Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1910-11-10
CHAPTER vl-continued.

CHAPTER Vl-Continued
Then You haven't heard the rest o
the tragedy" asked. holding out The
case Its irightfully bad luck fol
me. but it makes a good story. Yo,
At that moment the conductor an,
porter ceased their colIoqlly. The con
dnctor came directly towara me. tug
slng as he came at his btsting gray
mustache
y would like 10 talk to you in ths
car" he said to ME. with a cui,iou.
s.@nce at the young lady.
Can't it wait q objected. I'VE
are on our way to a cup of coffee ane
slice of bacon. BE mercilul as yol
are powerful
I'm afraid the breakfast will have
10 wait, he replied "a Won't keel
You long There Was a note of au
thoritN in his voice which / res nto,i
but, after all, the circumstances We're
unusual.
Well have to defer that cup OF
coffee for a while" said to the girl;
but don't despair; there's breakfas,
somewhere
AS We entered the car, She stood
aside, but | felt rather than saw tha,
she followed us was surprised tc
see half dozen men gathered around
the berth in which had wakened
number seven. 1t had NOT yet been
made up.
AS we passed along the aisle, was
conscious of new expression on the
faces of the passengers The tall WON
an who had tainted was searching my
face with narrowed eyes. while the
stout woman OF the kindly heart
avoided my gaze. and pretended to
look out of the window.
As we pushed our way through the
group / fancied that it closed around
me omihonsly. The conductor said
nothing, but led the way without cere-
mony to the side of the berth.
What's the matter9" inquired ]
was puzzled, but not apprehensive
Have you some of my thingso Id be
thankful even for my shoes; these are
confoundedly tight"
Nobody spoke. and | fell silent, too.
For one of the pillows had been turned
over, and the under side of the white
case was streaked with brownish
stains. | think it was a perceptible
lime before realized that the stains
We're blood, and that the faces around
We're filled with suspicion and dis
trust
Why, it--that looks like blood"
said yacuously. There was an inces-
SAINT pounding in my ears, and the
conductors voice came from far off.
1t is blood" he asserted grimly.
| looked around with dizzy at
tempt at nonchalance Even if it is, =
] demonstrated, surely you don't sup
pose for a moment that | know any
thing about it,"
The amateur detective elbowed his
way in. He had scrap of transpar
.ent paper in his hand. and pencil.
II would like permission to trace
the stains" he began eagerly. Also
to me-'.if you will kindly jab your
finger with a pin needle anything
If you don't keep out of this. the
conductor said sayagely. Il will do
some jabbing myself AS for you,
sir" he turned to me. | was abb
solutely innocent, but knew that
presented a typical picture of guilt;
was covered with cold sweat, and the
pounding in my ears kept up dizzily.
AS for you. sir
made quick pounce at the pillow and
pushed back the cover. Before our in
credulous eyes he drew out narrow
steel dirk which had been buried to
the small cross that served as a head
There was chorus of voices
around, quick surging forward of
the crowd So that was what had
scratched my hand. ] buried the
wound in my coat pocket
Well" said, trying to speak natnr
ally, doesn't that prove what have
been telling you? The man who com
mitted the murder belonged to this
berth, and made an exchange in some
way after the crime. How do you
know he didn't change the tags so /
would come back to this BERTH" This
was an inspiration; | was pleased
with 1t. That's what he did, he
changed the tags. reiterated
There was murmur of assent
around The doctor, who was stand
ing beside me. put his hand on my