Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-12-06


pupils ,dlated. Do you know what
that meansT
Simmonds shook his head.
mo, l can't say do"
at MEANS" said Godfrey, shat
somebody hit this fellow hard blow
OH the left side of the head and pro-
duced hemorrhage of the brain"
They stripped back the shirt from
the breast. A little blood was still
yelling from wound just over the
heart
That's what did the business" OBJ
served Smmonds. land at close range
too. See there" and he pointed to the
red marks about the wound. "IIe
wasn't shot from the corner, that's
sure. Let's see what he's got in his
pockets"
The examination was soon made.
There were only pipe, knife, a pack
age of cheap tobacco, handful OF
loose coins and an old pocketbook con-
tanning little roll Of newspaper clip
pings and receipt for months rent
for suit fourteen made out to III
Thompson"
Thompson" repeated Simmonds,
land II lot Of clippings Can you read
French, Godfrey?'
"A little" answered Godfrey modest
by. LET me see" lie took the clip
pings and looked at the first one.
b 'Suresnes, Sept 1G, 1891" he read
haltingly. 81 have to report an event
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 hui
man heart or to change the'"-
"Oh, WELL" interrupted Simmonds,
I'VE can't waste time reading any more
bf that rot: 1t sounds like French
bowel. The coroner can wrestle with
t. 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
we'd better get the girls story
Miss Croydon" he began abruptly,
hough perhaps in a gentler voice than
be would have used toward the aver
ge suspect were you in the room
when this man was killed."
"Yes, SIR
"You know him?"
"Only slightly" she answered cool
=, disregarding Godfrcy's stare Of
mazement. His name, I think, was
Thompson"
you had an engagement with him
ere?"
YES, sir; on private matter which
annot concern the police"
Simmonds passed that over for the
loment.
will you kindly tell us just what
appened?" he asked.
Il drove here in cab" she said
peaking rapidly, (which I told to wait
or me. In the vestibule l met the
lnitor and asked to be conducted to
ut fourteen. He brought me up here
here Mr.-Mr. Thompson was wait
hg. l entered and closed the door.
Ne We're talking together when the
DOR of the inner room opened and
han came out Before realized what
was doing he had raised a bar Of
on he held in his hand and struck
Ir. Thompson upon the head. Thez,
landing over him, he drew h revolver
nd fired one shot at nim. l had
trunk away into the corner, but
linking him a mailman believing my
wn life In danger drew my pocket
Estol and fired at him. Without even
ancing at me he opened the outer
Dor and disappeared. The janitor
lshed in moment later"
"Did your shot hit him" asked
immonds.
Il don't know. think not He
lowed no sign of being wounded"
SimmOnds stood looking at her. God
rev turned to an examination of the
pposite wall.
Miss Croydon's shot went Wild" he
bid, curously eated at this conhrma-
ION of her story. Here's the bullet"
bid he pointed to it imbedded in the
oodwork of the bedroom door.
Slmmonds took a look at it, then he
hturned to the inquiry
Did you know this intruder?" he
sked.
mo, sir. I'd never before seen him."
ne answered steadily.
"Will you describe him."
She closed her eyes, seemingly in an
fort at recollection.
"IIe was short, heavy set man." she
id at last, with a dark face and
prk mustache, which turned up at the
pds. That Is all can remember"
And dressed how"
''In dark clothes. He wore a SLOUGH
ht think, drawn down over the eyes
didn't see the face clearly"
The answer came without hesitation
1T it seemed to Godfrey that there
as In the voice ansaccent of forced
pcerty.
what did he do with the bar Of
bn?' asked Smmonds.
las soon rs he struck the blow,
Ink he-he threw 1t down. / remem-
Fr hearing it fall
"Ycs-here it is" said Godfrey tri-
nphantly, and fished it out from I'M
II chair which stood near the wall
But see, Slmmonds, it's not Il bar, it's
pipe"
Simmonds examined It. 1t was an
binary piece of iron piping about
teen inches in length.
Her story seems to be straight" he