Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-02-06

Z SSA
Till Mornin'."
shooting or Lieutenant, Gaskins. Man
of your troop state that you were in
barracks when the shots were fired,
and the wound, was not made by
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.
81 rode ahead of the troop in march
yesterday" Hamlin explained. "and
fired twice at jack-rabbit. / 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 Sergeants gray eyes smiled,
but his response was quietly respect
full.
81 was condemned before 1 really
| knew what had occurred. sir The
sentry, the Sergeant of the guard.
and the Lieutenant all insisted that
YVES guilty. They permitted me no
opportunity to explain. thought 1t
just as well to remain quiet, and let
the affair straighten itself OUT
Yet your action threw us complete
| ly of the TRAIL" broke in Mcdonald
impatiently. ''It 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 q
lighted ROOM"
| Mcdonald leaned forward eagerly.
one hand tapping the table.
Was one of them woman" he
questioned sharply.
Hamlin's heart leaped into his
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 small one,
such as woman might carry, and
there are marks of 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 officer?"
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, edo you &C
count for his denouncing you as his
assassin?"
II presumed he was Influenced by
my arrest, sir; that the shock had af.
fected his brain"
THAT supposition 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 l shot him?"
j 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
flare of the first discharge"
The Sergeant stood silent, motion
less. his gaze on the Colonels face.
Il do not know what to say, sir" he
answered finally. II was not there,
and you all know 1t from the men OF
my troop. There has been no trouble
between Lieutenant Gaskins and my.
sell and can conceive Of no reason
why he should desire to involve me in
this affair4unless," he paused doubt
fully; unless, Sir. he reaily 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
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