Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-11-30

artlcie IN every well kept mouse. lie
wanted to show 1t to her. BIT. it was
too cold a day for her to stop outside.
Wouldn't she allow him to step in and
explain how her work could be ma
terially lessened and her labor turned
to play by a c%ontrivance so simple that
a child could run it?
1t was all so ridiculous in face of
this woman's quiet intelligence that
he laughed at his own words, and this
laughter. echoed by the child and in
another instant by the mother, made
everything so pleasant for the moment
that she insensibly drew back while
he pulled open the gate. only remark
ing al she led the way in:
81 was looking for my husband. He
may come any minute. and I'm afraid
he won't care much about c%ontrivances
to save me work-that is. if they cost
very much"
Sweetwater, whose hand was in his
pocket. drew it hastily out.
"You were watching for your hus-
band? Do you often stand in the open
doorway looking for him?"
Her surprised eyes met his with a
stare that would have embarrassed the
most venturesome book agent. but this
man was Of another ilk.
IF you do" he went on imperturb-
ably. how much l would give If you
had been standing there last Tuesday
night when a certain cutter and horse
went by on it's way up the hill"
She was d self contained woman,
this wife of a master mechanic in one
of the great shops hard by, but her
jaw fell at this. and she forgot to
chide or resist her child when he be-
gan to pull her toward the open kitch-
Ell door.
"You were looking out" ventured
Sweetwater. "And you did see that
horse and cutter. What luck! 1t may
save a mans life"
"Save!" she repeated. staggering back
a few steps and dragging the child
with her. Save a mans life! What
do you mean by that?"
mot much if it was any cutter and
any horse and at any hour. But if it
was the horse and cutter which left the
Whispering Pines at 10 or half past 10
that night then it may mean life or
death to the man now in Jail under
the dreadful charge Of murder"
Catching up her child, she slid into
the kitchen and sat down with it in
the first chair she came to. Sweetwa-
Tor fnl1nwinr IaY foo1- J,r I;c, c{o~I -,
the doorway, unobtrusive, but patient
ly waiting for her to speak.
"Who are you?' she asked at length.
"You have not told me your real bust
ness"
II am a detective on the lookout for
evidence in the case I have just men
toned. l have a theory that a most
important witness in the same drove
by here at the hour and on the night 1
have named. l want to substantiate
that theory. Can you help me?"
II can help you ome You make it
my duty, and I have never shrunk
from duty. A horse and cutter did
go by here on its way uphill last Tues
day night at about II o'clock. I re-
AHeAlpei tHe uouf ecduSe 1 was eX-
pecting my husband every minute, just
as I am now. He had some extra work
on hand that night which he expected
to detain him till II or a quarter after.
Supper was to be ready at a quarter
after. I heard the clock strike the
hour and ran to the front door to
look out. 1t was showing very hard,
and the road looked white and empty,
but as ! stood there a horse and cutter
came in sight. which, as it reached the
gate, drew up in a great hurry as if
something was the matter. Fright
ened, because I'm always thinking of
harm to my husband, whose work is
very dangerous, I ran out bareheaded