Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-06-25

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the shock; it might well have been &C.
cident, or carelessness, but the story
of the bed room and the marvellous dis
appearance were wild invention. If
the professor were guilty of premedi-
tated murder. the throwing of Stark
weather into the Miniski had been part
of the plan. Ii he were innocent. II
were done in terror without a fair at
tempt to restore Starkweather. The
professor had hoped that the body
would be carried far away. and thus
all evidence of his crime or careless
ness would be lost. In either event, It
was clear that Prof. Drummond feared
To face the facts.
The doctor was conscious that there
Were flaws in his theory, but he re-
garded them as matters OF detail. He
felt certain that his general view of
the matter was correct
Minot Hawkins. the constable, was
the hardest man he had 10 deal with.
Minot had little unworthy ambition 10
figure as an important character by
making an arrest. but he was vet sensi-
tive TO his position in the community,
and there were many who egged him
on 10 do something. He hesitated TO
do anything without ample justifica-
ton for il, aud he felt the discomfort
keenly.
The way / look at it," he said to
Or. Williams, lis that somebody's got
To- swear out a warrant On Information
and belief, or less somebody who
knows must make a plain statement
that there want foul play. Now,
who's &c swea out that warrant? Not
me, for / haven't infor nation enough
to arrest a cat, and belief / haven't at
ALL
Of course 1T was the doctor who
ought either 10 back up a warrant or
settle the whole matter by a profess
ional assurance hat Starkweather
came to his death without violence at
the hands of another party, but Minot
didn't say so openly.
'It puts me in a kind of hard box.
Mason" he said, plaintively.
20, WELL" returned tie doctCS, wait
a while. 1t will probably blow over.
Prof. Drummond will return shortly,
and if he sees that people look side
ways at him he may challenge an in
quiry. I've nothing to say"
Cant blame We, Mason, cause you
amt a public officer, but there's a good
many who think something ought to be
done"
Free from his friendly tormentors at
last, the doctor was well on his way
back TO Fairview when he met Phil
brick. He would havet passed on with
a nod but Philbrick stopped him.
"One moment, Doctor" he said, good
that his unfailipg e~quanimity irritated
the doctor more than a torrent of an
CRY words would have done; Il don't
expect you to make up with me and be
friends, but you asked for an under
standing this afternoon, and so far as
is in my power l want to have one"
The doctor made no comment, and
Philbrick continued:
Il don't bear the slightest i'll will
because you attacked me-, or for any
| other reason. In fact, l rather like
you. but l suppose that statement is
offensive
1T seems to me uncalled for" said
the doctor.
Forget IL then. I returned to Fair
view this afternoon to find my rod and
take away such fishing traps as l left
on the ledge at the top Of the house,
Convenient" thought the doctor;
but he didn't say so.
II didn't find the rod. and I shall
look for 1t again-to-morrow. 1t has
probably lodged somewhere along the
BANK
"where are your fishing traps?" ask
ed the doctor.
"At Fairview."
why didn't you take them away? Z"
SIN glad you ask questions" re-
sponded Philbrick smiling, because Ii
makes ii so much easier to arrive Ct an
understanding. Miss Drummond sug-
gested that l could leave them at the