Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-04-05


weakness. II didn't know that It was
in me to cry for anything. but I find
that l can cry for her"
Hexford left his window. and Sweet
water slid from his. Next minute they
met at the stable door.
"Had luck7" whispered the local Of
fcer.
Enough to bring me here" acknowl.
edged the other.
"Do you mean to this house or to
this stable?'
ITO this stable"
"Have you heard that the horse was
out that nightT
Eyes: she was out"
"Who drivingr
"Ah. that's the question:
''This man can't tell you" ~
"But I'm going TO talk to film f6e all
that"
HE wasn't here that night. he wa
at a dance. He only knows that the
mare was OUT
But I'm going to talk to him"
MAY I come in tool I'll not inter
rupt I've just fifteen minutes ID
spare"
Hexford threw open the stable door.
and they both walked in. The coach
man was not visible, but they could
hear him moving above. grumbling to
himself.
'I'll be down In a minute" he called
out as their steps sounded on the hard.
wood floor.
Hexford sauntered over to the stalls.
Sweetwater stopped near the doorway
and glanced very carefully about him.
Nothing seemed to escape his eye. He
even took the trouble to peer into q
waste bin and was just on the point Of
lifting down a bit Of broken bottle
from an open cupboard when Brown
appeared dressed in his Sunday coat
and carrying a bunch Of fresh hot.
house roses
"Who's that man" he grunted to
Hexford.
Another Of u.s." replied Hexford,
with a shrug. Were both rather in.
terested in this gray horse"
wouldn't another time DOR plead.
ed the coachman, looking gravely
down at the flowers he held. "Its
most time for the funeral. and don't
feel like talking. indeed I don't. gen
tlemen."
His distress was 90 genuine that Hex.
ford was inclined to let him 60. but
Sweetwater with q cock Of bis keen
eye put in his word and held the
coachman where he was.
"The old gal Is telling me all about
It." muttered this sly. adaptable fellow.
He had sided up to the mare and their
heads were certainly very close to-
gether. mot touch her? See here!'
Sweetwater had his arm round the
nlly's neck and was looking straight
into her nery and Intelligent eye
'Shall I pass her story onr' hs asked,
with a magnetic smile at the astonish.
ed coachman.
you'll oblige me If you can put her
knowledge into words" the man IA.
dok declared. with one fascinated eye
on the horse and the other on the
house where he evidently felt that his
presence was wanted. 'She was out
that night ind I know It. - any
coachman would know who doesn't
come home stone drunk. But where
she was and who took her, get her to
tell If you can. for don't know no
more'n the dead"
"The deady' flashed out Sweetwater;
wheeling suddenly about and pointing
straight through the open stable doc,
toward the house where the young
mistress the old servant mourned lay
in her funeral casket do you mean
berthe lady who is about to be
buried? Gould she tell II her lips
were not sealed by murderer's hand r
"She!' The word came low and awe
somely. Rude and uncultured a. the
man was. he seemed to be strangely
affected by this unexpected suggestion
II haven't the wit to answer that,
said he. How can we tell what she
knew? The man who killed her II In
Jail. He might talk to some purpose
Why don't You question himY'
"For a very good reason" replied
Sweetwater. with an easy good nature
that was very reassuring. He wa
arrested on the spot, 20 that 1t wasn't
he who drove this mare home. unhar.
messed her. put her back in her stall,
locked the stable door and hung up
the key in its place in the Kitchen.
Somebody else did that"
that's true enough. and what does
It show? That the mare was out on
some other errand than the one which
ended in blood and MURDER" was the
coachman's unexpected retort.
'Ts that soT' whispered Sweetwater
into the mares cooked ear. "She's
nOf Ouito ponAv