Oxford Democrat., 1906-12-25
TIE
Marathon Mystery
I he
CHAPTER XVII.
II Story Of Manhattan
By BURTON E. Stevenson
Author of "The Holiday Case

CHAPTER XVII.
- &OR a moment no one spoke.
Only the boys labored
lSrz- breathing broke the Stiffness.
lAG0 He was shivering convulsive-
ly, clutching Mt the hatrack for sup.
port.
1T was the lightning suppose"
said Tremaine at last in suppressed
voice. 81 knew that bolt struck some
where near"
"Lightnin' don't cave a mans head
in, does it, asked the boy doggedly.
Delroy grabbed raincoat from the
rack, and Tremaine caught up another.
Across the lawn they sped, under the
trees. down to the water front. with
young Graham stumbling blirdly along
behind. The little white boathOuse
cleaned vivid in the glare of the light
ming. They entered and paused uncer-
tainly in the gloom.
Where Is he:" asked Delroy.
"Out there Oh tn pier," answered
Graham brokenly. "Ont there where
they struck him down."
At the pier end lay a dark. huddled
ti~urc. \ lightning flash disclosed the
staring eyes, the blood stained face.
Delroy. swallowing hard, gripped
back his self control.
1--WE can't leave him out here" he
said. perhaps there's spark of life.
You take the legs. Ill take the head
They laid their burden OH the cot
which the son had occupied and stood
for q moment looking down ut 1t. The
boy seemed Oh the verge of collapse.
His lips were drawn, his teeth chatter.
ing. The horrible sob5ing did not stop.
Delroy turned to him sharply.
"Wiliiaul," lie said, Il want you to
show yourself u man. A good deal de-
pends OH you. Remember that-re-
member. too, that with your help
we're going to catch the scoundrel
who did this"
The boy Strengthened up with
groan Of agony.
"Now. go up to the house and rouse
Thomas, but don't alarm any one else.
Get him to tecphone ut once to Baby
Ion for DIR. Wise and for the coroner,
and tell thei.! both 10 get out here as
quickly a. they can. Do you under
stand:
"Yes. sir" answered Graham, and
disappeared in the outer darkness.
For some moments the two men
stood looking down at the body with
out speaking. Then Delroy stopped
and touched lightly the bloody fore
head
See" lie said, "his head has been
beaten in."
Yes" nodded Tremaine, 1.-The muir
derer struck boldly from the front. He
didn't think ii necessary to steal up
behind"
"But why didn't Graham defend
himself? He was armed. Why did he
let him get so near:"
There's only one possible explana'
ton of that" said Tremaine dryly,
"supposing. of course, that Graham
didn't fall asleep. He knew the man
and thought him friend. Perhaps
they were even talking together at the
time the blow was struck"
Delroy's face turned livid, and great
beads of sweat broke out across his
forehead.
Presently there came the sound of
footsteps Oh the walk, the door opened,
and young Graham and Thomas came
in.
"Dr. Wise promised t come at
once, sir" said the latter to Delroy, his
voice dropped instinctively to a Wills
per. 'IIe said he'd bring the coroner
with him."
Delroy nodded without looking up.
Ten, twenty. thirty minutes passed
thirty centuries during which no one
spoke. Then they heard the swift clat.
ter of horses hoofs, the whlr OF
wheels, and a buggy pulled up before
the door. Thomas had it open on the
Instant, and the two men walked In.
What is it. Delroy?" asked one OF
them. Nothing serious. l-ah" he
added rs his eyes fell upon the cot.
He went to it quickly, the other fol'
lowing; touched the hdeous wounds,
looked into the eyes, felt the temples.
"IIe's dead" lie said at last; has
been dead two OF three hours, l should
FAY. His skull IL crushed-fairly beat
en- in. It's your gardener, Graham,
isn't it?"
EYES," Delroy answered.
The doctor stepped back.
81 turn the case over to you, Heffel-
bower" he said. "It's in your province
now. Mr.. Delroy. this is Mr.. Heffel'
bower, the coroner"
ueffelbower bowed. He was a little,
stout man. baldheaded and with Wide
omen blue eyes that stared like dolls.
Primarily he was saloon keeper, Dut
had been elected coroner as a reward
for his valuable services to his party.
He possessed certain native shrewd-
ness which fitted him to some extent
for the office. also lack Of nerves and
familiarity with crime which might
often be Of service.
"I presume" he began slowly. tat
t,ls man wasn't killed here In his bedT'
"No," said Delroy. 1--WE found him ly-
ing out on the pier yonder. we
thought 1t only common humanity to
bring him in. since there might nave
been a spark Of life left"
"Oh, of co:rse." agreed the coroner
Instantly. v:.ibly impressed by Del
roy's presence. "Tat was right. VINO
found t'e body?"
"TIis son. there" and Delroy indi'
Gated yonn.: Graham by gesture.
"I'!l tell everything l know. sir"
said William. coming forward eagerly