Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-25

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MY Godr oasped Jim, staggertH0 back.
then it's true" and then the doctor came
h1rrying in. as pale and scared looking as
the others, yet keeping his presence OF
mind admirably.
Great heavens what an awful thing"
be exclaimed Here. Jim. help ne to
lift him over and see il anything can be
done" Then. as they simultaneously
touched him, he shook his head. All
no. poor ehap-it's no use-he's been dead
for hours.
Az. II was true enough. there could be
no mistaking the ashen gray face, the
parted lips. the blank stare Of the dimmed
ewes. even to the most inexperienced there
In the room. and besides. as they had
found him. 50 he remained when they laid
him on the cot. with knees bent and hands
stilly cluiching at nothing On' awful.
awful sight
The best friend ever had in, my life.
cried poor jim Deresford, the big tears
chasing one another down his checks.
He was 50 blinded by his grief that he
never not iced that Tommy Earle had come
in. and was standing looking. with horror
stamped on every feature, at the awful
twelve hours before had been living.
breat hing. gallant man of honor
Who did it," the lad asked shaping
the words with his lips rather than speak
ing them.
Ii was Owens servant. Jones, who an
swered the question.
1--WE don't know. sir Some dastardlv
coward what struck from behind" and
then lie dashed the tears away from his
eyes. and turaing from the cot began
tidying up the room in dazed, mechani-
cal sort of way as If lie hardly knew what
he was about.
You'd better not touch anything until
the police come. said the doctor, who
had kept his senses about him better
than most people would have done under
the circumstances They will be here in
few minutes now Mr.. Deresford. |
should advise you to have the room cleared
aud guard mounted over the door. Ii ii
no use our stopping here now-we can do
no good
Thus reminded that he was now the
officer commanding the detachment. Jim
gavc orders to have the room cleared. and
having locked the door. set a double
guard upon it Then lie went back to his
room and dressed himself, being already
III ms NulFtsA NuilOTIl ny i4iS tlL1e tuc
police arrived from the town half q mile
away.
And although ,he entire barracks seemed
to be par4iyzod by the awful deed which
had been committed in their midst. Beau.
tiful Jim found himself with plenty of
work on his hands First he had to be
with the police while they made close
examination of the room and of the dead
man. together with the army surgeon and
4 civilian doctor. who had come up with
them from the town.
a Ere's the thing that did it. said one
Of the men. suddenly STOPPING to pick
something oil the aoor
The others all pressed forward to see
what it was, Beautiful Jim among them;
the man held III his hand an iron dumb
bell of about seven pounds weight, which
jim at once recognized as one of hi. own.
That mine" he exclaimed, instantly.
Tho inspector of police looked up
sharply.
You'd better say nothing, sir any
thing You say now is liable to be used In
evidence against you"
Against me," repeated Beautiful Jim.
STARING at the man rs If lie were mad, or
drunk. or both. why. you don't mean
to say that you suspect me of numbering
the best friend I have in the world?'
Re quiet. oil fellow. put i'll the doc
tor. soothiagly "of course. the inspec
tor docs NJ, suspect you. except as he
suspects Us all until he gets at tho truth.
He only warned you to say nothing that
might lead to suspicious being thrown
upon you But. inspector, | suppose there
would be no harm il my asking Mr..
Beresford how the dumb bell came to be
here
Not the least. sir"
Il am sure there cannot be" said Jim.
rather hauyhtuy, nor III anything may
say | wish my conscience was as clear OF
ever, u,- "a of having lifted finger
again e Lat dear Oh chap. As TO tho
dumb bell, tlat IS simple enough. lent
mine (, him weeks ago. for I've never
been able TO use them since broke my
collar bone last year. Capt. Ovens own
nre ten poiads weight, and he fancied
they did Inn more harm than good, SO he
used mike for sonlo t.me before we lett
Blankhampton.
Il can answer for that" put in Jones.
who had been admitted during tho exam
nation; and there's the other by the
door there. - master nlway3 had them
stand there, close by where his bath was
set"
There was no doubt whatever that tho
dumb bell III the policeman hcnd W. tho
weapon wit i Lica tIc tO9l deed Lad been
done. for it was d bled with blood. to
which good many short dar., Lairs were
still sticking,
Then the inspector. after declaring that
they could do MOTH; ,gr. her at present.
locked and sealed the coor and went away.
leavif ( the sentries st4.I Oh guard in the
corr.a3r
Aud as said, Beautiful Jim had enough
to do--enu kilograms oil to headquarters
and to various members of Owen family
to be interviewed by newspaper report
ers and shoals of people who hocked from
all parts to learn he details of the terri
bic event-to carry on the work Of the
entire detachment aud make all manner
Of arrangements in connection with he
inquest and funeral. the Ike Of which
had happily never fallen IN his way be-
fore. 1t was an awful time for them all.
the men stood about the barrack yard IN
groups and the few women clus,e erred
round their doors and talked and talked
it over until there was positively no light
left In which they had not looked at it.
The three officers. with such guests as
had gathered about them, discussed the
matter in the Rnteroom in much the same
way-asking over and over again; Who
could have done itg' and What motive
could anybody have had to murder the
dear old chap. who was everybody's friend.
who had never been known to have an
enemy in the world
And be was hit from behind, Beauti-
full Jim wound up. bitterly. after the
question had been repeated for about the
6ftieth time That the hardest rub of
all. that old Owen. who was straightfor-
wardness and honesty itself. should have
been hit from behind But it will all come
out-mark my words. it will come home
yet to the hound who did it
God. who is above us. grant it. said