Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-08-06

business. It's stage break all round.
1t gets me. Why is Hines handing out
that dope? Who is these here women?
How does 1t size up that Clements has
been here. according to deafy, Hines
never opening his head about him,
while at the same time Mains has
been here, according to Hines. deafy
never letting on, and both of 'em mum
on the swell petticoats? Somebody
made up the cipher asking for the
door-key, and s'posing he got it, that
would account for him; but then what
about all the others-how did they
get in? Who could be bringing Hines
ten thousand? II only had some way
of opening that Willie boys mouth"
He got as far as this In his solilo-
guy when he stopped. stared a mo-
ment into vacancy, and then. bringing
one hand down upon the other with a
smack of the palms. grabbed the tele-
phone receiver that stood on the desk
| and soon was In conversation with DR..
Furnivall
we got him now, all right he said
| jubilantly moment later to the po-
liceman. DR. Furnivall is on the way
here. He won't be ten minutes. He
thinks the man is dying-and SO he is,
for all know" he added virtuously.
palliating his mendacity to the doctor.
You go down and let him in, Usher,
so he won't ring"
The policeman. who never before
had seen DR.. Furnivall. was greatly
disappointed. as well as surprised. by
his appearance when he arrived. From
his reputation as an adept in occult.
ism he had expected to see. he scarce
ly knew what-a person wild-eyed and
long.haired, at least, with an uncanny
personality. like the performers OF the
levitation act on museum stages, or
the professors" Of hypnotism who put
sly-faced youths through funny stunts
before the rural audiences. And he
did not look for much from this unos-
tentatious. ordinary appearing gentle
man with the full beard. thick. colored
spectacles and quiet suit of black.
But II he was disappointed with the
doctors appearance he was more SO
with his methods. for. after Detective
Symonds had told him the story. indi-
eating what he should like to find out,
and DIR. FurnIvall approached the pa
tient with his questions. he made no
more use OF mystery. OF passes and
poses and hand.washings In the air
than any man would do In ordinary
conversation. He simply stood before
the reclining subject and. removing
his colored spectacles. said. looking
the young fellow In the eye:
"Mr. Hines. who shot your"
The policeman scarcely could re-
press n snIff OF contempt at this mild
procedure. and when Hines answered.
ms he had to the detective. Charlie
Mains" and then went on with the
story Just as he had told II before. tho
blue-coated shoulders rose in n shrug.
The thing was n farce and he was
about to consult the detective with his
eyes to see how he took 1t when no
noticed change In the speakers
countenance that riveted his atten-
ton. In the full flow Of his words he
stopped. his eyes fixed on the doctors.
n look OF surprise sprang into his
face. and this was succeeded almost at
once by n hesitnnt. appealing express.
sion. which gave way to a matterof.
fact content. changing slowly to earn
estness. and finally settling into a
look OF deep abstraction. Then he re-
sumed. in a voice without infection,
rs II machine were speaking:
Il shot myself"
The policeman and detective uttered
an exclamation, but DIR. Furnivall mo-
toned for silence.
Go on" he said to Hines. why
did you do II! Tell me the whole
story
The monotonous voice proceeded at
once, the eyes glued. as II were. to DIR.
Furnivalrs. but seeing only the page
OF memory within.
Il wanted some money. and as my
father would allow me only a trifie OF
two hundred a month I asked my sis
ter for 1t. She has enough in her own
right, but father forbade her giving
me any. because l don't just please
him In everything. and she didn't dare
to disobey him. But ! scared her into
promising at last. and she wrote to
me, in a cipher that we had played
with as children. asking for my key
and saying she would bring me ten
thousand-half what ! wanted. She
came. with a girl friend. and In trying
to frighten her into making the check
larger / snatchcd up my revolver.
was angry and desperate. and | don't
know whether ! meant to threaten her
or make her believe | would commit
suicide. But somehow the revolver
went OF. the bullet striking me in the
head. and they screamed and ran"
He stopped speaking. Symonds was
disguised.
"All this fine plant runs into a
measly little accident TO a measly
IittIe Willie-boy," he grunted. well.