Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-07-22

Ouly, anu 1 SCdICeIy huOH tuSul at olis
They said that they had been married
a year, and that their name was Tru-
70. They seemed to have plenty OF
money, and were very pleasant, the
handsomest couple l ever saw in my
life, and were wholly wrapped up in
each other"
What was the mans ~business?"
81 don't think he>had any business.
l think he had plenty of money. He
always paid his bills promptly, any
way"
"Yes-for two weeks. Good judg-
ment!" grunted the sergeant, cyni-
cally. We'll" he continued, who do
they know-who calls on them?"
Il can't say whom they know, but in
all the time they have been here only
n person has come to see them, and
that was a woman"
At this moment the wounded mar
groaned, and the physician who was
caring for his hurt put his ear to the
lips which we're moaning some scarce
ly ineligible words.
Coward! Oh, coward, coward" the
doctor thought he said.
Can he TALK" the sergeant asked,
eagerly, coming nearer.
Coward! coward! coward" the pa
tient groaned again, this time in a
stronger tone, the syllables sounding
distinctly.
ASK him who shot him." whispered
the officer to the medical examiner.
The groaning man suddenly opened
his eyes and looked at the sergeant.
What are you here for-what has
happened" he asked, family.
Here, take this" said the doctor,
putting a restorative to the pale lips.
He gulped it painfully, the doctor hold
ing his head. Then he closed his eyes
YEARLY.
Cant you tell who shot your" the
sergeant insisted, speaking in a low
voice, but with a trace of command
in it.
The eyes flew open again, the man
attempted to raise his body and look
toward the bed. but the effort was
too much for him. He sank back,
stammering one word:
"Sh-sh-she?"
The doctor laid a soothing hand on
his. The patient looked pitifully into
his eyes and understood.
ooh, God! Coward! coward! cow
ard" he cried, with bitter energy.
But who was he?" said the SER
geant, advancing still nearer and look
ing down into the handsome eyes.
81 don't know" he answered.
But how did he get in here? Mrs.
Philpots saw him slide out-he was
in here all right. He didn't fire
through the winder, or this door. Did
you see him at all? Tell us how 1t
was"
With great difficulty, and making
many pauses for breath, he succeeded
in informing them that in the night
he had been suddenly awakened by a
noise in his room, and saw a man at
the pockets of his trousers which hung
on hooks near the foot of the bed. The
weather being extremely hot the win
dows we're open, and the shades, raised
to their full height, allowed enough
moonlight to enter to enable him to
see that the figure was that of a man,
and that was about all. His face was
undiscernible. He could not tell how
the intruder was dressed. Immediately
he made a movement to spring from
bed and grapple with the thief, but
his wife, who must have been awake,
threw herself upon him, whispering:
Let him take what there is and go
Don't risk your life, dear. He has q
pistol" At that instant the burglar
fired, the wife receiving the shot. The
husband sprang to the floor ant
rushed upon the man, who then free
again and ran from the room, pursued
by the victim only as far as the sofa
where he collapsed. He supposed thu
villain had gained entrance through
the window. 1t was ONE common
thief, who wanted money and, beini
detected, had shot them in order t.
escape.
"You called him a coward becaus
{ he shot a woman, then, and not be
cause you knew him." the sergean
asked.
Certainly. A thousand times We!
t How could / be supposed to know
common theft"
: Two of the policemen, who had bee
searching the premises for evidence
approached the sergeant with a ma
attired only in a shirt and trouser
He was one of the several dodgers VIII
n had crept down from their rooms I
the parlor to see what the trouble wa
It but had been excluded by the officer
it "This Teller says he seen a woma
come up the steps," said one Of IL
4. policemen.
t. "A woman!" the sergeant exclaime
1t The official was a big, bluff, choler
appealing parsonage, and he regardt
III the new witness with belligerent eye
But the newcome smiled amiably.
,r my room Is two flights up, ov
le this one,' he said. "The night was
" hot that | put my head out Of the wi
dow for air, and | saw a woman cor
W down the street and up our front steI
/ listened, but didn't hear her cor
e- in. Pretty Dor l heard a shot, al
he after that an awful screaming"
e. but that must have been Mrs. Pm
pots that screamed-long afterwart
ID. And how could you tell 1t was a wo