Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-12

oeads of sweat broke out across his
forehead.
Presently there came the sound Of
footsteps OH 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, his
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. Thel they heard the swift clat-
ter of horses hoofs, the whir 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, 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 the hideous wounds,
looked into the eyes, felt the temples.
Hes 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?'
YES Delroy answered.
The doctor stepped back.
81 turn the case over to you, Hehel-
bower" he said. Its in your province
now. Mr.. Delroy, this is Mr.. Hehfel.
bower, the coroner"
Heffelbow,ar bowed. He was little,
stout man, baldheaded and with wide
open blue eyes that stared like dolls.
Primarily he was a 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 extent
| for the office; also lack of nerves and
familiarity with crime which might
often be Of service.
II presume" he began slowly, tat
| tbs man wasn't killed here in his bed!''
mo" said Delroy. 1--WE found him ~
ing out on the pier yonder. We
| thought it 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 Del
rows presence. "Tat was right. Who
found tie boly?"
"His son, there" and Delroy indi-
hx
'Tll tell everything know. SIR
| said William, coming forward eagerly.
II went up t. tn house about 8 O'Clock
and brought this cot down, intendin' t
| turn in here an relieve father ut mid
night. Father was settin' out there on
TIL pier a-smokin' his pipe when
turned in. went t sleep almost as
soon as l touched tn piller. don't
know how long it was, but after awhile
| / kind o. woke up an heard voices
a-talkin' out nere on tn pier. l got
IN an looked out TIL winder an purity
soon saw it was Mr.. Drysdale with
father"
"Drysdale? Who's hep asked the
| coroner.
Hes a friend Of mine," spoke up
Delroy quickly, IAN old friend. Hes
staying here at the house with US. In
fact, he's to marry my wife's sister"
The coroner bowed.
| every WE'LL" he said, turning back to
Graham, "you may continue
well" went on the young fellow,
"as soon as saw it was Mr.. Drysdale
I knowed it was all right, SO went
back to bed ag'in. An I didn't know
nothin' more till great clap O. thunder
nearly took TIL roof off til house. I set
up in bed, but couldn't seem t. sit
awake fer a. minute, my head was
whirlin' so. Then l got on my feet
an looked out tn winder an jest then
it lightened ag'in an I seen father
layin' there
He stopped with sob that shook
him through and through.
"That will do for tie present" said
the coroner klnuly. 1T seems rather
extraordinary" he added, turning to
Delroy, '.t'at tbs man should have sat
out t'ere in tie rain at tat time OF
night Was he fshing?"
Delroy sprang to his feet with a sud.
| den start.
.'Fishing?e he cried. mo! I'd for
gotten. He was guarding my wife's
necklace"
He threw open the door and ran out
on the pier, the others following. AT
the extreme end rope was dangling
in the water. He reached over and
pulled it up. The wire cage was flap.
ping open. The necklace had disap.
peared.