The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-11-26

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or boy recruited from this town." said
Solomon, positively.
Recruitin' of his health, as he said.
You must remember that he left here in
mighty sudden and inaccountable way,
and to my knowledge never was heerd
of ag'in."
"To-be-sure, to-be-surer' assented
Slocum, his eyes sparkling as he found
himself possessed Of this valuable clue.
{" Drewry was his name. Ajolly young
chap he seemed to be. Plenty o. mon
ey, too, as ricollict. And now it's for
me to find out exactly the date of his
being herer'
He hurried away home. and speedily
returned with certain massive and we'll
worn volumes. which proved to be
ledgers and account books of his late
father. while landlord Of the inn.
The present proprietor of that estab-
lishment, Captain Grasty, leaned over
his shoulder and watched with interest
as he ran his fingers down certain pages,
stopping occasionally to read.
Here it isr' exclaimed Slocum, with
ring OF triumph in his tone; g here it
is! Allan Drewry' August is. 1848. ;
The cellar was built in forty-five," he
added, significantly looking around.
why. Lor'r' exclaimed Mrs. Grasty,
advancing from the kitchen, whence
she had been an interested observer of
these proceedings" why, L0r'! re-
member Mr.. Allen Drewry. was gal
at that time, and he sort o. made up to
me. though he knew John Bowan--
that's Jessie's father-was keepin' my
company"
"What!'' exclaimed Solomon, excited
ly, you don't mean to say Bowan was
jealousP' f 4A
There was some folks said 30, If 1
didn't" replied Mrs. Grasty, modestly.
Solomon looked slowly around the
circle, and solemnly shook his head.
Look here, Slocum," said Captain
Grasty, still running his eye down the
page. what's thisp Paid John Bowan
five dollars, first quarters rent of his
cellarr Why, what had Chris Slocum
to do with that cellarP''
Slocum's eyes expanded. He rubbed
his spectacles and stared intently at the
fatal words.
III don't believe twas that cellar, !"
he gasped.
"Couldn't have been any other. Just
across the back yard here. with door
in the wall between. Convenient to
the house, you see. Never thought of
it before"
You don't mean to insinuate." said
Solomon, turning upon him with q
white face, " that-that my father had
anything to do with that--that AFFAIR.""
don't insinuate anything" an
swered the Captain, with shrug;
though don't see how Chris Slocum
was any better than old Womble or
John Bowan." ~
Mr.. Michael Lafferty, sort of loafing
character of Twiddleton, here turned
around from the bar, where he was in
dulging IN a dhrap, and, placing his
finger on the side of his florid nose. de-
liberately winked.
''See here, Cap'n, yez best not mix
bones beyant. He was my friend, he
was, an I'll STAN by him an his to the
ind. An if it comes to suspicionin'
him of murther, see here. it's betther to
let out the truth. The old man wanted
that cellar for storage, ye see."
ssWhat kind of storage?"
s'Whist. thin! don't We mind when
the revenue officers was down here, and
couldn't find a dhrap of o. the stuff but
what wasn't sthrGiga7 But, bedad!
they niver looked in the cellar beyant."
II don't believe it," cried Slocum,
savagely.
PIT 10 cam that ovo~xv ~.,,o aroucd
him did credit the mans statement,
and gradually the conviction forced
itself upon even his unwilling mind.
1t was great shock to Solomon. who
had always made boast of the honor
and honesty of himself and his family.
His respected father dealing in Illicit
whisky, and cheating the revenue! Sol
ONION, with his neighbors' eyes bent
upon him. seemed to be shrinking 10
half his natural size.
II remember when the revenue off,
GERS used to hang round here in dis
guise,'' said one man, in low tone.
IAN idear strikes me-" said another,
excitedly. "What if that young Teller
l-Drewry you call him-was one Of 'em,
and''-keeping one eye half fearfully
| fixed upon Slocum-s'ferreted out that
cellar, and neuer came home aliue9
For week after that an awful calm
of suppressed horror brooded over
Middleton. People were appalled, at
the heinous crime which the investiga-
tons of Solomon Slocum had brought
to light; and, moreover, by q wonder
rul dispensation of fate, brought home to
himself. -r
| There could be no doubt upon the
subject; for, on close investigation q
hammer had been found under the
bones in the bag, plainly branded with
Christopher Slocum's initials. -
With this murderous weapon he had
doubtless slaughtered his innocent vic
tim; and whether it had been done for
sake of money or to prevent the be-
trayal of the secret of the cellar, re-
manned the only question opento doubt.
Poor Solomon Slocum! How had his
glory departed! Would that he had
never interfered with what had not con-