Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-06-29

my God! 0dSped Jtnt, staggering odcF.
''then it's true:" and then the doctor came
hurrying in. as pale and scared looking as
the others. yet keeping his presence Of
mind admirably.
Great heavensi what an awful thing"
he exclaimed. Here. Jim. help me to
lift him over and see II anything can be
done" Then. as they simultaneously
touched him, he shook his head. 'Ahl
no. poor chap-its no use-he's been dead
for hours"
Ay, 1t was true enough: there could be
no mistaking the ashen gray face. the
parted lips. the blank stare Of the dimmcd
eyes. even to the most inexperienced .hero
In the room; and besides. as they had
found him. SO he remained when they laid
him on the cot. with knees bent and hands
s,ifly clutching at nothing. Oil awful.
awful sightl
Tho best friend ever had in my life, ="
cried poor jim Dercsford. the big tears
chasing one anothc- Gown his checks.
never noticed that Tommy Earle had come
stamped on every feature at the awful
thing on the bed. ell that was left of what
twelve hours before had been q living.
"Vho did ity' tho lad asked. shaping
the words with his lips rather than speak
ing them.
1t was Owens servant. Jones. who ON
swercd the question
"NVe don't know, sir. Some dastardlv
coward what struck from behind" and
then he dashed the tears away from his
eyes, and turning from the cot BEGAN
tidying up the room IN da.ed. raechani
cal sort of way. as If he hardly knew what
he was about.
You'd better not touch ANYTHING until
the police come" said tho 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.. Dcresford.
should advise you to have the room cleared
and guard mounted over the door 1t is
no use our r'opping here now-we can do
no good"
Thus reminded that he was now the
officer commanding the detachment, Jim
gave orders to have the room cleared, and
having locked the door, set double
guard upon it. Then he went back to his
room and dressed himself, being already
In his undress uniform. by the time the
police arrived from the town. half q mile
away.
And although the entire barracks seemed
to be paralyzcd by the awful deed which
had been committed In their midst, Dcau-
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
Q civilian doctor. who had come up with
them from the town.
"'Ere's the thing that did it," said one
of the men, suddenly STOPPING to pick
something off the floor.
The others oil pressed forward to see
what 1t was, Beautiful Jim among them;
the man held in his hand an iron dumb
bell of about seven pounds weight, which
Jim at once recognized as one of his own.
That's mine. he exclaimed, instantly.
The 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 mel" repeated Beautiful Jim.
staring at the man as II he were mad. or
drunk, or both. why. you don't mean
to say that you suspect me of numbering
the best friend have in She worldY'
"Be quiet. old follow, put in the doc.
tor. soothingly. "Of course. the inspec-
tor does not suspect you, except as he
suspects us oil until he gets at the 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 in my asking MIR.
Dercsford how the dumb bell came to be
hereY"
Mot the least, SIR"
IL am sure there cannot be-, said Jim,
rather heughtily. 'inor in ANYTHING NAV