Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-12-07

III i ed, as it always is at any
|MMTN| hearing presenting features
~ of morbid or sensational in
terest, and Goldberg, with an in
born love Of the theatric, arranged
his witnesses SO as to lead gradually
to the climax, the denouement. He
put the janitor on the stand first and
then had Simmonds tell his story
Some medical testimony followed as to
the exact nature of Thompsons in
juries, and the bullet, which had been
extracted, was put in evidence-it was
plainly much too large to have come
from Miss Croydons pistol. Finally
Miss Croydon herself was called. A
little gasp Of delicious excitement ran
through the crowd as she appeared at
the door of the witness room. Here
was tidbit to touch the palates Of
even the jaded police reporters.
Godfrey, locking at her as she came
steadily forward to the stand, felt his
heart warm with admiration. She
seemed perfectly composed and, If not
perfectly at ease, at least as nearly
30 as any woman Of her position could
be In such place. Godfrey was
pleased to see Drysdale in close at
tendance, and he nodded to him en-
couragingly.
Miss Croydon told her story clearly
and with an accent Of sincerity thsre
was no doubling. It differed IN one
detail from the story she had told the
night before. Thompson, she said, had
perceived the intruder. and there had
been a short, fierce struggle before
he fell under the blow Of the pipe.
He was not unconscious. but was
struggling to his feet again when
bis assailant shot him.
The coroner glanced at the Jury, but
none Of them seemed disposed to ask
IRny questions. Then Goldberg made
q sign to Simmonds. he left the room,
Ibut reappeared In a moment, lead
Ing In Jimmy the Dude.
Not until they were quite near did
Miss Croydon perceive them; then, as
her eyes met the prisoners, she half
started from her chair. her face Ike
marble. As for Jimmy, Godfrey was
Rstonished to perceive the fascinated
gaze he bent upon Miss Croydon.
Goldberg had perceived their agtta-
ton, and the gaze he bent upon the
witness grew psrceptbly more stern.
Miss Croydon" he began. you
have described the guilty man as short
and heavy set with dark mustache
turning up at the ends. Look at the
Iprtsoner before you. Is hs the manr'
"He is not" replied the witness In
firm voice and without an instant1s
hesitation.
'You are sure7'
Perfectly sure; there h little OF no
resemblance"
THAT is ALL" he said abruptly.
4'You may go, Miss Croydon"
She passed from sight the door
closed, and Godfrey leaned back In his
chair to hear Jimmy tell a smooth
story Of his doin9s the light bsfore.
Magraw and half 4 dozen others con-
irmed the tale; 1t was really good
abb, carefully arranged; there was
nothing to disprove It, and at the end
the jury, without retiring. handed In
the usual verdict Of death at the hands
Of person unknown.
When it was over Stmmonds crooked
at Godfrey an inviting finger, and to-
gether they went down to the detec-
tive's private Office.
''Sit down." said Eimmonds. II want
to talk to you. We're up against a
tough proposition.
Godfrey sat down and looked at him.
"Have you gone through Thompson's
belongings7"
"Here they are" and Simmonds
brought out canvas bag and opened
lit Look at Them"
Godfrey turned out the contents and
examined them piece by piece. It was
merely lot of ordinary clothing, most
of it much the worse for wear and all
Of it strongly impregnated with tho
odor OF tobacco.
Anything in the pocketsr' asked
Godfrey.
"Not thing except some loose snok-
Ing tobacco. There's one thing about
the clothing, though-have you noticed?
It's all summer clothtnos sss these
linen trousers, nowT'
Godfrey nodded with drawn brows.
whats this?" he asked suddenly,
holding up swart object shaped like
clam she'll and halving IN the same
way along the sharp edge.
" don't know. A curio picked up at
sea somewhere, perhaps. I have q
theory that Thompson was a sa!loE:'
"WhyT
well, the bag, in the first place
bnly sailor would carry his clothes
that way. Then put your head down
in it and under the tobacco you'll
smell the salt"
Godfrey shifted and nodded again.
Then he got out his knife.
Lets take look at the inside of
MI. Thompson's curio," he said, and
inserted the blade.
A twist and the sides Enclosed. Sim
monds sprang back with sharp cry of
surprise as he saw what lay within,
and even Godfsey's heart gave sud
den leap.
For there, coiled thrice upon itself,
lay little viper, with venomous, tri-
angular head.
Then in an instant Godfrey smiled.
TITS not alive" he said. Don't you
see, it's some marvellous kind Of nut"
Simmonds approached cautiously and
took another look.
"a nut2' he repeated. "A nut? Well,
that beats me!'
And we'll it might for in every de-