Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1911-12-15

Il
credibly short space Of time he same
out sufficiently clad for decenc,. and
grabbing the young man by tbs arm
he fairly ran down the corridor to-
ward the elevator. The late diners
were astonished as Colonel Bill and
the young cub forced their way
through the crowded hall to the auee-
mobile outside. The colonel had not
forgotten the munitions Of war, and
he carried tin box In his hand which
he had snatched from his table a. he
left his bed room.
Get us down to the office in double
quick time," said the cub reporter to
the chauffeur. Never mind about
fines. Bust up the machine, IL neces-
sary; but get us there! That's the
old mans orders. We haven't got any
time to spare" he yelled, al the big
car started.
"This way, sir" said the cub re-.
porter, plotting him into the elevator
at once. "Here you are!" he ex.
claimed after wild sweep upward
He led him through a couple Of
doors and ushered him into big
brightly lighted room where two men
sat.
"Col. Bill Hamilton, SIR" said Abb
bolt breathlessly. He almost felt like
saluting and saying. Come aboard,
sir!"
"Thirty-two minutes" said the night
editor. looking at his watch. Very
we'll DONE"
"Mr. Abbott. you may remain here
II you WISH" said the editor to the
cub. 1T will be interesting for you
to hear"
Thank you, SIR" said the delighted
young reporter, making himself small
and inccnsiderable in a corner whence
he could hear and see everything.
you must excuse me-" said the ed
itor, for having brought you down
here so summarily at this hour of the
night, but affairs of great moment"
You want to know about Gormly r
1--WE do"
"Well, what is it,"
Read this" said the editor.
Colonel Bill fished a pair of spec.
tacles out of his side pocket and de-
liberately perched them astrtde Of his
nose. He read the letter through very
slowly. The night editor WAS in a
fever Of impotence. Even the imper-
turbable editor-in-chief was consider.
ably more agitated than usual.
The night editor groaned over the
long windedness of the frontiersmMn
What's the matter. sonny?" asked
Colonel Bill solicitously. Amt SICK
are you?"
mo, no." was the answer.
"But go on, please, Colonel Hamfl-
ton," said the editor; land will you be
as explicit as possible. We are hold
ing up the paper in the hope that you
may be able to throw some light on
this matter, and time Is Of the great.
est Importance"
II -see." was the reply. well, then.
all that's written in that papers true
enough; but he amt told all the
| truth" M
would you mind telling us what
has been suppressed or left out?"
1.-The mans wife was run away with
as Gormly, or Fordyce as knowed
him, says on that night he indicates,
that the woman's husband was left
dyin' on the cabin foor."
YES"
Mex mornin', some Of us, suspi
cionin' that there might've been some
trouble, after the storm died out, got
up a crowd and went over to the
mans shack. We found him there"
"Dead?" asked the editor.
mot yet, but mighty nigh gone"
Colonel Bill drew from his pocket
key and unlocked the tin box. From
a worn envelope he drew forth worn
piece of paper, on which was written
in pencil that was very much faded
but still sufficiently legible, briei
message. Colonel Bill, unfolded the
paper, yellow with age. and handed 1t
| to the editor, who seized it, turned to
the light, and read:
II killed him, but 1t was in self de.
fense.-Fordyce."
That's the first bit Of evidence"
he said.
The editor nodded. "That settles
it."
mo, It don't" was the reply. For
when we got there, as said, he warn't
dead, and we managed to revive him
with a good drink Of liquor. which
Pete Breeden-that was his name
always would respond TO-" he inter-
polated. "And he managed to say
few words"
What were they?"
"He said that his wife shot him and
run OF with Fordyce."
Anything more?"
"Then he died."
u see," said the editor. "Gormly
took the blame upon himself to shield
the woman"
1T will be Colonel Hamilton's I'M
supported statement against this writ
ten confession, though" interposed the
night editor.
well, as it happens" was the 70
My, 1.-The statement amt unsupport'
ed"
What morer' asked the editor.
This"