The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-03-02

gng as he came at his bristlng gray
mustache.
Il would like to talk to you in the
car" he said to me, with a curious
glance at the young lady
Cant it waltz | objected. I'VE
are on our way to cup OF coffee and
q slice of bacon BE merclul as you
are powerful
I'm afraid the breakfast will have
to wait" he replied. u won't keep
you long" There was note Of au-
thority in his voice which | resented;
but, after all, the circumstances were
unusual
We'll have to defer that cup of
coffee for while" ! said to the girl;
"but don't despair; there's breakfast
somewhere"
AS we entered the car, she stood
aside, but | felt rather than saw that
she followed us ! was surprised TO
see a 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 a new expression on the
faces of the passengers. The tall wom-
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 ominously The conductor said
nothing, but led the way without cere
mony to the side of the berth
whats the natter ! inquired |
was puzzled, but not apprehensiye.
"Have you some OF my things? I'd 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 1t was "A perceptible
time before | realized that the stains
were blood and that the faces around
were filled with suspicion and dis
trust
why. it--that looks like blood" |
said yacuously. There was an inces-
sant pounding in my ears, and the
conductors voice came from far on.
1T is blood" he asserted grimly.
looked around with dizzy at
tempt al nonchalance, Even II 1t Is,
demonstrated, surely you don't sup
pose for moment that | know any
thing about 1t,
/ The amateur detective elbowed his
way in lie had scrap OF transpar'
ent paper in his hand, and d pencil.
Il would like permission to trace
the stains, he began eagerly. Also
Ito me--"lf you will kindly jab your
finger with a pin--needle-anythlng--
"lf you don't keep out of this the
conductor said sayagely Il Will dc
some jabbing myself As for you
sir" he turned to me. | was alb
solutely innocent, but | knew that
presented typical picture OF guilt;
was covered with cold sweat, and the
pounding in my ears kept up dizzily
LAS for you, sir
The irrepressible amateur detective
made a quick pounce at the pillow ane
pushed back the cover Before our in
credulous eyes he drew out a narrow
steel dirk which had been buried tt
the small cross that served as a head
There was chorus Of voices
around, quick surging forward o
the crowd So that was what hat
scratched my hand | buried th'
wound in my coat pocket.
We'll. said, trying to speak natur
ally. doesn't that prove what ! have
been telling you? The man who com
mitted the murder belonged TO thi'
berth, and mnde an exchange in som'
way after the crime How do yo'
know he didn't change the tags so
would come back to this BERTH Thii
was an Inspiration; ! was please'