The Forrest City times., 1903-08-07

"0UICK, Uncle Amos, omebody's
III killed Marioryl"
The speed with which she had come
left scant breath to deliver her mes
sage. and she ierked il out in short
gasps to the old man sitting so peace
fully in rocking chair on the little
porch. bringing him to his feet with
something of the vigor of 20 years be-
fore, while a motherly little old wom-
an hurried out from her task in the
kitchen, her four-smeared hands
raised TO Heaven in shocked surprise.
Horror was on the faces of her au-
ditors as the girl sobbed her tale. They
had been gathered about the piano,
she. Marjory and two girl friends.
Mariory was playing. The windows
We're open. In the midst of the music
there was shot and Mariory. clasp
ing her side. tumbled from her seat
ard died. almost without a word. Who
had done it? They had not stopped to
inquire. While a servant had run for
the nearest doctor she had hurried for
Uncle Amos.
As he listened there were reflected
which had made him the recognized
power that he was in the little COM
munity. the shrewd common sense the
unfaltering resolution. the undaunted
courage of born leader of men, A
few rapidly spoken orders set busy
hands at work on strap and buckle
and almost before the messenger had
finished her tale buggy. drawn by
fast-stepping horse. was brought
around from the stable and Uncle
Amos had taken his seat and turned
the animals head into the shady lane
that led toward the scene of the trag-
edy.
1t was a setting filter for pastoral
than a tale of blood. that rambling
house, hiding its gable ends in clam
bering rose vines and crouched in the
shade of noble elms. Always one of
the picturesque spots of the neighbor-
hood, it had lost nothing of its attrac-
tiveness in the hands of it's new ten
ant. Mrs. Dennison. who two wears be-
fore had come into the community and
made her home at Rose Gable As she
made no secret of the fact that she was
unhappily married and had separated
from her usband. the good people re-
garded her rather askance. unit, won
by the charming simplicity and blame
lessness of her life. they had recon
structed their code of ethics on a
broader scale and had ended by loving
her. And now she was dead. muir
dered! Who could have done II? What
did il mean?
Uncle Amos asked himself these
questions time and time again while
his trotter drew him swiftly to the
scene of the tragedy, but he was far
from imagining an answer when he
drew rein in the drive before the house
and confronted the tear-stained faces
of the household. Silently he listened
to their recital of the occurrence.
which added nothing to what he had
already learned from Lucy.
The shot was fred through this
window; the position of the wound
proves as much. ana the assassin prob
ably fired from ina; clump of Hlacs.
See, ii is perfect line from there TO
the piano"
IL was the doctor who spoke.
And has search been made that
way?" asked Uncle Amos, waving his
hand in the direction Of the !ilacs.
Every foot of the ground has Leen
gone over, clear to the road"
And YOU have found"
Nothing. Absolutely nothing, ex-
scept a broken stalk Of the lilac bush"
Broken. howe"
with the hand, apparently. II is al
about the height of man and looks
as though il might have been twisted
aside and broken by some one hiGing
there who wished a clearer Vi lew of the
house"
And has any one touched ii since a.
Touched it? Ne"
Then there is way" Uncle Amos
exclaimed, "See TO il that no one dis
turbs the place until | return"
But what are you going to co.."
Get the bloodhound from the peo-
PIE at the old quarry and pu5 him on
the scent; arouse the aeighborhood
ard run the scoundrel to earth"
Without further words lie clambered
into his buggy and. gathering up the
lines, was whirled away into the
lengthening shadows of the after
noon.
The sun had almost set when the
buggy, followed by men. women and
children. all who were able To walk.
again drew up before the door of Rose
Gable. The great brute was lifted ont
and stretching its gaunt. powerful
form after the cramping ride. rolled
on the soft, cool grass like puppy.