The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-12-05
Get a lIgnt here and wen bring him

w 81 a lAaAlAAAAtAb lA0<ot NloNANo~A W.
staring eyes, the blood-stained face.
Good Cod" cried Delroy, and the
horror OF tt seemed to strike through
him. to palsy him.
Trernaine knett down beside the body
ard lifted a limp wrist. He held II
moment. Then laid il gently down.
Hes quite dead" he said, and stood
quickly erect again, with a shudder ne
could not wholly repress.
Deiroy, swallowing hard, grippet
bac his s~elf-control.
I'VE can't leave him u here" he
said; perhaps there's a spark Of life
Lou take the legs; III take the head
II was a heavy load and they stag,
gere6 under it. From the boathouse q
light flushed out, and in "A moment
young Graham came hurry,ng out tc
them and helped them forward. sobbing
drily.
They laid their burden on the cot
which the son had occupied and stood
for a moment looking down at it. The
boy seemed on the verge OF collapse;
his lips were drawn. his teeth chatter.
ing. the horrible sobbing did not stop.
Delroy turned to him sharply.
William he said. II wan you to
show yourself q man. A good deal de-
ponds on YOU. Remember that-re-
member too, that with you help. were
going to catch the scoundrel who did
this"
The Icy Strengthened up with a groan
OF ogony.
That's What I WANT" he cried.
That's all l ask"
That's what We want, too" and Del
roy laid a calming hand upon his arm.
Now go up to the house and rouse
Thomas. but don't alarm anyone else.
Get him to telephone at ono to Babylon
for DIR. Wise and for the coroner. and
VI fell thnIn hnth IN 2at ntrt Nara &c r,,,f,ls
! y as they can. Do you understand"
Yes. sir" answered Graham, and
disappeared in the outer darkness.
For some moments. the two men
stood looking down at the body with
out speaking. Then Delroy stopped and
touched lightly the bloody forehead.
ne said. his head has been
Yes" nodded TrerEaine. THE muir
derer struck boldly from the front-he
didn't think it necessary to steal up
behind"
But Why didn't Graham defend him.
SELF? de was armed. Why did he let
him get so near?'
There's only possible explanation
OF that" said Tremaine drlly, .'suppos-
ing, OF course, that Graham didn't fall
asleep. lie knew the man and Thought
him q friend. Perhaps they were even
talking together at the time the blow
was struck"
Delroy's face turned livid and great
beads OF sweat broke out across his
forehead. = -.
That would explain it, certainly" he
agreed hoarsely. for there isn't the
least likelihood that Graham was
nsleep. But It's too horrible. too fiend-
ish: 1 cunt believe it,
Trelnaine turned away TO the window
Ni,hout answering. and stood there
rolling 2 cigaret between his fingers
and staring out across the water. Tho
storm had passed, hut by the broad
bands Of light which flashed incessantly
along the horizon, he could see the
waves still tossing wildly in the bny.
lie lgAted the cigaret with one long
anhaialion, aud stood there smoking It,
MS back 10 the room and it's dreadful
Dslroy sat Imply down upon
A. chair Aad buried his head In his
lands. ~
Presently there CAME the sound of
Ioolsteps or the walk, the door opened.
and ypuag Graham and Thomas came
DR.. Wise promised t come at once.
sir. said the latter TO Dclroy. his voice
lIistinctiVciy to a hoarse whis-
per. He said he'd bring the coroner
with i,.m." ~
Delroy nodded without looking I'D.
Anything else [ caI! do, sir?" asked
Thomas. with one Mortified glance mr.
the still form on the cot.
Yes; go back to the house and bring
down some whisky n a half dozen
glasses.1
Very well. sir" and Thomas hurried
away. lie las back In a surprisingly
lew minutes. f.r + ~
Give Ar. "remaine n glass" said
Aeiroy. "Tremaine," he called, take
q bumper, or you'l be catching cold"
ana a. hitGself brimmad a glass and.
drained II at a drought. T'remaine took
his more slowly. =.
Yoi, too, William" said Delroy.
Here, You need it,"
The boy, who had been standing he
side the cot, his hands claspIng and un-
ciaspiug cony ulsively, took the glass
mechanically and swallowed its con
tents.
Thomas carried the tray TO the farth-
est corner and sat down. Seeing that
no one noticed him, he filled n glass FOR
himself with Il trembling hand.
Ier. twenty, thirty minutes passed
thirty centuries during which no one
spoke. Then they heard the swift clat-
Yer or 3 horses hoofs, the whir of
wheels. and n buggy pulled I'D befor,
me door. Thomas had it open on the
instant and w men walked in.
What is it. Delroy?" asked one or
them. Nothing serious I-ahw' he
saded as his eyes fell upon the cot.
HE went to 1t quickly. the other fol-
owing; touched the htdeous wounds
looked into the eyes. felt the temples,
Hes dead" lie said, at last; has
been dead two or three hours, / should
say. HIS skull is cTushed--faIrly beaten
IN. ITS your gardener, Gruham. isn't
it?t' Z"
Yes, Delroy answered.
Tie doctor stepped back.
y turn the case over to YOU. Heffel-
bower. he said. Its In your province
now. Mr.. Delroy, this is Mr.. Hehel-
bower, the coroner"
HeGelbower bowed. lie was a little
short man, bald-headed and with wide
open blue yes that stared like IA dolls.
Primarily. he was q salOonkeeper. but
had been elected coroner us q reward
for Eis valuable services TO his party.
he passasseI a certin native shrewd-
ness which lifted him to some extent for
the Office: also a lack of nerves and a
familiarity with crime which might Of
ten he Of service.
II presume" he began slowly, tat
lis man wasn't killed here In his bed?'
No said Delroy, I'VE found him Iy-
ing out on.the pier yonder. We thought
Ut only common humanity to bring him
i., since there might have been u spark
OF life eft" s. NH...