The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-12-05

1tuIAAb GyeS, the DlOOu-SLdlHSu lace.
Good Cod" cried Delroy, n the
horror OF II seemed to strike through
him. TO palsy him. Ill.,.
Tremaine kneit down beside the body
ard lifted a limp wrist, He held II a
moment. then laid II gently down.
"He's quite dead" he said, and stood
quickly erect again, with a shudder he
could not wholly repress.
Deiroy swallowing hard, grippcd
back his self-Control.
I'VE can't leave him out here" he
said; perhaps there's a spark of life.
Lou take the legs; III take the head"
IT was a heavy load II they stag
gerea under it. From the b~oatllouse a
light flushed out, III in a moment
young Graham came %hurry'ng out to
them n helped them forward, sobbing
drlly. ....
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;
hts lips were drawn, his teeth chatter
Ing. the horrible sobbing did not stop.
Delroy urine to him sharply.
William" he said. II 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
going to catch the scoundrel who did
this"
The boy Strengthened UP with a groan
of ogony.
That's what | WANT" he cried.
That's all l ask"
That's what We want, too" and Del
Roy laid a calming hand upon his arm.
NOV go up to the house and rouse
Thomas. but don't alarm anyon else.
Get him to telephone at once to Babylon
for DR.. Wise and for the coroner and
tell them both to get out here as quick
W as they can. Do YOU understand"
Yes. SIR" answered Graham, and
disappeared In the outer darkness.
FOL some moments, the two men
stood looking down at the body with
out speaking. Then Delroy stopped and
touched lightly the bloody forehead.
See" he said. his head has been
beaten .a." h E.. "
Yes," nodded Trernaine. 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
sen! he was armed. Why did he let
him get SO near?''
There's only one possible explanation
OK that said Tremaine drlly, ~'suppos-
ing, OF course, that Graham didn't fall
asleep. lie knew the nan and thought
him q friend. Perhaps they were even
talking together at the time the blow
was. struck"
AANNS " L llNlO uDU REDlI
beads OF sweat broke out across his
forehead. y ~
That would explain II, certainly" he
agreed hoarsely, 'for there isn't The
least likelihood that Graham was
asleep But IT'S too horrible, too fiend-
ish; 1 can't believe it,
Tremaine turned away 10 tho window
.Sithout answering. and stood there
rolling q cigaret between his fingers
ana staring out across the water. Tho
Storm had passed, but by the broad
ana ~ light which flashed necessarily
along the horizon, he could see the
waves stili tossing wildly In the bay.
iis nsatcd me cigaret with one long
mhatlAtlon, aud stood there nnoking n,
MS back 10 tile room and its dreadful
occupant Delroy sat Imply down upon
Acnds. AZ"
Presently there came the sound Of
ioolsFeps OF the walk. the door opened. !
p yours Graham and Thomas came
III. Wise promised t come at once.
slr, said the latter Ia Dclroy. his voice
cropped ipstinctivcly to q hoarse whis-
psr de said he'd bring the coroner
Delroy nodded without looking up.
Anything else L can do, SIR" asked
FTEoE1og. with one Mortified glance mr. !
The still form on the cor. ~
Yes; go back to the house and bring
glasses" N
Very well, sir" and Thomas hurried
away lie VAS back In Il surprisingly |
few minutes. ,
Give Mr. :cremaine a glass;" said
Delroy. ~'Tremaine." he called take |
q bumper, or you'll be catching cold."l
ne hiIuseic brimmad a glass and
uIplned ~ at Il draught. Tremaine took
his more slowly. - ~
Ioii, too, William" said Delroy
Here. You need it."
The boy, who had been standing he
side the cot, his hands clasping and mn
claspinS conyulsivoly, took the glass
mechanically swallowed its cor
tents.
Thomas carried the tray 10 the farth- |
est corner and sat down. Seeing that |
no noticed him, he filed Il glass for
himself with d trembling hand
Ten. twenty, thirty minutes passed
thirty centuries during which no ONE
spoke: Then they heard the swift cIat-
yer or 2 horses hoofs, the whir of
Mheeis, and q buggy pulled I'D beforn
me door Thomas had it open on the
instant and two men walked in.
fhat is II, Delroy?" asked one of
tneih. Nothing serious I-ah"' he
added as his eyes fell upon the cot,
~, -EN $500 W NhithIys the OInGF FOL !
loving: touched the hideous wounds
looked into the eyes. felt the temples.
Hes dead" he said, at last: Inns
been dead two or three hours. I Should
say. HIS skull is crushed--faIrly beaten
m ITS your gardener. Graham. isn't
hes" Delroy answered.
The doctor stepped back.
y turn the case over TO you. Heffel- !
bower" he said. ITS In your province
now AIR. Delroy. his Is Mr.. HeheI-
bower, the coroner" '~
HeTclbower bowed. He was n little
short man, bald-headed and with wide
open blue eyes that stared like "a dolls. !
Primarily. he vas q saloonkecpcr. but
had been elected coroner as II reward
for MS valuable services TO his party.
He possessed q ceTtin native shrewd- !
ness which fitted him to some extent for
the Office: also n lack of nerves and ii
familiarity with crime which might Of
ten be OF service.
II presume" he began slowly, tat
It's man Wasn't killed here in his bed?'
No said Delroy, I'VE found him ly-
ing Il on,the pier yonder. We thought
ii only common humanity to bring him
ie, since there might have been u spark
OF life eft" #-...E