The searchlight., 1911-12-08

I Colonel Hamltoa was . gooa q
his word. He did not wait for aay n
due physical adornment = a h
credibly short space Of tims hs eams
out sufficiently clad for decency, end
grabbing the yeang man By tie arm
he fairly ran down the corridor 70.
ward the elevator. The late diners
were astonished a. Colonel Bin and
the young cub forced their way
through the crowded han to the auto.
mobile outside. The colonel had not
forgotten the munitions Of war, and
he carried . tin box In Als hand which
he had snatched from Als table q he
left his bed room.
Get W down TO the smce In double
quick time." said the sub reporter 70
the chauffeur. Never mind about
fines. Bust up the machine, II neces-
sary; but get us thep! That's the
old mans orders. We Saven't got any
time to spare" he ysAsd, - the big
car started.
This way. SIR" sald the cub ~
porter. plotting him isAo the elevator
at once. Here yoa ars!" he sx.
claimed after . Wild svssp upward.
He led him through Q couple Of
doors and ushsrsd htm iato Q bio
brightly lighted room yhsrs two men
sat
"Col. Bill Hamilton sir" said Ab.
bott brsathlsssly. He slmost felt IKE
saluting and saying 1Come aboard.
sir!"
"Thirty-two minuteaS said the night
editor. looking at hi watch. "vsry
well DONE"
"Mr. Abbott, you may remain hero
II you wish." said the editor to the
cub. TT will be Interesting for you
to hear"
Thank you. SIR" sale the delighted
young reporter, making himself small
and inconsiderable in . corner whence
he could hear and see everything.
"You must excuse me-" said the Cd.
itor. for having brought you down
here % summarily at this hour Of the
night, but affairs Of great moment
You want to know about 0ormlyf r
We do"
well, what IL itf.
Read this" said the editor.
Colonel Bill flshed . pair Of $3.50
tacles out Of his side pocket and d
liberately perched them astrids Of hia
nose. He read the letter through vsry
slowly. The night editor was In &
fever of impatience. Even the impsr
turbable editor-in-chisf was consider
ably moro agitated than usual.
The night editor groaned over the
long windedness Of the frontiersman
whats the matter. sonnyf" askst
Colonel Bill solicitously. Amt sick
are your"
mo, no." was the answer.
But 60 on. please. Colonel Hamil
ton," said the editor; and viii you b.
as explicit as possible. We are hold
ing up the paper In the hope that yol
may be able to throw some light OF
this matter. and time 10 of the great
est importance"
Il see." was the reply. well. then
all that's written In that papers tru'
enough; but he amt told all tn
truth"
Would you mind telling W wha
has been suppressed or left outr'
The mans wife was run away witt
as Gormly. or Fordyce a. I knows'
him. says on that night he indicates
that the woman's husband was lef
dyin' on the cabin floor"
Yes"
Mex mornin', some Of US, suspi
cionin' that there might've been som,
trouble, after the storm died cut 60
up a crowd and went over to th,
mans shack. We found him there
"Dead!" asked the editor.
Not yet. but mighty nigh gone"
Colonel Bill drew from his pocket {
key and unlocked the tin boz. From
worn envelope he drew forth . wor,
piece Of paper. on which was writer
In pencil that was very much faded
but still suniciently legible. . brie
message. Colona Bill unfolded tn
paper. yellow WITH age. and handed
to the editor. who seized II. turned b
the light. and read:
II killed him. but It was In self d
fense.-Fordyce."
That's the nrst DIT OF evidence.
he said.
The editor nodded. THAT settle
It."
mo, II don't" vas the reply. 70
when We got there a. said. he warn
dead. and We managed to revive hiI
with . good drink Of liquor. whic
Pete Breeden-thst was his name
always would repond to-" he intel
polated. And he managed TO say
few words"
What were thN?"
He said that hb wife shot him IN
run on with For&ce."
Anything more
"Then he died"
" II see," said the editor. ''0orml
. took the blame up>n himself to shiel