Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-01-08

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Graham brokenly. "Out there where
they struck him down."
At the pier end lay a dark. huddled
figure. A lightning dssh disclosed the
staring eyes, tie bleed stained faos.
Dslroy, swallowing hard, gripped
back his self control
We can't leave htm out here" he
said. Perhaps therSs = spark of life.
You take the legs. III take the head"
They laid their burden on the cot
which the son had occupied and stood
for moment looking down at it. Tho
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 want you to
show yourself man. A good deal de-
ponds on you. Remember that-re-
member. too, that with your help
we're going to catch the scoundrel
who did this"
The boy Strengthened up with a
groan Of agony.
Nov. 60 up 10 the house and rouse
Thomas, but don't alarm any one else.
Get him to telephone at once to Baby
lon for DR.. Wise and Tor the coroner,
and tell them both to get out here as
quickly as they can. Do you under
standf"
"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 fore
head.
"see," he said, ibis head has been
beaten in"
EYES," nodded Tremains. the mur-
darer struck boldly from the front. He
didn't think it necessary to steal up
behind"
"But why didn't Graham defend
himself? He was armed. Why did he
let him get SO near?"
There's only one possible explana-
ton Of that" said Tremaine dryly,
"supposing, Of course, that Graham
didn't fall asleep. He knew the man
and thought him a 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.
Presently there came the sound Of
footsteps on the walk, the door opened,
and young Graham and Thomas came
in.
"Dr. Wise promised t come at
once, sir" said the latter to Delroy, hts
voice dropped instinctively to whis-
per. "He said he'd bring the coroner
with him."
Delroy nodded without looking up.
Ten. twenty, thirty minutes passed
thirty centuries during which no one
spoke. Then they heard the swift clat-
ter of a horses hoofs, the whlr Of
wheels, and buggy pulled up before
the door. Thomas had it open on the
instant, and the two men walked In.
"What Is 1t, Delroyr' asked one of
them. Nothing serious. I-ahP he
added as his eyes fell upon the cot.
He went to it quickly, the other fol-
lowing; touched the hideous wounds,
looked into the eyes, felt the temples.
"He's Dead" he said at last; ''has
been dead two or three hours, should
say. His skull is crushed-fairly beat.
en- in. It's your gardener, Graham
isn't it?"
Eyes, Delroy answered.
The doctor stepped back.
IT turn the case over to you, Heffel
bower" he said. cts in your province
now. Mr.. Delroy, this is Mr.. Heffel
bower, the coroner"
Heffelbower bowed. He was little
stout man, baldheaded and with wide
open blue eyes that stared like dolls
Primarily he was saloon keeper, but
had been elected coroner as reward
for his valuable services to his party
He possessed certain native shrewd
ness which fitted him to some extern
for the office; also lack Of nerves an(
a familiarity with crime which might
often be of service.
II presume" he began slowly, eta
tbs man wasn't killed here In his bed 2
mo-" said Delroy, I'VE found him ly
ing out on the pier yonder. W.
thought it only common humanity tt
bring him in, since there might have
been spark of life left"
ooh, of course" agreed the coroner
instantly, visibly impressed by Del
roy's presence. "Tat was right. VIII,
found tie body?"
''His son, there" and Delroy ipdi
Gated young Graham by gesture.
"I'll tell everything / know, sir,
said William, coming forward eagerly
u went UP t. tn house about 8 O'CLOCK
and brought this cot down. intendin'
turn in here an relieve father at mid
night Father was settin' out there OF
tn pier a-smokin' his pipe when
turned in. I went t. sleep almost a
soon as I touched tn piller. ! dom
know how long it was. but after awhil,
kind O. woke up an heard voice.
a-talkin' out there on TIL pier. l so
up an looked out TIL winder an purt,
soon I saw it was Mr.. Drysdale witt
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