The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-03-12

wick. His eyes grew dull and mel
ancholy. One would have thought
! him sunk in daZe. or doZe, while
the procession filed past the unknown
dead. His monocle, which had drop
ped from his eye as he turned from
the coffin. dangled against his hand.
CHANGING 10 look down at u. Sedg-
wick started and stared Kent
knuckle. as seen through the glass,
stood forth. monstrous and distorted,
every line OF the bron2ed skin show
ing like furrow.
The monocle was a powerful mag
nifying lens.
The sheriff's heavy voice rose.
Amy one here present recognize or
identify the deceased" he droned.
and, without waiting for a reply. set
the lid In place and signaled 10 the
medical officer
"Feller citizens" began the still
shaking physician. we don't need
any jury TO find thst=this unknown
drowned woman"
The deceased was not drowned. :"
Emerging from his reverie, Chester
Kent had leisurely risen in his place
and made his statement.
"N-n-not drowned" gasped the
medical man.
Certainly not, AS you must
know, II you made an autopsy"
mo autopsy was necessary re-
piled the other quickly. There's
plenty Of testimony without that.
! We've heard the witnesses that saw
the drowned body on the grating II
washed ashore on
THE body never washed ashore on
that grating"
A murmur ran through the crowd.
"How do you figure that" called a
voice
! ION the under side Of the grating
| I found a cocoon OF common moth.
Half an hour in the water would
have soaked the cocoon through and
killed the insect inhabitant. The In
| sect was alive"
How'd the grating get there,
! them"
Dragged down from the high
! water mark on the beach. II was
| an old half-rotted affair such as no
ship would carry. Ask Sailor Smith.
That's true" said the old seaman
with conviction.
You're an expert, Mr.. Smith.
Now, was that grating large enough
to fioat full grown human body?
why. as TO that. body amt but
| a mite heavier than the water.
should say it'd just barely noat 1t,
maybe"
Exactly; but plus several pounds
Of clothing, and some dead metal ex-
tra:"
NO"
1.-The clothes would have been
soaked. and handouts weigh some
thing" said Kent calmly.
There might have been extra
spars under the grating. that got
pounded loose on the beach and
washed away" propounded the med
|ical officer desperately.
Look at the face" said Kent with
Ifnality. This is bad coast. Most
of you have seen drowned bodies.
Ibid any one ever see an expression
t5f such terror and agony on the face
Of one who came TO death by drown
ing?"
NO, py tuuuucl Shouecu o"hiS
body Hes right"
Others took up the cry. Clamor
rose and spread in the room. The
sheriff silenced 1t with stentorian
4 voice. what are you trying to get
att" he demanded. facing Kent.
1.-The truth. What are you?
| SchIager's eyelids fiickered; but he
ignored the counter-stroke. Look
out 1t don't lead you where you
won't want to follow" he returned
with a significant look at Sedgwick
| This Is as far as IL has led me,
said Kent, in his clear even voice
THE body already dead. was dragged
down and soaked in the sea. and
then dashed to the grating by man
who probably is or has been
! sailor.
"Then the deceased met death on
shore. and presumably by violence
said Lawyer Balm.
ITS murder" cried woman
shrilly. Bloody murder! That's
what 1t is"
Murder" echoed a voice from the
doorway. Gansett Jim. his half-ln-
dian. half-negro face aiight with
fury. stood there pointing with stiff-
ened hand at Sedgwick. Dab de
murderer"
CHAPTER VI.
The Retreat In Order.
No one moved In the court room
for appreciate seconds after that
pronou ncement. As fiash-light
photograph fixes an assemblage
poised, with eyes staring in one d.
rection. thus the half-breed's words
had cast a spell Of immobility over
all. 1t was Q stiffness fraught with
danger. No man could say In what
violent form II might break.
First to recover from the surprise
was the sheriff. You, Jim, set
down." nc shouted "If there's to
be any accusin' done here. I'll do It,
81 do IT," persisted the half-breed.
Blood Is on his han. ! see IL.
Involuntarily Sedgwick looked at
his right hand. There was low
growl from the crowd.
steady" came Kent's voice ut
his elbow. Mistakes like that are
Judge Lynchs evidence"
"Whah was he the night OF the
killin'?" cried Gansett Jim. "Ast
him. whah was he?'
where was you, II IL comes 70
that?" retorted the sheriff, and bit his
lin with n scowl.