Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-09-19
lpil's dilated. Do you know WA, tha,

"a IN ISLl Siuc " ~ Chu dIl'i RAO-
duced a heMorrhage of the brain"
Simmonds gave a little low whistle.
THAT could hardly have been her."
and he nodded toward the girl. who
had regained her s~elf-contrOl n was
leaning a%nxiously forward, eyes and
ears intent.
NO. of course not. Let's see If he
was really shot"
They stripped back the shirt from
the breast. A little blood was still
yelling from a wound Just over the
heart.
That's what did the business" OBJ
served Simmonds. and at close range,
too; see there and he pointed to the
wasn't shot from the corner, that's
sure. Let's see what he's got II his
pockets"
The examination was soon made.
There were only a pipe. r. knife, a
package of cheap tobacco. a handful of
loose coins. and an old pocketbook con-
tanning a little roll OF newspaper clip
pings and a receipt for a months rent
for suite IA made out to n. Thomp-
SON.
Thompson" repeated Simmonds.
and a lot Of CLIPPINGS. Can you read
French. Godfrey"
"A little" answered Godfrey mod
estly. Let me See" He tool the clip
pings n looked at the first one.
"'Suresnes. September l6, 1891" he
read haltingly. IL have to report an
event the most interesting which has
just happened here. and which prove
orous to quiet the ardent desires of the
human heart or to change the"
"Oh. WE'LL" interrupted Simmonds.
we can't waste time reading n more
1ev sSa' FL TSe' co Of ssa' ssn 'a WTes, a w S5sni It.
If he thinks 1t worth while"
He replaced the clippings in the
purse. which he slipped back into the
pocket from which he had taken it.
Now" he added, rising to his feet.
we'd better get the girls story"
d you know who he is?" asked
Godfrey. In a low voice. AS he glanced
at her. he was startled to note her at
titude of strained attention. which. as
he turned. lapsed instantly TO one of
seeming apathy.
II heard O call her Miss Croydon"
"Yes-she's the sister Of Mrs. Rich
ard Delroy."
Again Simmonds whistled.
The deuce YOU say. Dickie Delroy!
Well, that doesn't make any differ
cnce." and he turned toward her reso-
lutely.
Miss Croydon" he began abruptly.
though perhaps in a gentler voice than
he would have used toward the aver
6 suspect. were you in the room
when this man was killed."
Yes. sir"
You know him."
only slightly" she answered coolly.
disregarding Giodfrey's stare OF amaze
ment. His name, 1 think, was Thomp-
son."
'You had an epp,1ep,ap+ With h,,,
here?"
Yes. sir: on n private matter which
cannot concern the police"
Simlnonds passed that over for a mo-
ment.
will you kindly tell us just what
h%appened?" he asked.
Il drove here in a cab" she said.
speaking rapidly. which 1 told to wait
for me. In the vestibule. I met the
Janitor. and asked to be conducted to
suite u. He brought me up here where
MINT. Thompson was waiting. /
entered and closed the door. We were
talking together when the door Of the
inner room opened and q man came
out. Before I realized what he was
doing. he raised a bar OF iron he held
Ia his hand and struck Mr.. Thompson
upon the head. Then, standing over
MIN. he drew a revolver and fired one
shot at him. 1 had shrunk away into
the corner. but thinking him q mad
man. believing my WI life in danger.
! Grew my pocket pistol and fred at
him. Without even glancing at me, he
opened the outer door and disappeared.
The janitor rushed in a moment later"
Did your hot hit him?'' asked Sim
monds.
Il don't know: I think not: he showed
no sign of being wounded"
The answer came without hesitation.
but 1t seemed to Godfrey that there
was in the voice an accent Of forced
sincerity.
What did he do with the bar ~
iron?" asked Simmonds.
A soon as he struck the blow, 7
think he-he threw it down. I re-
member hearing 1t fall"
'Yes-here 1t is,' said Godfrey tri.
umphantly. and fished It out from UNI
der q chair which stood neal the wall.
But see. Simmonds-it's not a bar. ~.
a pipe"
Simmonds examined it. It was an
ordinary piece Of iron piping. about
fifteen inches in length.
Her story seems to b. straight" nd
said, IN an undertone to Godfrey
Il think she's perfectly innocent ~
any crime" answered Godfrey. with
conviction. He had his doubts "a to
the absolute stSaightness Of her story.
but he concluded to keep them to him.
self. "'""-
Well. there's nothing more to bs
learned out here" remarked SIM.
monds. after another Glance aro,,nd
suppose we take a look at the Other
room" and he led the way toward the
inner door. N"e
It was an ordinary bedroom Of mod
crate size and with a single closet. in
which a few soiled clothes were han1.
ing; The bed had been lain upon and
evidently by a person fully dressed, fol
the counterpane. fresh marks A Of
one who had como in during the even
inS's storm. An empty whisky botti;
lay on a little table near the bed.