Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-12-06

thought his murderer a friend and an-
ticipated no assault. So he allowed him
to approach unchallanged, n was
wholly u~nprepared for the ~treacherous
attack"
The coroner looked at
again with a glance in VIII IA suspicion
had changed TO admiratiNl.
Tat ISIS, indeed, verY probaN'le ex-
planatior,' he said. I'm Jlct, l kaVen't
tie least loubt it ISIS tie true one. Gra-
ham would not have allowed a strang-
err to APPROACH him; but IL he had come
on. Graham would have pT pared TOT
tie attack and would have given a gooo
! account OF himself. He seems a very
powerful man."
AS he spoke, he lifted n of the
muscular hands; then, with a little ex-
| clamation of surprise. he bent n
examined it more closely.
Come nearer. gentlemen" he said,
his face flushed with excitement. Il
want you to witness tat he has some
ting between his fingers"
They stopped and looked as he 1nd1-
Gated. The could see that the hand
clasped tightly some small, dark OBJ
ject.
Let us see what it is" Heffelbower
continued, and bent back the stlften-
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 and looking at
it, we shall probably find tie murder
err. 1t is a good clew.
He placed the button carefully in his
yNnplyathncE orI turned IN the window.
II t'ink it ISIS light enough" he said,
ito AXE a look at tie scene of tie crime.
l shall ten return TO Babylon
Il have thought" remarked Delroy,
'of calling in a New York detective.
Should you Object
Not in tie least" Heffelbower broke
in. Il shall welcome eferyting Tt Will
assist in bringing tie guilty person to
Justice. Only" he added ~pompously,
wit tie clews which / already possess,
and wit tie ot'ers which / expect to
find, / believe it will be unnecessary.
TIE guilty man will not escape, I'll
promise you tat, Mr.. Delroy," and he
opened the door and stepped out upon
the pier.
Dawn was in the sky, a clear, warm.
Joyous dawn. In tree and bush and
hedge the birds were welcoming it. All
nature was rejoicing, quite Indifferent
to the human tragedy which a
marked the night.
They went together down the pier to
the spot where Graham had fallen. The
rain la washed way nearly all the
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 coroner when Dclroy pointed
out that tn. overturned chair suggest
ed a struggle 'Or maybe he knocked
it over when he fell. Let's ave a look
at tat little cage
He pulled up the rope. n lid or
the cage was open, but It did not seem
to be injured.
Maybe tie waves proke 1T open"
suggested Heftelbower.
"They couldn't have done that OBJ
jected Delroy. "See-here's how IL
fastened"
He closed the lid and snapped into
place three s:nal but very strong
which locked automatically.
1.-The only thing that could open 1t"
added, was 81 human hand
"And an intelligent one, at tat, con-
Guided the coroner. 1T would be very
hard to md t'ose little hooks in tie
dark, unless one knowed just where
We're"
YES" admitted Delroy, That's
true"
HGI0lDtW6 ct OpSiit' lio ilpo W soy
something more; then changed his
mind. closed them, and turned away
with q significant smile. He examined
the knots I'm the rope, the pier, the wa
ters of the bay, on which just beyond
the pier, a small boat was riding at
"T'e boat is yours, I suppose, MI.
Delroy?" he asked.
"Yes-it has been there ready for use
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-
What's that?" he cried, with arm
outstretched
The others followed the gesture, but
a second gust swung the % away.
What was it?" asked the coroner.
Without answering, Graham sprang
into the water. and with a few strokes
reached the boat. He climbed into it
and united it from the buoy. Then,
at the instant another gust of wind
came from the ocean he released his
hold. The boat was swept against the
pier; he Tended her off with the boat
hook and made fast.
This is what l meant" he said, and
pointed to a pistol lying at his feet.
They stared down at it, amazed. 1t
was the coroner who spoke first.
Pass it up" he said.
He turned it over carefully in his
hand 1t was a fine type of the Smith
e. Wesson. 1t a fully loaded; none
OF the chambers had been discharged.
"Ah," he said, "see t'ere," and he
pointed to a clot of blood on the butt.
''Te butt ISIS very heavy" he added.
turning it up. And see-here are
sore initials. Il. d. Whose are t'ey?"
They are John Tolbert Drysdale's,"
answered Delroy in a low voice.
Eopttpued Next weaL