The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-12-26

W ~ Y
"You Better Go to Bed an Forget It
Till Mornin'."
are two or three matters not easily
explained about this affair. I am sat-
isfed of your innocence; that you
were not directly concerned in the
shooting of Lieutenant Gaskins. Men
of your troop state that you were in
barracks when the shots we're fired,
and the wound was not made by a
service revolver, but by much small
er weapon. Yet there are circum-
stances which puzzle us, but which,
no doubt, you can explain. Two shots
had been fired from your revolver"
and he pushed the weapon across the
table.
, Il rode ahead of the troop in march
yesterday" Hamlin explained, land
fired twice at a jack-rabbit. I must
have neglected to replace the cart
ridges. Private Stone was with me-"
why did you submit to arrest SO
easily, without any attempt to clear
yourself?"
The Sergeant's gray eyes smiled,
but his response was quietly respect.
full
II was condemned before I really
knew what had occurred, sir. The
sentry, the Sergeant of the guard,
and the Lieutenant all insisted that
was guilty. They permitted me no
opportunity to explain. 1 thought it
just as we'll to remain quiet, and let
the affair straighten itself out"
yet your action threw US complete.
ly off the TRAIL" broke in Mcdonald
impatiently. 1T permitted the really
guilty parties to escape. Did you see
any one?"
BLACK smudges merely, Major, ap
+ parently running toward the ravine.
My eyes were blinded, leaping from
lighted room"
Mcdonald leaned forward eagerly,
one hand tapping the table.
WAS one of them woman?" he
questioned sharply.
AAoA1IA AACeAAI lCoPCo 4AIO Lie
throat, but he held himself motionless.
"They were iadistinguishable, sir;
mere shadows. Have you reason to
suspect there may have been woman
involved?'
The Major leaned back in his chair,
but the commandant, after glance at
his officer, answered.:
"The pistol used was a small one,
such as woman might carry, and
there are marks of a woman's shoe
plainly visible at the edge of the ra
vine. Lieutenant Gaskins was alone
when he left the officers club five min
utes before the firing began. You are
sure you have never had any contro
versy with this oficer?"
Perfectly sure, sir. We have never
met except on the one occasion al.
ready referred to, and then scarcely
a dozen words were exchanged"
"How then, Sergeant" and the Col.
onel spoke very soberly, "do you &C.
count for his denouncing you as his
assassin"
Il presumed he was Influenced by
my arrest, sir; that the shock had at.
fected his BRAIN"
THAT supposltion will hardly an.
swer. The Lieutenant is not severely
wounded, and this morning appears to
be perfectly rational. Yet he insists
you committed the assault; even re-
fers to you by name" /
The accused man pressed one hand
to his forehead in bewilderment.
"He still insists shot him." ;
Eyes; to be frank, he's rather bitter
about it., and no facts we have brought
to bear have any apparent weight. He
swears he recognized your face in the
fare of the first discharge" /
The Sergeant stood silent, motion
less, his gaze on the Coloneps face.
II do not know what to say, sir" he
answered finally. II was not there,
and you all know it from the men of !;
my troop. There has been no trouble
between Lieutenant Gaskins and my
self, and can conceive of no reason
why he should desire to involve me In
this affair-unless," he paused doubt.
fully; unless, sir, he really knows
who shot him, and is anxious to shift
the blame elsewhere to divert sus.
.picion."
"You mean he may be seeking to
shield the real culprit?"
That is the only explanation that
occurs to me, sir"
The Colonel stroked his beard nerv.
ously, his glance wandering to the
faces Of the othsT officers.
That NJ ~ = he &C
knowle6 songh I