Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-09-20

7 81 ought I know. I told 'en tne3
wasn't nobody there. Aain't ] been
here all eyenin' 'cept fer that minute
run acrost tn street? Nobody in nor
out, 'cept tn girl-not since I o'clock.
That was about tn time that there
blamed Thompson come in, too drunk
L stand. He'd never "a got home in
tn world by hisself, but they was a
Teller with him, a-holdin' him up
Godfrey was listening with strained
attention. There were many questions
he wished to ask, but he dared not in
terrupt.
well, we got him upstairs atween
us. An then, when ! went through his
pockets, / couldn't find his key, an L
had t come down an git mine afore L
could git his door open. We laid him
on his bed an left him there, a-snorin'
like a hog. That Teller who was with
him was certainly a good sort. He set
down here t talk t me a while-it was
rainin' so hard he couldn't go-an he
said he'd run acrost Thompson down at
Pete Magraw's place or Sixth avenoo
Thompson was treattn' ~everybod an
actin like a fool ginerally; then he got
mad an started L clean out tn saloon,
an Pete was goin' L call a cop, but
this Teller said he'd bring him home
an so he did"
Higgins stopped to take breath. and
Godfrey ventured to put a question.
Did you know him."
mo: | never seed him afore."
What sort of a looking fellow was
hep"
"A good lookin' Teller, well-dressed-
no bum, | kin tell y that. He was short
an heavy-set, with a little black
m~oustache that turned up at tn ends
Godfrey's heart gave a sudden leap
so Miss Croydon had told the truth,
e. ~ 49,. - A-n
teCt anybody. And the case was going
to prove q simple one-he had been
reading a mystery into it that 1t did
not possess; that was always the
danger with your theorist, he told
himself, a little bitterly-he was
forever looking for hidden meanings,
for abtruse clews, for picturesque solu-
tions, instead Of following the plainly
evident. of accepting facts at their face
value. Well, Simmonds certainly would
not make hat mistake; he would have
little difficulty in finding his man.
And her what happened?' he
asked. Il uppos this fellow went
aWay?"
oh, yes; he stayed here talkin' quite
a while-he started L go once or twice.
but tn rain was too bad. But about
8 o'clock he said he couldn't stay no
longer, rain r no rain, an was jest
buttonin' up his coat, when a cab drove
up am a woman got out. She had a
thick ven on, SOS / couldn't see her
face, but from her style ] judged she
was a high flyer. She come up { me
an she says, L want { go t apart
ment fourteen-Mr, Thompson Mad
am says /, L wouldn't II / was you
'Why?' she asked, quick like. ain he
there?' He's there says I, but he
amt in no condition L see a lady
Never mind says she, I'll go up
All rfnrHf . tra vu r sTgTI b. EaDly L.
minute Z added L my friend. No
he says, L ant wait: / must be goin','
an he started toward tn door. We'll.
good night | says. am'stepped into tn
car an started it,.
Il showed her tn door o. fourteen,
an she knocked. 1 was waftin' at tn
elevator, fer / knowed Thompson was
too dead drunk t hear her an I'd have
t take her down ag'in; vyhen blessed
If the door didn't open an I'm she
walked. Well, sir, L was so dumfound-
ed l couldn't believe my own eyes!
But in she went. am + come on down,
tryin' t figger 1t out. 1t was mebbe
ten minuter later that 7 heard a pistol
shot an ] moved in a minute what d
happened. Tsat drunken brute had got
too familiar, an she'd put a bullet
in him. Though" he added. reflective
ly, why, II she's straight, shed go {
his room at all! is more'n I kin see"
Was there only n shot ~ asked
Godfrey.
only one answered the tanitor:
II sounded like a small cannon.
1t didn't come from no sech little pop
gun as that which Mr.. Simmouds picked
up in tn corner. / rushed up tn stairs
threw open tn door
Wasn't it locked?'
NO; an that's funny. too he added.
FER | remember hearin' the lock snap
tn girl went In. Somebody must
"a throwed II back ag'fn. Mebbe tn
girl did II. tryin' t get out, an Thomp-
son got a hold Of her an then she let
him have It,"
Godfrey nodded. with an appreciation
seemingly very deep.
That's it no doubt he said. 'I
see you're a close r~easoner, Mr.. Hig-
gins"
why said Higgins. with a smile of
dissatisfaction, IT alters have been
able { put two an two t'gether. They's
one thing, though, + can't explain. AS
l was rushin' up tn steps. heard tn
openin' an shuttin' of a door"
An said Godfrey thoughtfully.
And there was no one In the halI?'
MOT a soul; noe a soul I'm sight"
Are you sure Of that"
"Surel o course I am. There's a
light in tn half-an', anyway. they
amt no place anybody could hide"
He might have gone into one OF the
other rooms mightn't he?"
They were all focked-Tm certain o.
that"
Godfrey took a thoughtful pun or
two,
ut was tn girl shot him-y' kin bank
on that" added Higgins with emphasis.
But them" objected Godfrey, "you
said the report you heard couldn't have
cone from her pistol"
Continued Next Week