion. “Damn it,” Pratt paced the floor angrily, “we don’t seem to be getting to first base. And all these people are howling for the arrest of the murderer. Boys,” he turned a set face to his colleagues, “I’ve got an all- fired hunch we've got the key to the killing right in our hands in spite of what the Sheriff says. If we can only find out where that birch stave came from we'll be on the inside track. We'll check up on every damned wagon and cart in .Plymouth County if it takes 6 months. And I’ve got a sneaking hunch we're not going to have to look very far from here.” Continuing the seemingly hopeless task of locating a cart with a missing stave in a region where these articles were as num- erous as chickens, detectives led by Pratt ransacked every farm, disused barn, out- house and yard throughout the countryside, while Sheriff Inglee continued to shrug his shoulders. Meanwhile Collingwood, following up the trail of the old Civil War silver, found E. M. Carruthers M. A. Meikle E. M. CARRUTHERS & SON LTD. LOANS e Kelowna, B.C. INSURANCE REAL ESTATE VICTORY MOTORS LTD. Complete Automotive Service SALES - SERVICE GENERAL MOTORS PRODUCTS Phone 207 KELOWNA P. O. Drawer 231 B. C. LAUREL CO-OPERATIVE UNION Growers, Packers, Shippers, Exporters OKANAGAN FRUITS and VEGETABLES e KELOWNA British Columbia T. Elchuk, Proprietor Vernon Road RAINBOW AUTO COURT COOL - COMFORTABLE - CONVENIENT e P. O. BOX 651 KELOWNA At the railway depot, above, Civil War coins, similar to the ones missing from the Sturtevant farm turned ub, but officers couldn't trace them. Page Seventy-five