The Ordway new era., 1911-11-10

NIB ne ulu HOt Will LOT any un-
due physical adornmcnt In an in.
credibly short space of time he came
out sufficiently clad for decency. and
grabbing the young man by the arm
he fairly ran down the corridor to-
ward the elevator. The late diners
were astonished us Colonel Bill and
the young cub forced their way
through the crowded hall to tho auto.
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 as he
left his bed room.
get lis down to the office In double
quick timc." said the cub reporter to
the chauffeur. Never mind about
fines. Bust up the machine. II neces.
sary; but get us there! That's the
old mans orders. We haven't got any
time to spare" he yelled. as the big
car started
porter. plotting him into the elevator
at once, Here you are!" he ex-
claimed after a wild sweep upward.
He led him through couple of
doors and ushered him into big
brightly lighted room where two men
| sat.
"Col. Bill Hamilton. SIR" said Ab.
bott breathlessly. He almost felt like
saluting and saying. Come aboard.
sir!"
'"Thirtytwo minutes" said the night
| editor. looking at his watch. VERY
well 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 inconsiderable In corner whence
he could hear and see everything.
| ,fon 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?"
1--WE do"
"Wcll what is IT,"
''Read this" said the editor.
| Colonel Bill fished pair OF spec
tacles ont of his side pocket and de.
liberatcly perched them astride of his
nose. lie read the letter through very
slowly. The night editor was in a
fever of impatience. Even the imper-
turbablc editor.in-chief was consider.
ably more agitated than usual.
The night editor groaned over the
long wlndedness of the frontiersman.
"What's the matter. sonny" asked
Colonel Bill solicitously. Amt sick.
are you?"
| "NO no." wns the answer
but go on. please. Colonel Hamil.
ton," said the editor: land will you be
rs 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"
81 sec.' was the reply. well. then.
all That's written in that papers true
enough; but he amt told all the
TRUTH"
Would you mind telling us what
has been suppressed or left out?'
THE mans wife was run away with
as Gormly, or Fordyce rs l knowed
him. says on that night he indicates.
that the woman's husband was left
dyin' on the cabin floor
YES"
Neg mornin', some of us. suspi-
cionin' that there might've been some
trouble. after the storm died out. got
up crowd and went over to the
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 box. From
worn envelope he drew forth worn
piece of paper, on which was written
in pencil that was very much faded.
but still sufficiently 'legible. a brief
message. Colonel Bill unfolded the
paper. yellow with age. and handed 1t
TO the editor, who seized 1t. turned to
the light, and read:
81 killed him. but 1t was in self de.
fcnse.-Fordyce."
That's the first bit of evidence"
he said.
The editor nodded. THAT settles
it,"
NO. 1t 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
Pet" Breeden--that was his name
! always would respond to-" he inter-
polated. And he managed to say
| few Words
What were they?"
"Eie said that his wife shot him and
run off with Fordyce."
Anything more?"
Then he died"
81 see," said the editor. "Gormly
| took the blame upon himself to shield
| the woman"
1T will be Colonel Hamilton's un-
| supported statement against this writ
| ten confession, though" interposed the
night editor.