Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-04-13

| low.
""Thats what mean,' said; split
| to kindling wood because Rafferty,, on
| the second section, didn't want to be
late
"He put his hand out in front OF
him, and the satchel fell with bang.
"'My God!' he said, and dropped
right on the track in heap.
81 got him into the station and he
came around, but he kept on groaning
| something awful. He'd sprained his
ankle and when he got little better
drove him over in Carriers milk wag-
on to the Carter place, and I reckon
he stayed there a SPELL"
That's all, is it?" I asked
"That's all-or, no, there's some
thing else. About noon that day one
of the Carter twins came down with
a note from him asking me to send
long-distance message to some one
in Washington"
ITO whom?" l asked eagerly.
'T reckon I've forgot the name, but
the message was that this fellow
Sullivan was his name-was at M,
and if the man had escaped from the
wreck would he come to see him."
'He wouldn't have sent that mes
sage to me-" 1 said to Mcknight, rath-
er crestfallen. He'd have every OBJ
ject in keeping out of my way"
There might be reasons" Nc
Knight observed judicially. 'He
might not have found the papers
then"
was the name Blakeley?" asked.
ct might have been-I can't say.
But the man wasn't there, and there
was a lot of noise. 1 couldn't hear
we'll. Then in half an hour down came
the other twin to say the gentleman
was taking on awful and didn't want
the message sent"
Hes gone, of course?"
Eyes. Limped down here in about
three days and took the noon train for
the city"
1t seemed a certainty now that our
man, having hurt himself somewhat
in his jump, had stayed quietly in the
farm house until he was able to trav-
ell. But, to be positive, we decided to
visit the Carter place.
l gave the station agent a five-dol-
lar bill, which he rolled up with
couple of others and stuck in his
pocket. I turned as we got to a bend
in the road, and he was looking curl
ously after us.
1t was not until we had climbed the
hill and turned onto the road to the
Carter place that realized where we
were going. Although we approached
it from another direction, knew the
farm house at once. 1t was the one
where Alison West and l had break
tasted nine days before. With a new
restraint\ between us, 1 did not tell
Mcknight. | wondered afterward if
he had suspected it. / saw him look
ing hard at the gatepost which had
figured in one of our mysteries but he
asked no questions. iAfterward he
grew almost taciturn, for him, and let
me do mcEt of the talking.
We opened the front gate of the
Carter place and went slowly up the
walk Two ragged youngsters, alike
even to freckles and squints, were
playing in the yard.
"Is your mother around?" l asked.
I'm the front room. Walk in,' they
answered in identical tones.
AS we got TO the porch we heard
voices, and stopped l knocked, but
the people within, engaged in animat-
ed, rather one-sided conversation, did
not answer.
I'm the front room Walk in"
quoted Mcknight, and did so.
In the stuffy farm parlor two peo-
pie were sitting. One, a pleasant
faced woman with a checked apron,
rose, somewhat, embarrassed, to meet
us. She did not know me, and | was
thankful. But our attention was riv-
eted on a little man who was sitting
before a table, writing busily. 1t was
Hotchkiss!
He got up when he saw us, and had
the grace to look uncomfortable.
Such an interesting case" he said
nervously, 'T took the liberty"
Look here" said Mcknight sud-
denly, "did you make any inquiries
at the station?"
Il
the theater last night felt the need
of little relaxation-and the sight Of
a picture there, cinematograph af-
fair, started a new line of thought.
Probably the same clew brought you
gentlemen. learned a good bit from
the station agent"
''The son-of-a-gun," said Mcknight.
"And you paid him, suppose?"
Il gave him five dollars" was the
apologetic answer.
Mrs. Carter, hearing sounds of
strife in the yard, went out, and
Hotchkiss folded up his papers.
81 think the identity of the man is
established he said. What number
Of hat do you wear, Mr. Blakeley?"
Seven and a quarter" replied.
well, it's only piling up evidence"
he said cheerfully. "On the night of
the murder you wore gray silk under
IL