Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-12-12
without explaining his action?"
..Yes-ne made no effort to explain

without explaining his %action?"
'Yes-he made no effort to explain
it,"
Did any explanation occur to YOU
Il thought perhaps he was worrying
| over losses incurred in speculation"
"Ah.-hc has incurred such losses,
temp"
II do not know positively said Del
roy, n little impatiently. Il merely
suspect So"
ISIS Mr.. Drysdale still in his ROOM"
Yes. ! suppose so. l haven't seen
him since he went up to it.
MIR. Tremainc was wit you at tie
time Mr.. Graham burst in and an
nounced tie murder"
Yes. we were in the hall talking to-
gether."
What time was it,"
Nearly one o'clock. l should say.
Tank YOU" and Heffeibower turned
back to make Il more Detailed examin-
alton of the body. Doctor WISE" ne
asked. after a moment, from which
direction should you say tese blows
were struck? 2"
Prom directly in 'front.' answered
the doctor.
But I see he has n pistol in his
belt. Why did he not defend himself?
Why should he allow himself to be
beaten down."
mat question also CCCuIISu W HiS
observed Delroy. Mr.. Tremaine sug-
gested that 1t was because Graham
thought his murderer a friend and an
ticlpated no assault. So he allowed him
to approach unchallanged, and was
wholly unprepared for the treacherous
attack."
The coroner looked at Tremaine
again with Il glance in which suspicion
had changed to admiration.
Tat ISIS, indeed, very probable ex-
planation," he said. In fact, l haven't
tie least doubt it iss tie true one. Ora
ham would not have allowed a strang-
er to APPROACH him: but If he had come
on, Graham would have prepared for
tie attack and would have given a good
account of himself. He seems a very
powerful an"
AS he spoke, he lifted one of the
muscular hands: then, with a little ex-
clamation of surprise, he bent and
examined 1t more closely.
"COmc nearer, gentlemen" he said.
his face flushed with excitement. II
want you TO witness tat he has some
ting between his fingers"
They stopped and looked as he indi-
Gated. They could see that the land
claspcd tightly some small. dark OBJ
jcct.
LET us see what 1t is" Heffelbower
continued, and bent back the stiffen-
ing fingers.
The object fell out into his hand. He
held it up in the glare of the light so
that all might see. 1t was a button
with a little shred Of cloth attached.
If we can find tie garment tat tbs
came FROM" said the coroner Triumph
antly. turning it over n looking at
it. we shall probably find tie murder
err. 1t is a good clew.
He placed the button carefully in his
pocketbook and turned to the window.
II tink 1t ISIS light enough" he said.
ito take a look at tie scene of tie crime.
1 shall ten return to Babylon='
Il nave thought" remarked Delroy.
"of calling in a New York detective.
Should you object"
Not in tie least Heffelbower broke
in. Il shall welcome eferyt'ing TT will
assist in bringing tie guilty person to
justice. Only" he added p%ompously.
wit tie clews which already possess,
find, I believe it will be unnecessary.
TIE guilty man will not escape, I'll
promise o tat, Mr.. Delroy." and he
opened the door and stepped out upon
the pier.
Dawn was in the sky, a clear. warm.
hedge the birds were welcoming 1t. All
nature was rejoicing. quite Indifferent
to the human tragedy which had
marked the night.
They went together down h pier to
the spot where Graham had fallen. The
rain had washed away nearly all thu
blood stains. His rifle lay on the pier
beside the chair in which he had been
sitting. The chair was overturned.
But tie wind may have done tat"
said the oroner. when Delroy pointed
out that the overturned chair suggest
ed a struggle "Or maybe he knocked
it over when he fell. Let's have Il lools
-f TAT LITTLE capnH
He pulled up the rope. The lid of
| the cage was open. but it did not seem
to be injured.
Maybe tie waves proke 1t open."
suggested Heffelbower.
They couldn't 1--we done that" OBJ
jected Delroy. "See-here's how It
fastened"
He closed the lid and snapped into
place three small but very strong
hooks. which locked automatically.
1.-The only thing that could open it"
he added, "was q human hand"
and an intelligent one. at tat" con-
! cluded the coroner. 1T would be very
hard to find t'ose little hooks In tie
dark, unless one knowed Just where
t'ey We're"
"Yes." admitted Delroy, That's
true."
Hefelbower opened his lips to say
something more: then changed his
mind, closed them. and turned away
with a significant smile. He examined
the knots in the rope. the pier. the wa
ters of the bay. on which just beyond
the pier. Il small boat was riding at
anchor.
"T'e boat is yours. 1 suppose. Mr..
Delroy?" he asked.
"Yes-it has been there ready for use
since Saturday"
AS he spoke a gust OF wind swung
the boat in towards them.
Young Graham. who was standing
on the extreme edge OF the pier. glanced
down into it. n uttered a sudden ex-
clGmation.