Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-09-18
BY MISADVENTURE
r r A ~ K B A r r E T 7


1--WE withhold our decision after the ex-
animation until terms are made with
you," unused Bax, with his finger on his
ose and his eye on the ceiling. WELL
don't see much objection to the meeting
IN that case. But the poison In the mans
mouth-how are you going to explain
that?"
Il may be able to prove" said 1, after
a show of hesitation, that Flexmore fear
ed untimely burial, and left instructions
for means to be taken after death to pre-
vent resuscitation. may be able to pro-
luce his written wish to that effect"
That's a clever notion" exclaimed
Bax, gasping approval. WAS 1t the
DOCTORS idea or yoursP
"Oh, let me impress upon you at once"
said 1, 'that the doctor pleads not guilty
to everything, and will take no measures
whatever to clear himself from suspicion"
"Well, I'll talk 1t over with the
Yeameses, and, if they don't object, no
reason why we shouldn't fall in with your
plan"
We shook hands and parted with mu-
tual hypocrisy, and / got my hat in order
to seek the magistrate whom l had fixed
on in my thoughts for the service l need
ed l went off to the Manor House to
see Sir Roland Firkin, ]. p.
Sir Roland was one of the best-known
and most popular men in the county; and
he deserved to be, for he was thorough
ly kind-hearted and generous old fellow,
willing at all times to render service
and not too stupid to despise advice. l
laid the case before him, and asked if he
would consent to preside at an informal
inquiry should the Yeames side accept our
proposal of going thoroughly into the
truth of what may be called the Flex-
more poisoning case. He gave his prom
Use to attend without hesitation, and APP
proved highly Of the course had taken
for making the inquiry public, promising
that reparation should be made to Aw-
drey on the part of his friends and him
self should it be found that the charge
against him was unjust.
The next day Bax called upon me to
say that Lynn and his mother agreed to
, attend the inquiry, and l fixed it for the
following afternoon at three o'clock; for
as luck would have it, had received just
; half an hour before a telegram from my
clerk, saying that he had found two mer
; who acknowledged to stretching the ropt
: and had agreed to tell the whole truth
: concerning the affair. The dispatch came
t from London, and reckoned upon thes'
witnesses arriving by the morning trair
, which reaches Coneyford at 10 80.
In the evening 1 went to my friends
and l also called upon Mrs. Bates, bind
ing them all to be in my Office at thu
] hour fixed; then l went home and gpen
0 the best part of the night in drawing VI
the questions to be put, for determined
4 that Sir Roland Firkin should be tn
. chief actor in the inquiry, not only be
:, cause it would please the old gentleman
!. but because the question would wear les
l of an ex-parte aspect coming from him.
r The next morning had my Office tabl
pushed up In a corner, and q long dinin
s table brought in covered with green baize
: all my ink pots were brought into requi
It sition and a sheet of paper laid befor
each chair, and the regulation water bot
d tie and tumbler placed at the head Of tn
l. table for the president to dip into II tn
). proceedings grew dry.
It One thing vexed me. My clerk did no
arrive with the witnesses by the 10 3
train; however, a telegram came to sa
y they would travel by the next down trair
which reaches Coneyford at 8 10. At
D. m. l had lunched and dressed, and wa
]. looking at my watch anxiOusly.