Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-05-30

he eXerted upon 1t the whole of his
brute strength; and, of II sudden, 1t
yielded. AS 1T flew open the body of
man lurched from the inside of the cab,
and before anyone could catch it tum-
bled in a heap upon the pavement.
A low cry of horror escaped from the
| crowd.
The claimants passenger was man
past middle age, neatly but plainly
dressed.
AS DR. Thurston and n policeman
bent over the PROSTATE form, the re-
porter shot keen glance in the direc-
ton of the cabman, who stood staring
at the body with look of CHASTITY ter
ror in his bullying eyes.
Presently the physician started to
his feet with low exclamation of sur
prise.
SIS he dead, doctor9" asked the po-
liceman.
HE has been dead for some time"
replied the physician, impressively;
"the body is almost cold"
Been dead for some time?" echoed
the policeman.
"Yes; this man was shot. See therel"
AS he spoke he pointed to n red streak
which, starting from the left side Of
the dead mans coat, extended down
ward ana marked the course of the tiny
stream in which the life blood had
flowed to little pool on the floor of the
cab.
"Shot!" exclaimed the policeman,
who turned Immediately to one of his
brother officers. Keep your eye on the
cabman, Jim. Well have to take him
in. And look out for the other man,
quick!"
Then, addressing the cabman, upon
each of whose shoulders policeman's
hand was Immediately placed, he asked,
roughly:
"Who is this MANI"
The cabman was completely sober
now. He stood, pale and trembling, be-
tween his two captors, as he replied SOL
EMMY:
Before God, don't know, boss.
never saw him before"
The policeman looked at the man in
blank amazement for an instant. Then
he turned away contemptuously.
"All right, young feller," he said,
you don't have to confess to me. But
Iguess you'll have chance to tell that
story to judge and jury"
Then he proceeded to examine the
dead mans pockets. They were empty.
Looks like robbery" he murmured.
What is it, Jim? Haven't you got the
other MANI"
Jim had not found the other man;
for the pale young fellow in the seal
skin cap had disappeared.
The reporter was STOPPING over the
body, while DR.. Thurston cut through
the clothing and laid bare q small,
round wound.
| "Here is another bullet wound" said
Sturgis, turning over the body slightly,
and pointing out second round hole
in the back of the dead man.
He seemed to take great interest in
this discovery. lie whipped out a
steel tape and rapidly but carefully
took number of measurements, as II
to locate the positions of the two
wounds. Then he stepped into the cab;
and, striking match after match, he
spent several minutes apparently in
eager search for something which be
could not find.
"That is strange" he muttered tc
himself, as he came out at last.
"What is it?" inquired Thurston
who alone caught the words.
But the reporter either did not hear
or did not care to answer. He at once
renewed his search on the brilliantly
lighted pavement in the immediate vi
entity of the cab; examining every
stone, Investigating every joint ant
every rut, prodding with his cane every
lump of frozen mud, turning every
stray scrap of paper.
"Well, DOCTOR" he said, when u,
length he rejoined his companion, "ii
you have done all that you can we may
as well go. 1t is one of the prettiest
problems 1 have met; but there Is
nothing more for me to learn here fol
the present. BY the way, us was say
ing when / interrupted myself little
while ago, are you sure the cabman i.
; drunk? Iwish you would take anothe,
good look at him. The question may bt
!, more important than 1T seemed al
first"
A few minutes later the physician
and the reporter were burrying along
to make up for the time they had lost
| the cab and the cabman had disap
peared in the custody of the police
and the cabman's grewsome fare wa.
jolting through Twenty-sixth street
in the direction of small building
which stands near the East river, ant
, in which the stranded waits of the new
J world metropolis can find rest at last
upon stone slab, in the beginning o
, their eternal sleep.
! Broadway had resumed its hoida,
aspect; the wizened bag at the corne,
still nafsenf1vt Ground oa,k hon nj klv.