The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-06-27


Calvert" he said IN stern tone Of
command. Go up stairs and verify
this story. Lieutenant King will re-
main where he Is until your return"
As young Dunn hastily left the room
! turned TO meet the deep set eyes Of
bis father
why didn't you go out that win
dow also:" he asked blunt!y. You
could probably have escaped"
YES" l answered. "and you would
have believed forever that was the
murderer
That wouldn't have hurt you any:
the killing OF one OF the enemy by a
scout in time of war is not considered
murder. Your army would have pro-
tes.ted you"
81 am not that kind Of man. Judge
Dunn"
~ don't know what sort you may
BE-" be returned slowly. but In this
case II seems 10 me you are either q
fool or q wise knave. and there b not
very wide difference between tho
two You evidently expect this volun-
tary surrender will clear you OF all
suspicion
No: ii simply means ! intend to re-
main and face the suspicion. The
man upstairs was killed by knife
thrust: | possess no knife The one
who killed him dropped from the win.
dow. leaving his bloody finger marks
on the sill. The morning will re-.
veal his imprint on the ground be
meath. Ny act Is neither that OF u foot
nor that of u knave; ! prefer being "a
prisoner rather than to have this foul
crime charged against me-"
We must have waited there for ten
minutes. no one spen king. the Judge
gain: full at me. as II I were a prls.
Oner before his court. the big frame Of
DonaId completely blocking the donr-
way. Miss Dunn was crying softly,
and ! thought Jean was bes side her,
but did not venture to glance toward
them. Suddenly Calvert DunD c:ltne
down the halt. holding in his hand q
lighted lantern.
'i.lcutenant Navarro is iyin:: dead in,
Jeans roon.' lie said shortly. evident.
ly striving TO speak calmly. yet with
trembling voice He was stabbed in
the throat With n knife and apparent.
ly given little opportunity for defense.
as there are no evidences OF struggle
There is light still burning in his
own room. further down the hall. and
| believe Navarro was in there seek.
ing his revolver. when he heard some
noise IN the front of the use. ca,Is-
ing him TO investigate The hidden 49,
sassin must have sprung upon him In
the dark -
"YOu found other evidences?
'Comparn:iveIy little There are
marks OF blood on the sill OF the oIcn
window. not finger marks. merely
spiashes. The roadway Is below. and
a man dropping from that height
would leave no impress on the packed
ashes. fonnd this knife in tI.s
bushes. where 1t could easily have
been thrown from the window"
The full meaning OF all this burst
upon my mind In horror. Instead OF
tended rather to bind closer the chains
OF guilt.
| "Do you mean"-
Il mean Ihis. Mr.. Lieutenant King
OF the Federal army" ana his black
eyes blaZed INTO mine with angry in
soieh'e thar YOU. anu you only. are
the murderer of Lnci,is Navarro"
| saw the tlash of revolver in his
| iilnd; felt the iron grip of Big Donald
on me struck o,it rncI,icss'y at Cal
vert Dunn. maddened by those black,
nipu F1IS
my blow. heard the discharge of his
revolver MS he went down. aud strug-
gled desperately to break loose from
the grip of the giant who heid me. It
was all the work OF a. wild nouieur.
The next lay unconscious on The door.
| came to myself confused by my
surroundings. but with mind compare.
lively clear. was lying on some
blankets in one corner OF the cellar.
OF daylight streamed in. enabling me
to perceive something of the desolate
interior My head throbbed from the
blow that had felled me. and was
bound about With linen napkin.
Drops OF perspiratinn beaded my fore
head as ! thought Of those accusing
facts pointing so directly toward me.
! was held murderer; the word
seemed to burn into my brain as
though formed OF fire: even Jean Den.
SLOW could believe in me no longer
not With al! that crushing evidence
dragging me down to infamy Her
name fingered on my lips in dread as
! bowed my head in my hands: then
some way 1t came back as an inspira.
ton
sat staring into the darkest corner
OF the cellar. yet seeing nothing ex-
cept the vision OF that young girl
her slender figure. her bright. earnest
race. her light fluffy hair. her gray
blue eyes shining beneath the long
lashes She was my wife. my wife:
the law said so. and yet could