Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-06-29
Then Donald


Calvert" he said in stern tone of
command Go up stairs and verify
this story. Lieutenant King will re-
main where he is until your return
As young Dunn hastily left the room
| turned to meet the deep set eyes of
his father.
why didn't you go out that win
dow aIso:- he asked bluntly. You
could probably have escaped"
Yes" l answered. "and you would
have believed forever that / was the
murderer.
That wouldn't have hurt you any.
the killing of one of the enemy by
scout in time of war is not considered
murder. Your army would have pro-
tected you"
Il am not that kind of man. Judge
Dunn"
Il don't know what sort you may
be- he returned slowly. but in this
case it seems to me you are either
fool or wise knave. and there is not
a very wide difference between the
two You evidently expect this volun-
tary surrender will clear you of all
suspicion"
NO: it simply means / intend to re-
main and face the suspicion The
man upstairs was killed by Il knife
thrust: possess no knife The one
who killed him dropped from the win
dow. leaving his bloody finger marks
on the sill The morning will re-
veal his imprint on the ground be-
meath My act is neither that of a fool
nor that of a knave: | prefer being a
prisoner rather than to have this foul
crime charged against me-
We must have waited there for aen
minutes. no one speaking. the judge
gazing full at me. as If l were a pris-
oner before his court. the big frame of
Donald completely blocking the door
way. Miss Dunn was crying softly,
and l thought Jean was beside her.
but | did not venture to glance toward
them. Suddenly Calvert Dunn came
down the nall. holding in his hand a
lighted lantern.
Lieutenant Navarro is lying dead in
Jeans ROOM" he said shortly. evident
~ striving to speak calmly. yet with
trembling voice. He was stabbed in
the throat with a knife and apparent
~ given little opportunity for defense,
as there are no evidences of struggle.
There is light still burning in his
own room. further down the hail. and
l believe Navarro was in there. seek
ing his. revolver. when he heard some
noise in the front of the house. cans
ing him TO investigate. The hidden AS
sassin must have sprung upon him in
the dark"
You found other evidence?''
Comparatively little. There are
marks OF blood on the sill of the open
window. not finger marks, merely
splashes. The roadway Is below. and
man dropping from that height
would leave no impress on the packed
ashes ! found this knife in the
bushes. where it could easily have
been thrown from the window"
The full meaning of all this burst
upon my mind in horror. Instead of
clearing me of suspicion. everything
tended rather to bind closer the chains
of guilt
do you mean
Il mean this. Mr.. Lieutenant King
of the Federal army" and his black
eyes bazed into mine with angry in
science. that you. and you only. are
the murderer of Lucius Navarro"
l saw the fash of a revolver in his
hand; felt the iron grip of Big Donald
on me. ] struck out recklessly at Cal
vert Dunn. maddened by those black,
threatening eyes | felt the thud of
my blow. heard the discharge of his
revolver as he went down. and strug-
gied desperately to brea k loose from
the grip of the giant who held me. It
was all the work of n wild moment.
The next l lay unconscious on the door.
came to myself confused by my
surroundings. but with mind compare
lively clear. was lying on some
blankets in one corner of the cellar.
of daylight strea med in. enabling me
10 perceive something of the desolate
interior My head throbbed from The
blow that had felled me. and was
bound about with linen napkin.
Drops of perSpira ton beaded my fore
head as | thought of those accusing
facts pointing directly toward me.
i was held murderer: the word
seemed To burn into my brain as
though formed Of fire: even lean Don
SLOW could believe in me no longer
not with all that crushing evidence
dragging me down to inramy Her
name fingered OH my lips III dread as
l bowed my head in my hands: then
some way it came back as an inspira-
ton
| sat staring into the darkest corner
OF the cellar. yet seeing nothing ex-
cept the vision or thar young girl
Der slender figure. ner bright earnest
face. her light duffy hair. ner gray
blue eyes shining beneath the long
lashes- She WAS my Ayife. my wife;
the law said So and vel t.ould