The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1908-07-24

lNllU iipHl N'e ~Ous'uIlly 90 ne turned
up the lights.
Detective Coogan's words seemed t.
come from q great distance as he
said: Here, you see. he was stabbed
The knife went to the heart. Here
he was hit with something heavy and
blunt; but It had enough OF an edge
to cut the scalp and lay the cheek
open. The skull Is broken. See
here"
l summoned my resolution and
looked.
Disfgured and CHASTITY as 1t was,
recognized 1t. 1t was the face OF
Henry Wilton.
The next | knew l was sitting on a
bench. and the detective was hold
ing a bottle to my lips.
There, take another swallow he
said, not u%nkindly. didn't know
you weren't used to It,"
"Oh." I gasped, I'm all right now
And I was able to look steadily al
the gruesome surroundings and the
dreadful burden on the slab.
is this the mani" asked the de
tective.
Yes"
His name?"
"Dudley-James Dudley" I was moi
quite willing to transfer the whole oil
my identity to the dead, and changed
the Giles to James.
wa he a relative?"
,hNpL 49, head thn,uh naVII
not have said Why I denied It. Then
in answer to the detectives question
| told the sto"y of the scufle in the
alley, and of tie events that followed
Did you see My of the men? Tt
recognize them, l mean"
| described the leader as well as
was able-the man with the face o.
the wolf that l had seen in the Ian
tern.hash.
Detective Coogan lost his listles!
air, and looked at me in astonish
ment.
Il don't see your game, Wilton" h,
said.
I'm giving you the straight facts,
l said %sullenly, a little disturbed b,
his manner and tone.
We'll, in that case, I'd expect 20,
to keep the straight facts to your
self, my boy"
1t was my turn to be astonished.
We'll, that's my lookout" l SAT-
with assumed carelessness.
Il don't see through YOU" said tn
detective with some irritation. 81
you're playing with me to stop thi
inquiry by dragging in-well, w
needn't use names-you'll find your
self in the hottest water you eve
struck"
You can do as you please" l salt
coolly.
The detective ripped out an oath.
IF | knew you were lying, Wilton
Id clap you in jail this minute"
We'll, if you want to take tn
risks l said smiling.
He looked at me for a full minute
"Candidly, / don't, and you know
it, he said. But this is a stunne
on me. What's your game, anyhow?
| wished l knew.
$50 accomplished a detective shout
not be at a loss to answer SO simpl
a question"
We'll, there's only one cours
open, as | See" he said with a groar
We've got to have a story ready TO
the papers and the coroner's jury
This was a new suggestion for m
and | was alarmed.
You can just forget your little tai
about the row in the alley he cor
tinued. There's nothing to shoS
hat it had anything to do with thi
man here. Maybe it didn't happier
Anyhow. just think it was a dream
Chis s:as 4 waterfront row-toug
saloon-killed and robbed by partie
unknown. Maybe we'll have you be
fore the coroner for the identifies
ton, but maybe it's better not
.,odded assent. My mind wa
,ea numbed to suggest anothe
course.
The gray dawn vas breakin
through the chill fog, and peopl
were stirring in the streets as d.
tective Coogan led the way out OF tn
morgue. AS we parted he gave me
curious look.
II suppose you know your W bus
ness, Wilton" he said, but l suspes
you'd be a sight safer if Id clap 20
in Jail"
And with this consoling CONNER
he was gone, and l was left in tn
dawn of my first morning in Sa
Francisco, mind and body at the mad
of depression after the excitemer
and perils of the night.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)