The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-12-05

thought his murderer a friend and an
ticipated no assault. So he allowed hin
to approach u~nchallanged. and wa
wholly unprepared for the ~treacheroui
attack
The coroner looked at Tremains
again with a glance in whih Suspicion
had changed to admiration
Tat ISIS, indeed, very p-obaA'le ex.
planatior." he said. I'm jact, / haven't
tie least doubt 1t ISIS tie true one. Ora
ham would not nave allowed a strang-
er, to APPROACH him; but II he had come
on, Graham would have PR pared foi
tie attack and would have given a good
! account OF himself. He seenS a very
, powerful man."
As he spoke, ne lifted one of the
muscular hands: then, with a little ex-
clamation of surprise. he bent and
examined Il more closely.
Come nearer. gentlemen" he said.
his face flushed with excitement. y
want you to witness ia he has some
ting between his fingers"
They stopped and looked as he indi-
Gated, They could see that the hand
clasped tightly some small, dark OBJ
ject.
Let us see what It is" Heffelbower
continued, and bent back the stiffen-
ing fingers.
The object fell out into his hand. He
held It up I'm the glare Of the light SO
that all might see. II was q button
with a little shred Of cloth attached.
IF we can find tie garment tat tbs
came FROM" said the coroner triumph
antly. turning 1t over and looking at
IL, I'VE shall probably find tie murder
er. II is q good clew.
He placed the button carefully In his
pocketbook and turned to the window.
Il think It iss light enough he said.
ito take q look at tie scene OF tie crime.
I shall ten return to Babylon
II have thought" remarked tDelroy,
of calling in a New York detective.
Should you object
Not in tie least" H~effelbower broke
In. Il shall welcome eferyting Tt will
assist in bringing tie guilty person to
justice. Only" he added pompously,
wit tie clews which I already possess,
and wit tie ot'ers which I expect to
find, 1 believe II will be unnecessary.
TIE guilty man will not escape, I'll
promise you tat, Mr.. Delroy," and he
opened the door and stepped out upon
the pier.
Dawn was in the sky, a clear, warm,
Joyous dawn. In tree and bush and
hedge the birds were welcoming It. All
nature was rejoicing, quite Indifferent
to the human tragedy which had
marked the night.
They went together down the pier to
the spot where Graham had fallen. The
rain had washed away nearly all the
blood-stains. His rife lay on the pier
beside the chair I'm which he a been
sitting. The chair was overturned.
But tie wind may have done tat"
said the coroner, when Delroy pointed
out that the overturned chair suggest
ed a struggle "Or maybe he knocked
it over when he fell. Let's have a look
at tat little cage"
He pulled up the rope. The lid OF
the cage was open, but 1t did not seem
to be injured.
Maybe tie waves proke it open,"
suggested H~eftelbower. r.
They couldn't have done that" OBJ
jected Delroy. "See-here's how IL
fastened"
He closed the lid and snapped into
place three small but very strong
hooks, which locked automatically.
THE only thing that could open It,"
he added. "was a human hand"
And an intelligent one, at tat" con-
cluded the coroner. 1T would be very
hard to find tose little hooks in tie
dark. unless N knowed just where
t'ey were"
Yes" admitted Delroy, That's
true"
Heffelbower opened his lips to say
something more; then changed his
mind, closed them. n turned away
with a significant smile. He examined
the knots in the rope, the pier, the wa
tiers of the bay, on which just beyond
the pier, a small boat was riding at
anchor.
''T"e boat is yours, 1 suppose, Mr..
he asked.
''Yes-it has been there ready for use
since Saturday"
AS he spoke a gust OF wind swung
the boat In towards them.
Young Graham, who was standing
On the extreme edge OF the pier, glanced
into ii, and uttered a sudden ex-
whats that?" he cried. with arm
outstretched. -
The others followed the gesture, but
4 second gust swung the boat away
what was ft?" asked the n
without answering, Graham sprang
the water, and with a few strokes
the boat. He climbed into 1t
and united IL from the buoy. Then,
at the instant another gust OF wind
from h ocean,, he released his
hold. The boat was swept against the
pier; ne Tended her off with the boat
hook and made fast.
This Is what / meant" he said, and
TO a pistol lying at his feet.
They stared down at It, amazed. It
was the coroner who spoke first.
Pass II up" he said.
He turned it over carefully in his
hand. 1t a fine type OF the Smith
Wesson. 1t was fully loaded: none
Of the chambers had been discharged.
All" he said, "see t'ere," and he
to a clot of blood on the butt,
tie butt iss very heavy" he added,
it up. And see-here are
some initials-J. 4. d. Whose are t'ey?''
"They are John Tolbert Drysdale's,"
answered Delroy in a low voice.
tContIpued Next WeekA