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


to the gate, when I saw why the man
in the sleigh was making me such wild
gestures. His hat had blown of and
was lying close up against the fence in
front of me. Anxious always to oblige.
I made haste to snatch at it and carry
It out to its owner. l received a sort
Of thank you and would never have re-
membered the occurrence II it had not
been for that murder and if''-she
paused doubtfully-"if hac not rec.
ognized the horse"
"Didn't you recognize the MANI"
mo. The snow was binding; be-
sides. he wore a high collar. in which
his head was sunk down almost out
Of sight"
"But the horse
"Was one which is often driven by
here. Ask any one on the hill IN what
stable you can find a gray horse with
q large black spot on his left shoulder.
Now must dish up my dinner"
"Just one question, madam. Was the
hat what folks call a derby? Like
this one. madam" he explained. draw
ing his own from behind his back.
Eyes, think 90. As well as can
remember it was like that. I'm afraid
I didn't do 1t any good by my han
ding. I had to clutch 1t quick, and
I'm sure bent the brim, to say moth
ing Of smearing it with -four marks.
I had been cutting out biscuits, and
my hands were white with four" she
explained simply.
Sweetwater made one Hnal plea. and
that was for her name.
ELIZA Simmons" was the straight
forward reply. and this ended the in
terview.
Sweetwater went on up the hill.
Toward the top he came upon livery
stable. Stopping in his good humored
way. he entered into talk with q man
lettering inside the great door. Be
fore he left him he had asked him
these questions:
"Any grdy horse In town.
Yes, one. It belongs to q respecta-
bic family. There's a funeral there
today
''Not Miss Cumberland'sv' exciaim-
ed Sweetwater. all agog in a moment
yes, Miss Cumberland's."
The next turn Sweetwater took was
toward the handsome residence dis
trict browning the hill.
Fifteen minutes later he stood in a
finely wooded street before an open
gateway guarded by policeman.
Showing his badge. he passed in and
entered a long and slightly curved
driveway. As he did 30 he took q
glance at the house. It was not a. pre-
tentious as he expected. but infinitely
more inviting.
The ceremonies had been set for s
o'clock. and it was now half past 2.
Az Sweetwater reached the head Of
the driveway he saw the first Of a
long nle Of carriages approaching up
the street
Lucky that my business takes me
to the STABLE" thought he what IL
the coachman's name? l ought to re-
member it. All! Zadok-Zadok Brown.
There's combination for your
He had reached this point in his
soliloQuy-a bad habit Of his. for It
sometimes took audible expression
when he ran against another police
man set to guard the side door. A
moments parley and he left this man
behind, but not before he had noted
this door and the wide and hospitable
veranda which separated it from the
driveway.
II am willing to 60 all odds that I
shall find that veranda the most in
teresting part Of the house." he re-
marked in quiet conviction to himself
as he noted its nearness to the stable
and the ease with which one could
step from it into a vehicle passing
down the driveway.
1t had another point of interest, or.
rather. the wing had to which it was
attached As his eye Travelled back
across this wing in his lively walk
toward the stable he caught a pass
ing glimpse Of nurses face and fg-
ure in one Of its upper windows.
Once around the corner. be perceiv-
ed that the stable door was closed,
but that window well up the garden
side was open. Encountering no
watchful eye. he stepped up to the
stable window and peered in.
A man sat with his back to him pol
fishing bit Of harness. This was prob
ably Zadok. the coachman. Sweetwa-
ter suddenly experienced a momenta-
~ confusion by observing the head
and shoulders Of Policeman Hexford
leaning toward him from an opposite
wind0w-in much the same fashion
and certainly with exactly the same
intent as himself As their glances
crossed both flushed and drew back.
only to return again. each to his sever
al peephole. Neither meant to lose
the advantage Of the moment. Both
had heard Of the gray horseNn wish.