The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-06-11
THE THIRD
DECREE
Copyright. 1905, by G. w.
Dillingham;
BY CHARLES ROSS JACKSON
CHAPTER XIV

eyes DlaZe with sudden triumph.
Ned" he said gently, with a
culver in his well modulated voice,
what was the stranger like? What
was he doing?"
81 did not see his face; he was
a big fellow. I saw his hand hang
ing down; he had a bottle in it-a
small fat bottle, and then he rush.
ed into the front room and saw
him grab Montgomery's neck; he
pulled him down backward; he
he" the boy faltered, and the
cold, clammy sweat of excitement
appeared on his forehead. Cakes
placed his arm about him and Hall
en- gave him drink of water, while
the district attorney ordered the
rest to keep back. They were
pushing forward to the boys aid.
But Ned's father pressed past to
his sons side, crying out, Tell it,
Ned, tell everything that happened,
my son. You have nothing to fear"
The boy Strengthened again.
shook his head in repressed agony
of mind and went on rapidly. He
was choking Montgomery: Mont
gOmery was trying to breathe, and
the murderer was swearing ter
rible-and then-then he poured
something from the bottle into
Montgomery's mouth, and dragged
him away toward the desk. There
was a terrible fight. l saw hand
hit him in the chest; l could just
see the hand. The dagger was in
it, think. The man who was kill
ing Montgomery was back to me
all the time, and he was round the
corner like, near the desk, where
he had pulled Montgomery.
Then | heard the Office door
open and a woman yelled awful
bad. Then the door shut, and
Montgomery fell down, hard"
The boy hesitated moment for
breath, then plunged ahead.
"The man ran into my room, past
my table, and out the back way,
and | ran out the door behind him.
He went down the hall and got out
the back way. | ran the other way,
along the hall past the Office door;
there was a woman there trying to
get in: she had hollered-she was
the one"
"Who was it,? cried Roger NAL
ley, unable to control himself.
"Your sister-the nightingale
The boy stopped, short of breath,
while his father seized his hand
and stroked it. "My own son, my
SON. You were afraid to tell this?
| understand"
"Why were you afraid. Ned?"
asked the district attorney.
I-I-thought they would say l
did it," and Ned broke down in a
food of tears. 81 didn't see the
murderer. | only know he was a
big man. | thought you would say
I was lying. but honest to God, hon
est, l amt lying"
Cakes patted Ned on the head.
mo, boy we know you were too lit
tie to kill Montgomery-too little
he was a big fellow. and we knew
all along that Montgomery Stone
was poisoned"
The district attorney walked over
to Cakes and seized his hand.
"Oakes, you were right. Your
work is marvellous"
"Wait." The detective waived
the attorney back. deprecatingly.
Ned" he said, (which hand was
the bottle held in-and which hand
was the dagger in-can you remem-
Der? Think"
Ned Tompkins collected himself,
drying his tears on his cOatsleeve
meanwhile He thought until the
silence became long and almost I'M
bearable.
He stood like this. was like
this, under the table. 1t was this
hand that had the bottle, this the
dagger-yes, like this. Why, sure,
it must have Deen his left hand
both times. Honest, honest. IL
was in his left hand, both times"
A subdued cry went up from all
present and Hallen turned to Chief
Thomas with loud whisper,
What do you think now, eh?'
Then once more the great detec-
tive spoke.
Ned, what did you do when you
passed Jane Malley?'
81 ran down the stairs"
"Where was your lighted cigar
et?"
The boy laughed in his excite
ment. 81 had it in my hand,
know it."
How" came the sudden ques-
ton.
Because I nearly ran into the
mans face"
Cakes voice dropped to the
kindliest tone. what MANI" he
inquired.
"The man running upstairs to
the office--the man | passed"
That's enough. Ned. Don't talk
any more" came from Cakes as he
walked away and spoke to the at
torney and Chief Thomas in an I'M
dertone.
All those in the secret knew that
the man going upstairs was prob
ably Theodore Stone. Theodore's
own statement was to that effect,
but the great Quintus Cakes want
ed proof. He had OWNED that the
boy did not know Theodore else he
would have recognized him on the
stairs, and called him by name
now.
Med" asked the detective, "jid
lyon sac Theodore Stone? Gould