Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1907-12-07

/ Hgule. A hSntnng Nasn ulSCioSeu the
staring eyes, the bIood-stained face
Good God" cried DeToy, and the
horror Of 1t seemed to strike through
him. To palsy him
Tremaine knet down beside the body
And lifted a limp wrist. lie held II a
moment, then laid it gently down.
Hes quite dead" he said, and stood
quickly erect again, with shudder he
could not wholly repress
Delroy swallowing hard gripped
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"
II was heavy load and they stag
gered under it. From the boathouse a
light flashed out, and in moment
young Graham came hurrying out TO
them and helped them forward. sobbing
drily.
They laid their burden on the cot
which the son had occupied and stood
for 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, Il want you TO
show yourself a man. A good deal de-
pends 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.
That's what want he cried.
That's all | 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 once TO Babylon
Tor Or. Wise and for the coroner. and
| iell them both TO get out here as quick
! Iy 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
See he said. his head has been
/ beaten in"
Yes nodded Tremaine. "the mur-
1erer struck boldly from the front-he
iidn't think it necessary to steal up
( behind"
But why didn't Graham defend him
self? He was armed. Why did he let
him get so near2"
There's only one possible explanation
! Of that" said Tremaine drily. "suppos-
/ ing of course, that Graham didn't fail
9sleep. He knew the man and thought
him 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
asleep. But it's too horrible, too fiend-
Ish; i can't believe it,"
Tremaine turned away to the window
] without answering aud
rolling cigaret between his fingers
and staring out across the water. The
storm had passed, but by the broad
oands OF light which flashed incessantly
along the horizon, he could see the
waves still tossing wildly in the bay.
tie lighted the cigaret with one long
inhalation, and stood there smoking il
his back TO the room and its dreadful
| occupant Delroy sat Imply down .pon
chair and buried his head in his
/ hands.
Presently there came the sound of
| footsteps on the walk the door opened
ana young Graham and Thomas came
/ in
DR. Wise promised Z come at once
sir, said the latter 10 Delroy, his voice
dropped instinCtively to a hoarse ,yhis-
per, He said he'd bring the coroner
with him"
Deiroy nodded without looking up
Anything else / can do. sir?" asked
Thomas, with one Mortified glance AZ
| the still form on the cot.
Yes; go back to the house and bring
down some whisky and half dozen
/ glasses"
| Very well, sir" and Thomas hurried
away. lie was back in q surprisiDgly
/ few minutes. -
Give Mr.. Tremaine a glass; said
| Delroy. 'Tremaine," he called take
a bumper. or you'H be catching cold {"
ana he himself brimmed q glass and
| drained ii at draught. Tremaine took
j his more slowly.
You, too. William" said DeIrov
here, you need it,
J The boy. who had been standing he
sue the COT, ms hands clasping and un-
CIdsplng convulsively, took the glass
mechanically and swallowed lis con-
tents
THOMAS carried the tray to the farth-
est corner and sat down. Seeing that
no one noticed him, he filled "A glass for
himself with a trembling hand.
Zen twenty, thirty minutes passed
lhlrty centuries during which no one
/ spoke Then they heard the swift clat
/ Ter OF horses hoofs, the whir of
/ Wheels' and buggy pulled up before
/ the door Thomas had il open on the
instant and two men walked in.
What is it, 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-
! lowing; touched ihe 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-fairIv beaten
IN. IT'S your gardener, Graham, isn't
Yes" Delroy answered.
The doctor stepped back.
Il turn the case over To you, Heffel-
bower" ne said. Its In your province
now. Mr.. Delroy. this is Mr. Heffel-
/ bower, the coroner"
Heffelbower bowed He was a little
short man, bald-headed and with wide
| open blue eyes that stared like a dolls.
| Primarily, he was saloonkeeper. but
/ had been elected coroner as a reward
| for his valuable services to his party.
| He possessed a certin ative shrewd-
ness which fitted him to some extent for
| the office; also a lack of nerves and a
| familiarity with crime which might of
| ten be of service.
II presume" ne began slowly "tat
is man wasn't killed here I'm his bed p
NO" said Delroy, I'VE found him ly-
| ing out on the pier yonder. We thought
! II only common humanity to bring him
| In, since there might have been spark
of life left"
"Oh. of course, agreed the coroner.
Instantly visibly impressed by Delroy's
presence. Tat was ght. Who found
| t'a body2"
His son, there" and Delroy Indicated
| young Graham by gesture
The coroner turned toward him: il
was easy TO see that he had a high
opinion of his own ability as a cross
examiner and detector of crime He
wasn't exactly smiling, but his round
face was shining VT satisfaction.
Babylon and the neighboring villages
are quiet places and this was Heffel-
bowers first important case siEce his
election. He would show his constit-
uents how wise their choice had been
My dear sir" he began. evidently
proud of his command of language, the
result OF many years of saloon debates.
and speaking with distressing care
but with a racial inability to conquer
the 'th," II know such a recital will
be painful TO you--most painfuI-but I
must hear from you Just how te dis