The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-09-20

| II ouxn, Z know. I told 'em the,
wasn't nobody there. Aain't l been
here all evenln' 'cept fer that minute
I IN crost tn street? Nobody in nor
That was abou tn time h a there
blamed Thompson come in. too drunk!
stand. He'd never "a got home in
tn world by hisself, but they was a
feller with him, a-holdin' him up
Godfrey vas 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, l 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 Il good sort. He set
down here t talk t me a while-if was
rainin' SO lard he couldn't go-an' he
said he'd run acrost Thompson down at
Pete Magraw's place on Sixth avenoo.
Thompson was treatin' everybody an
actin like a fool ginerally; then he got
mad an started t clean out TIL saloon.
an Pete was goin' t call a OPP. 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."
No: l never seed him afore."
"Wha sort of a looking fellow was
he?"
"A go%od-lookin' Teller, well-dressed-
no bum. l kin tell v hat. He was short
an h~eayy-set. with a little black
moustache that turned up at tn ends"
Godfrey's heart gave a sudden leap
so Miss Croydon had told the truth.
after all! She was not trying to pro-
tect anybody. And the case was going
to prove a simple one-he had been
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 SAGE
value. Well. Simmonds certainly would
make that mistake; he would ave
little difficulty in finding his man.
And then what ~happened?" he
away?"
oh. yes: he stayed here talkin' quite
a while-he started t. go once or twice.
5 O'Clock he said he couldn't stay no
longer. rain r no rain, an was jest
b%uttonin' up his coat, When a cab drove
up an a woman got out. She had a
thick veil on. SOS I couldn't see her
face. blu from her style l judged she
an she says. I want t. go t apart
nent fourteen-Mr Thompson Mad
am says I. I wouldn't IL I was you
Why" she asked. quick like, amt he
there?' He's there says I, but he
amt in no condition t see a lady,
Never mind says she. III go up
minute 1 added t. my friend. No
he says. I can't wait; l must be goin','
an he started toward tn door. Well,
good night l says, an'stepped into TIL
an started it.
Il showed her tn door o. fourteeA,
an she Knocked. l was waitin' at TIL
too dead drunk t. e her an I'd have
7 axe her down ag'in; when blessed
II the door didn't open an in she
! Well. sir, I was so d%umfound-
ed I couldn't believe my own eyes
But IN she went. an I come on down.
tryin, t fgger 1t out. 1t was mebb
ten mtnuter later that 1 heard a pistol
shot an knowed In a minute what d
happened. TNat drunken brute had got
too familiar. an she'd put a bullet
IN him. Though" he added, renectiye-
". why. IL she's straight. she'd go t.
his room at all is more'n I kin see"
Was there only one shot?" asked
Godfrey. ~
Only one" answered the j%anitor:
but 1t sounded like a small cannon
1t didn't come from no sech little nom
gun as that which Mr.. simmonds picked
up IN tn corner. I rushed up TIL stairs
an threw open tn door"
Wasn't 1T 1ocked?"
No; an that's funny, too" he added
Ter I remember hearin' the lock snap
after tn girl went in. Somebody must
a throwed it back ag'in. Mebbe tn.
girl did 1t. try1n' t. get out, am Thomn-
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. 81
see you're a close reasoner, Mr.. Hig-
Why" said Higgins. with a smile Of
self-s~atisfaction, II alters have beer
aole Z put two an two t'gether. They's
! was rushin' up tn steps. l heard tn:
opentn' an shuttin' Of a door"
All" said Godfrey t%houghtfullv.
And there was no n in the haIl?"
MOT a soul; not a soul in sight"
Are you sure Of that?"
light in tn hall-an'. anyway UT the q
amt no place anybody could hide"
III might have gone into one Of tina
other rooms. mightn't he?"
The were all locked-1'm certain O.
Godfrey took a thoughtful puff or
ut was tn girl shot him-y' kin bank
on that" added Higgins with emphasis.
But then" objected Godfrey. "vo,:
said the report you heard couldn't have
come from her pistol"
Continued Next Week.l