Canyon City news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1903-1908, 1906-12-14
CHAPTER III.

R~10 ram mad almost ceased, but
@ the wind was still high. He
turned back to the building and found
the jantor sitting just inside the door.
He had endured the ordeal of inquisi-
ton by police and reporters and was
rather limp.
After ALL Godfrey told himself, he
had as yet only half the story; he
must get every detail from this man,
and he saw that it would be necessary
to proceed delicately, for his compan-
ions temper was evidently badly ruff
fled
well" he began at last, you look
as though those fellows had about
worn you out, Mr.
Higgins is my name,' said the jan
itor. Simon Higgins"
"Oh, yes. | remember now
They sat together for Il moment in
silence. listening to the tramp of feet
in the halls overhead, the opening and
closing of doors, the subdued murmur
of voices. At the stair foot, beyond the
SitNib'is 'hNi Nt'tSii' a. S,iiiipot bON
and then Of policeman pacing back
and forth.
"They're srarchin' tn house." OBJ
served Higgins ut last, with Il grimace
of disdain. II turned tn keys over t.
them. Much they'll tind!"
Nobody there, eh?' 1t was not real
ly question. 1t seemed more sign
of polite interest on Godfrey's part.
Il ought t. know. | told em they
wasn't nobody there. Amt been here
all evenin 'cept fer that minute run
acrost tn street? Nobody in nor out,
'cept tn girl, not since o'clock. That
was about tn time that there Thomp-
son come in too drunk t. stand. He'd
never "A got home in tn world by his
self, but they was feller with him,
a-holdin' him up"
Godfrey was listening with strained
attention. There were many questions
he wished to ask, but he dared not in
terrupt
"Well, we got him upstairs atween
us. An then when went through his
pockets, couldn't find his key, an |
had t come down an git mine afore |
could git his door open. We laid him
on his bed an left him there, a-snorin'
like Il hog That fcler who was with
him was certainly a good sort. He set
down here t talk t. NE aWhile--it was
rainin so hard he couldn't go-an' he
said he'd run ncroSt Thompson down at
Pete MaGraW's place On SiAih aVcnOo.
Thompson was trcatin' everybody an
actin like fool ginerally. Then he
got bad an started t. clean out tn
saloon. an Pete was gon' t call II cop,
, but this feler said he'd bring him home,
an so he did"
Higgins stopped to take breath and
Godfrey ventured to put question.
Did you know himT
"No. never seed him afore.'
What sort of Il looking fellow was
he?"
"a good lookin' feller, well dressed
no bum, | ken tell y that. He was
short an heavy set, with little black
mustache that turned up at tn ends"
Godfrey's heart gave sudden leap
so Miss Croydon had told the truth
after all
"And then what haI IpenedT he
asked ~ suppose this fellow went
away?'
"Oh, yes; he stayed here talkin' quite
awhile-hc started t. so onct or twice,
but tn rain was too bad. But about
o'clock he said he couldn't stay no
longer, rain r no rain, an was Jest
buttonin' up his coat when cab
drove up an woman got out. She
her face, but from her style | judged
she was Il high tler She come up t
me an she says, Il want t go {
apartment fourteen - Mr.. Thompson
Madam, says l, L wouldn't if l was
you Why she asked, quick like,
'ain't he there?' He's there says I,
but he amt in no condition t see g
lady Never mind says she, III 90
up All right says |. III be back
in minute | added t my friend.
NO. he says, I can't wait; must be
goin',' an he started toward tn door.
We'll, good night l says, an stepped
into tn car an started it.
II showed her tn door o. fourteen,
an she knocked. l was waitin at tn
elevator, fer knowed Thompson was
too dead drunk t hear her an I'd have
t. take her down agin; when blessed if
tn door didn't open an in she walked.
Well, sir, | was so dumfoundered l
couldn't believe my own eyes. But in
she went, an | come on down, tryin' t
| figger it out. 1t was mebbc ten min
utes later that l heard pistol shot an
| knowed in minute whatd hap
pened. That drunken brute had got
too familiar, an she'd put bullet in
him; though" he added rehectively,
''why she'd 20 t his room ut all is
more'n kin see
| "Was there only one shot?' asked