Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1908-04-18

lOItH IIOul INC OUSCuIity as NC tuTuet
up the lights.
Detective Coogan's words seemed t.
come from great distance as he
said: Here, you see, he was stabbed
The knife went to the heart. Here
he was hit with something heavy anc
to cut the scalp and lay the cheel
open. The skull is broken. Sec
here
summoned, my resolution ant
looked
Disfigured and CHASTITY as it was,
recognized it. 1t was the face
Henry Wilton.
The next | knew | was sitting on {
bench, and the detective was hold
ing a bottle to my lips.
There. take another swallow" he
said, not unkindly. | didn't know
you weren't used to it,"
oh" | gasped, I'm all right now
And | was able to look steadily a
the gruesome surroundings and the
dreadful burden on the slab.
rs this the man." asked the de
tectivc.
Yes
Ills name?"
"Dudley--James Dudley" | was no
quite willing to transfer the whole
ny identity to the dead, and changed
the Giles to James.
WAS he q relative?'
| shook my head, though / coulC
not have said why / denied it. Then
in answer 10 the detectives question
| told the story of the scufile in the
alley, and of the events that followed
Did you see any Of the men? Tc
recognize them, | mean?"
| described the leader as we'll as
was able-the man with the face OF
tern-aash.
Detective COogan lost his listless
air, and looked at me in astonish
ment.
4 don't see your game, Wilton" he
said.
I'm giving you the straight facts,
| said sullenly, a little disturbed by
his manner and tone.
well, in that case, I'd expect yoi
to keep the straight facts to your
self, my boy"
1t was my turn to be astonished.
We'll, that's my lookout" | saiG
with assumed carelessness.
Il don't see through YOU" said the
detective with some irritation. Il
you're playing with me to stop this
inquiry by dragging in-well, We
needn't use names-yOu'll find your
self in the hottest water you evej
struck"
You can do as you please" l sale
coolly.
The detective ripped out an oath.
IF | knew you were lying, Wilton
I'd clap you in Jail this minute"
We'll, if you want to take tbs
risks" | said smiling.
He looked at me for full minute
"Candidly, | don't, and you know
it," he said. But this is a sumner
on me. What's your game, anyhow
1 wished l knew.
so accomplished a detective SHOULD
not be at loss to answer so simple
u question.
We'll, there's only one course
! open, as | see he said with u grOan
We've got TO have a story ready fol
the papers and the coroner's jury.
This was Il new suggestion for me
and | was alarmed.
You can just forget your little tale
about the row in the alley he con
tinued. There's nothing to show
that it had anything to do with thi.
man here. Maybe it didn't happen
Anyhow, just think it was a dream
| This was Il waterfront row-touSL
saloon-killed and robbed by partie:
unknown. Maybe well have you, be
fore the coroner for the identified
ton, but maybe it's better not
nodded assent. My mind wa:
too numbed to suggest another
course.
The gray dawn was breaking
through the chill fog, and people
were stirring in the streets as De
tective Coogan led the way out of the
morgue. As we parted he gave me q
curious look.
Il suppose you know your own bust
ness, Wilton" he said, but suspect
you'd be a sight safer if Id clap yol
in Jail"
And with this consoling common
he was gone, and | was left in the
dawn of my first morning i'll Sal
Francisco, mind and body at the nadil
Of depression after the excitement
and pelils Of the night.
(TO BE CONTINUED