Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-11-30


the most interesting which has just
happened here. and which proves again
the futility Of vows the most rigorous
to quiet the ardent desires Of the hu-
man heart or to change the'"-
"Oh, WE'LL" interrupted simmonds,
'we can't waste time reading any more
Of that rot; it sounds like French
novel. The coroner can wrestle with
1t, If he thinks it's worth WHILE"
He replaced the clippings in the
purse, which he slipped back into the
pocket from which he had taken it.
"Now," he added. rising to his feet
"wed better get the girls story"
'Nfiss Croydon" he began abruptly,
though perhaps in gentler voice than
he would have used toward the aver
age suspect, were you in the room
when this man was killed?"
Eyes, sir"
"You know hint"
"Only slightly" she answered COOL
", disregarding Godfrey's stare Of
amazement His name, I think, was
Thompson
you had an engagement with him
here?"
"Yes, sir; on a private matter which
cannot concern the police"
Simmonds passed that over for the
moment.
"Will you kindly tell w just what
hnppened?" he asked.
droxn have tn a h .bo eoAd
speaking rapidly, which I told to wait
for me. In the vestibule I met the
| janitor and asked to be conducted to
suit fourteen. He brought me up here
where Mr.-Mr. Thompson was wait
ing. I entered and closed the door.
We were talking together when the
door Of the inner room opened and a
man came out. Before realized what
he was doing he had raised bar of
iron he held in his hand and struck
Mr.. Thompson upon the head. Then,
standing over him, he drew revolver
and fired one shot at him. I had
shrunk away into the corner, but
thinking him a mailman, believing my
own life in danger, I drew my pocket
pistol and fired at him. Without even
glancing at me he opened the outer
door and disappeared. The janitor
rushed in u moment later"
Ibid your shot hit himi" asked
Simmonds.
81 don't know. I think not. He
showed no sign Of being wounded"
Simmonds stood looking at her. God
frey turned to an examination Of the
opposite wall.
Miss Croydon's shot went Wild" he
said, curiously elated at this confrma.
ton Of her story Here's the bullet u
and he pointed to it imbedded in the
woodwork Of the bedroom door.
Simmonds took look at 1t, then be
returned to the inquiry.
"Did you know this intruder?" he
asked.
"No, sir. I'd never before seen him.
she answered steadily.
"Will you describe him?"
She closed her eyes, seemingly in ar
effort at recollection.
"He was a short, heavy set man." she
said at last with dark face ant
dark mustache, which turned up at the
ends. That is all 1 can remember"
"And dressed how?"
"In dark clothes. he wore a slouct
hat, think, drawn down over the eyes
I didn't see the face clearly"
The answer came without hesitation
but it seemed to Godfrey that Their,
was in the voice an accent Of force,
sincerity.
what did he do with the bar o
tron?" asked Simmonds.
"As soon as he struck the blow,
think he-he threw 1t down. I remem
Der hearing it fall'-
| "Yes-,here it u.s." said Godfrey trl
umphantly, and fshed it out from ur
der chair which stood near the wal
"But see, Simmonds, it's not bar, it.
a pipe"
Simmonds examined it. 1t was a,
ordinary piece of iron piping abou
fifteen inches in length.
"Her story seems to be straight" b
said in an undertone to Godfrey
"What do you think about itr'
II think she's perfectly innocent O
any crime" answered Godfrey, witt
conviction. He had his doubts as t
the absolute straightness Of her story
but he concluded to Keep them to him
self.
iWell, there's nothing more to b
learned out here" remarked Sim
monds, after another glance around.
Suppose we take look at the othe
room," and he led the way toward til
inner door,"
1t was an ordinary bedroom of mod
crate size and with single closet, i
which few soiled clothes We're hang
ing. The bed had been lain upon, an
evidently by a person fully dressed
for there We're marks of muddy shoe
upon the counterpane fresh marks a
Of one who had come In during tn
evenings storm. An empty whisk
bottle lay on little table near til
bed.
81 guess Thompson was a boozer,
observed Simmonds.
"Yes,' agreed Godfrey, "his fac
showed that pretty plainly"
well, the man We're after amt i
here; We'll have to search the house,"
Cant we let Miss Croydon G
home? She won't run away--lll ar
swer for that. Besides, there's nothin
against her."
J simmonds pondered minute,