The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-09-20

I could hear laughter and the refrain
of popular song.
Burton was there in the kitchen, with
nize. each one holding stein Of beer.
Burton had two. and he held one out
to me as stood trying to get my
breath.
You win," he said. ALTHOUGH I'm
q hard working journalist and need the
money won't lie. This is Osborne of
the Star and McTiyhe of the Eagle, Mr.
Knox. They heard the shot in there.
and if | hadn't told the story there
would have been a panic. What's the
matter with your
For Gods sake. Burton" l painted.
"let's get upstairs quietly. I didn't fire
any shot. There's woman dead up
there!'
With characteristic poise the three
reporters took the situation quietly.
We filed through the grillroom as casu-
ally as we could With the door clos
ed, however. we threw caution aside.
l led the way up the stairs to the room
where l had found Flemings body and
where expected to find another.
On the landing at the top Of the
stairs came face to face with David
son. the detective, and behind him
Judge Merely. Davidson was trying
to open the door of the room where
Fleming had been shot with skeleton
key. But it was bolted inside. When
I had got the door open and had not
felt Schwartz's heavy hand at my
throat | drew a long breath Of relief.
Burton found the electric light switch
and turned it on. And then-I could
hardly believe my senses. The room
was empty. But l picked up small
nickel plated revolver from the floor!
witted. of the lot. He threw open one
Of the two doors in the room. revealing
a shallow closet with papered walls
and row of hooks. The other door
stuck tight. One of the men pointed
to the floor A bit of black cloth had
wedged it from the other side. Our
combined efforts got it open at last.
and we crowded in the doorway. look
ing down fight Of stairs.
Huddled just below US. her head at
our feet. was the body Of the missing
woman.
my God" Burton said hoarsely.
"who is it,"
We got her into the room and on the
couch before l knew her. Her fair
hair had fallen loose over her face.
and one long, thin hand clutched still
at the bosom Of her gown. 1t was e.
len Butler:
'She's got about an hour. should
say" said one Of the newspaper men.
"See If Gray is around. will you, Jim7
He's mostly here Saturday night"
Whatever surprise Gray may have
felt at seeing woman there. and dy-
ing. he made no comment. He said she
might live six hours. but the end was
certain. We got hospital ambulance.
and with the clang of its bell as 1t
turned the corner and hurried away
the White Cat drops out of this story.
so far as action Is concerned.
Three detectives and as many report
ers hunted Schwartz all Of that night
and the next day to get his story. But
he remained in hiding. Even in her
agony Ellen Buffers hate had carried
her through the doorway after him. to
collapse on the stairs. took car and
rode to the hospital. night watch
man in felt shoes admitted me and
took me upstairs.
The cover was dra wn up to the In
jured woman's chin. where it was fold
ed neatly back. Her face was blood
less. and her fair hair had been gath
cred up in a shaggy knot. She was
breathing slowly. but regularly. and
her expression was relaxed more rest
ful than 1 had ever seen It. As l. stood
at the foot Of the bed and looked down
at her knew that as surely as death
was coming it would be welcome.
Edith and Fred were there. As he
sat there beside the bed knew by his
face that he was repeating and repent
ing every unkind word he had said
about Ellen Butler. Once she asked
for water without opening her eyes.
and Fred slipped bit OF ice between
her white lips. Later in the night she
looked up for an instant at me.
"He struck my hand" she said. with
difficulty.
By morning she was rallying little
from the shock. got Fred to take
Edith home. and I took her place by
the bed.
hoped to get some sort Of state
ment before the injured woman was
taken to the operating room. but she
lay in a stupor. and ! had to give up
the idea. 1t was two days before
got her deposition. and in that time
l had learned many things
On Monday l took Margery to Bell
wood. She had received the news
about Mrs Butler more calmly than l
had expected.
II do not think she was quite sane.
poor woman" she said. with shud-
der ''She had had a great deal of
trouble. But how strange-a murder
and an attempt at murder-at that lit
flo ol,1h IN xvooEt"