Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01
BY SAMUEL HOPKINS ADAMS

with the winds, and Wlzened by weather. Chester
Kent passed through the little group of farmers into
the hallway where the body lay. He examined it
briefly but carefully, paying particular attention
to the hands. In the corner huddled old Pinder,
apparently stunned with grief Very gently Kent
aroused him from his semitorpor, and tried to
obtain from him description of the visitor.
But the poor old fellow only shook his head help
1essly.
Cant tell you nothin' bout the man, sab:
more'n I've tot these other gentl'men he said.
"And you nothing more of him after he and
your master left the house together?' asked Kent.
The old man raised his head "Yessuh. Oh,
: yessuh, sholy did,
"Where?'
a see him go out on the rivah bank beyon the
i barn an frow the gun into the rivah.7
With his unfaing habit of exhaustive observa-
ton, Kent had noted that the river bank beyond
line:
! "Not into the river surely, he said "The gun
must have fallen on the beach.
"No, sub, persisted the old man. Way out in
the rivah 1 see the splash. OF Pindahs eyes jes'
good hawks fer far-of seem.
Slowly Chester Kent long fingers went to his ear
and plucked at the lobe tentatively. He dropped
the ear, and took up the heavy poker, which he
handed to the negro
"Show me how he threw the gun into the river
he ordered
Without hesitation, Pinder seized the poker bv
the end with both hands, and swung it in awk-
ward circles about his head.
Like hammer thrOwer, muTmured Kent Hes tell
ing the truth. That is the only the gun could have
been thrown so far, and that mighty heave7
Lifting of the rough sheet that covered the
corpse, he looked at the hands again.
"Pnder, he said. "was your master boxer"
"Him? Goshus! No, sub. He wouldn't hit fy.7
OUTSIDE, Kent found Cyrus Reed talking to some
- of the farmers. He beckoned him away, and they
crossed the fields together to the rver bank. There
Kent selected piece of dead branch and tried to hur it
into the river. 1t fell thirty yards short
"Whats that ior?" inquired the reporter.
Kent explained. "The next thing, | suppose, is to
drag the river. very much wish to see that gun
mo use, said the other IF the gun fell more than
ten yards from the bank the may have taken it
anywhere. There's powerful under drag.
"ChecS there, said Kent regretfuy. "Wel how
much of autopsy performed"
"Oh the most casual kind. The of death too
obvious and the Coroners was half drunk, anyway
"Did you notice the hands,
ayes: they were badly shot to pieces.
"Both of them! Now, how do you suppose that hap
pened?'
"Why the inference is that poor old Flint trying
to shield himself
STOPPING over, Kent fumbled among the dead leaves
and twigs. "Do you box" he asked suddenly.
Nothing to speak of.
"Neither did Simeon Flint Kent Strengthened up
sharply, and let fly directly at the reporters face
Up went Reeds arm, hand inward, and elbow up, to
guard the eyes The threatened assault melted into a
harmless Spatter of leaves.
Excuse the violence of counter illustration said
Kent with his half-smile: "but you will notice that
your hands weren't in line with your face
Fright.
"The acquired practice of boxer may throw his hands
1p before his face a sudden attack Instinct doesn't
or the ordinary man: it throws up his elbow.
"Thats fact The newspaper man mused FLINT
might have been begging for his life with his hands
stretched
an that case he would have been facing the murderer
whereas the hands the right of the face and neck
f the wound tells me the truth"
Probably admitted Reed. what do you make
If it,"
"Not necessarily murder"
"Then why the stranger at such pains to put the
gun beyond discovery:'
"Probably the gun knows, said Kent quantity. "By
he way have you handled the body?'
no"