The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-12-06
Get a light here and Wen bring him
In. Come on rror,o;p,p

oiAS AASAlldlllc.
AT the pier end lay a dark. huddle,
fgure. "A lightning flash disclosed tn
staring eyes, the blood-stained face.
Good God!" cried Delroy. and tn,
horror Of 1T seemed to strike through
him. to palsy him.
Tremaine knelt down beside the bod,
and lifted a limp wrist. He held it
moment. then laid it gently down.
He's quite dead" he said, and stoot
quickly erect again. with a shudder HI
could not wholly repress.
Delroy. swallowing hard. grippet
back his s~elf-control.
we can't leave him out here" he
said; perhaps there's a spark of life
Lou take the legs; Ill take the head
1t was a heavy load and they stag.
gered under 1t. From the boathouse q
light flashed out, and In a momen1
young Graham came hurrying out to
them and helped them forward. sobbins
drily.
They aid their burden on the cot
which the son had occupied and stood
for a looking down at 1t. The
boy seemed on the verge OF collapse:
ing; the horrible sobbing did not stop.
Delroy turned to him sharply.
William" he said. Il want you to
SHOW yourself a man. A good deal de-
Ponds on you. Remember that-re-
member too. that with your help. we're
this" WHO olo
The boy Strengthened up with q groan
OF agony.
That's all / ask"
NJ We want. too" and Del
roy laid Il calming hand upon his arm.
NOW go up to he house and rouse
Ihomas, but don't alarm anyone else
get MN 10 telephone at once TO Babylon
Tor Or. Wise and for the coroner. n
tell them both to get out here as quick
~ as they can. DO you understandy"
yes. SIR" answered Graham and
disappeared in the outer darkness.
for some moments. the two men
STOOD looking down at the body with
OUT Then Delroy stopped and
souched lightly he bloody forehead.
See" he said. his hcad has heen
beaten in" ~ NNNi
Yes. nodded Tremaine. t muir
derer struck boldly from the frons-he
didn't think it necessary to steal up
But why didn't Graham defend him
self? He was armed. WHY did he let
him get SO near?"
~Ihere's only one possible explanation
" mat, said Trencaine drily, .suppos-
lhg' OF course. that Graham didn't fan
asIeep. ne knew the man and thought
MN a friend. Perhaps they were even
taking together at the time the blow
was struck" wv
oefroy's face turned livid and great
oeads of sweat broke out across his
forehead. ~ Aas
That would explain it. certainly" he
least likelihood that Graham was
asleep. But it's too horrible foo sendd'
ash: I can't believe it,
1remalne turned away to the window
WITHOUT answering, II stood there.
POLLING q cigaret between his fnpars
and staring out across the water. The
storm had passed. but by the broad
bands OF light which flashed incessantly
along the horizon, he could see tho
waves still tossing wildly in the bay.
~ ilsHteu me c1garet With one long
mhafation, and stood there mokin~ iTf
his back to the room and its drea3f,i
occupant. Delroy sat Imply down upon
hands. ~ III MS
PRESENTLY there came the SOUND or
hoo.seeps Oh the ak the door opened. i
ana young Graham. and Thomas came
DR. Wise promised t. come at once.
slt. SAD the latter TO Delroy, his voice
opp fustinctively to a hoar,e whis-
Der lie said he'd bring the coroner
with him"
Defroy nodded without looking up.
y else l can do. sir?" asked
AaOfnas. with n harritied glance ~ ,
ehe still form on the cot. @
1es; go pack to the house and bring
Gown some whisky and a half doza1
glasses" ~ 0oHSiA
.sVe1y we'll, sir" ann Thomas hurried
away. He was back in a surprisingly
few minutes.
Give Mr.. Tremadme a glass;" said
DERBY. "Tremaine." he called, take
q bumper. or you'll be catchinE cold
ana ne himself bri,,nmed a glass and
dralned IL at a draught. Trenlaine. tooL
his more slowly. eo~
,fou. toe. William" said Delroy.
Here, you need it"
The boy, who had been standing be-
SIDE the cot, his hands clasping and m
spin convulsfNely. took the glass
mechanically and swallowed n. 800
tents. us COIL
Iho1has carried The tray to the. farth-
sst corner and sat down. Seeing that
hin ~ : iiosiceu MEN, he filled Il glass for
hlmfself With a trembling hand,
ZEN, twenty, thirty minutes nassea-l
enlrrS centuries during which no one
epohe. lnen they heard the swift clat-
Ter or q horses hoofs, the whir of
t M'ae9 GSor ana a Siggy pulled up before
instant n two men walked in.
WHAT Is il. Delroy?" asked one OF
them. Nothing serious I-ah!" he
ADDED as his eyes fell upon the cot.
He went to it quickly, the other FOL-
loving; touched the hideous wounds
1oonSE INTO Tie eyes, feit the temples.
He's dead" he said, at last: "has,
been dead two or three hours. I shomis
say. His skull is crushed-fairly beaten
IN: your gardener, Graham, isn't
lt?" .
Yes" Delroy answered.,
The doctor stepped back.
I turn the case over to you. Herel-
bower. he said. ITS in your province
now. Mr.. Delroy. this is MIR. Hefrei-
bower. the coroner
Heffelbower bowed. He was a little
short man. bald-headed and with wide
open ! eyes that stared like a dolls.
Primarily. lie vas a saloonkeeper. but
had been elected coroner as a reward
for his valuable services to his party.
He possessed a certin native shrewd-
ness which fitted him to some extent for
the office: also n lack OF nerves and a
familiarity with crime which might Of
ten lie of service.
II presume" ne began slowly. tat
tbs MAJ wasn't killed here in his bedo:"
No" SAID Delroy. I'VE found him ly-
ing; out on the pier yonder. We thought
It only common humanity to bring him
w, since there might have beer a spark
of life left"
oh, Of course" agreed tb. co,oner