Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-11-17

Colonel Hamilton vas he good e.
his word. He did not watt for any IN
due physical adornment. In an In.
credibly short space Of time he came
out sufficiently clad for decency, and
grabbing the young mar by the 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 auto
mobile outside. The colonel had not
forgotten the munitions of war. and
he carried a tin box In his hand which
he had snatched from his table as he
left his bed room.
Get us down to the ONCE In double
quick time." 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. a. 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 a wild sweep upward.
He led him through a couple Of
doors and ushered him into a big
brightly lighted room where two men
sat.
Col. Bill Hamilton, sir" said Alb
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 remaia 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 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 Gormlyf r
I'VE do
We'll. what Is ~"
Read this" said the editor.
Colonel BIZ fshed a pair Of spec
tacles out Of his side pocket and de.
liberateiy perched them astride OF his
nose. He read the letter through very
slowly. The night editor was In a
fever Of impotence. Even the inper.
turbable editor-in-chief was consider.
ably more agltated than usual.
The night editor groaned over the
long w~indedness OF the frontiersman.
Whats the matter, sonny?" asked
Colonel Bill solicitously. Amt sick,
are you?"
"No, no." was the answer.
But go on, please. Colonel Hamil'
ton" said the editor; and will you be
as explicit as possible. W. are hold
Ing up the paper In the hope that you
may be able to throw some light or
this matter, and time Is of the great
est Importance"
81 see," was the reply. We'll. then
all that's written In that papers true
enough; but he amt told all thu
truth"
would you mind telling US wha
has been suppressed or left out?"
THE mans wife was run away Will
as Gormly, or Fordyce as l knowet
him, a y on that night he indicates
that the woman's husband was lief
dyin' on the cabin floor"
Yes"
Mex mornin', some OF us, suspi
cionin' that there might've been som
trouble, after the storm died out, go
up a crowd and went ove to thu
mans shack. We found him there
"Dead?" asked she 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 a worr
piece of paper, on which was writer
In pencil that was very much faded
but still sufficiently legible. a brie
message. Colonel Bill unfolded thu
paper, yellow with age. and handed l
to the editor, who seized 1t. turned II
the light, and read:
81 killed him, but II 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. "FoI
when we got there. as / said. he warn
dead, and we managed to revive hin
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 ant
run on with Fordyce."
Anything more?"
! Then he died"
Ii II see," said the editor. "Gorml!
3 took the blame upon himself to shiel'
the woman"
1T will be Colonel Hamilton's I'm
r supported statement against this writ
ten confession, though" interposed tn
: night editor.
. well, as 1t happens" was the re
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