Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1911-10-05

his guilt. Look at his hands. We
caught him trying to get away"
The coroner rose. He believed in
doing things promptly.
Il congratulate you, captain. Quick
work like this ought to do your repu-
tation good. The community owes q
debt to the officers of the law if they
succeed in experimenting criminals
quickly. You've been getting some
pretty hard knocks lately, but l guess
you know your business"
The captain grinned broadly.
Il guess l do. Don't we, Maloneyr
Eyes, cap.," said Maloney, quietly.
The coroner turned to go.
well, there's nothing more for me
to do here. The man is dead. Let
justice take its course" Addressing
the undertaken, he said:
you can remove the body"
The men set about the work i'm
%mediately. Carrying the corpse into
the inner room, they commenced the
work Of laying it out.
II suppose" said the coroner, that
you'll take your prisoner Immediately
to the station house, and before the
magistrate tomorrow morning."
Not just yet" grinned the captain
81 want to put a few questions to him
first"
The coroner smiled.
You're going to put him through
the third degree Ell? Every ones
heard of your star-chamber ordealG
Are they really so dreadful"
"Nonsense!" laughed the captain.
1--WE wouldn't harm a baby, would We,
Maloney?"
The sergeant quickly Endorsed hts
chiefs opinion.
mo, cap"
Turning to go, the coroner said:
well goodnight, captain"
Goodnight, Mr.. Coroner"
Howard listened to all this like one
transfixed. They seemed to be talh
ing about him. They were discussing
some frightful ordeal Of which he wa
to be a victim. What was this third
degree they were talking about? Nov
he remembered. He had heard Of in
nocent men being bullied, m~altreated
deprived Of food and sleep for days
in order to force them to tell wha
the police we're anxious to find out
He had heard of secret assaults, o
midnight %clubbings, of prisoners beinl
choked and brutally kicked by a gam
Of rufflanly policemen, in order t.
force them into some damaging ad
: mission. A chill ran down his spin
!. as he realized his utter h~elplessnest
If he could only get word to a lawyer
' Just as the coroner was d~isappearinI
-. through the door, he darted forwar
and laid a hand on his arm
i Mr.. Coroner, won't you listen I
= mel" he exclaimed.
The coroner startled, drew back.
81 cannot interfere" he said cold!
= "Mr. Underwood was a friend {
u mine," explained Howard. 81 cam
here to borrow money. l fell aslee
on that sofa. When l woke up b
was dead. l was frightened. l trie
to get away. That's the truth, 1
{ help me Cod"
. The coroner looked at him STERN
n and made no reply. No n cou-
Il ever reproach him with sympathizir
with criminals. Waving his hand
Capt. Clinton, he said:
Goodnight, captain"
70 Goodnight, Mr.. Coroner"
III The door slammed and Capt. eli
r ton, with a twist of his powerful arl
Is yanked his prisoner back into b
" seat. Howard protested.
q you've got no right TO treat I
IT, like this. You exceed your power
s. l demand to be taken before a mag
10 trate at once"
II The captain grinned, and pointed
d the clock.
as SAY, young Teller, zee what time
n is? Two-thirty a. m. Our good ms
As istrates are all comfy in their vir
b. GUS beds. Well have to wait
b morning"
he CTO BE CONTINUED)