Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-02-27

Continued from yesterday
Il allow [ made an errand there
said Mr.. Shrimplln bridling. 81 reckon
many another man might have
thought he hadn't no errand there
either. but ] feel different about them
things. I was just turned into the
square when along comes young John
NORTH
What was he doing there sud-
denly asked Mrs. Shrimplin.
4 expect he was attending strictly
to his own business retorted Mr.
Shrimplin, offended by the utter r.
relevancy of the question.
Go on, pa" begged Custer.
He felt that his mothers Interrupt
tons were positively cruel, and-so
like woman.
Me and young John North passed
the time OF day" continued Mr.
shrimplin, thus abjured. "and
started around the north side of the
square to light the lamp on old man
McBrides own corner. If I'd knowed
then" he paused impressively, 'if
I'd just knowed then, that was my
time, I could have laid hands on the
murderer. He was there somewheres,
most likely he was watching me;
Well maybe il was all for the best
I don't know as a married mans got
any right to take chances. Anyway
I got TO within, WE'LL should say,
thirty feet OF that lamp-post
when all of a sudden Bill began to act
up. You never saw a horse act up
like he done! He rose in his britch-
ing and then the other end of him
come up and he acted like he wanted
10 set down on the singletree!'
Why did he do that" asked Gus
ter.
We'll, l guess you've got some few
things to learn, Custer said Mr.
Shrimplin indulgently. HE smelt
blood-that's what he smelt,'
oh" gasped Custer.
i've Bnowed il to happen before
It's instinct, explained Shrimplin.
" Singular says I, and out I jumps
to have a look about. [ walked to the
hadn't seen before, that old man Nc
Brides store door was open, so 1
stepped on to the sidewalk, intending
to close it. but as l put my hand on
the knob ! seen where the snow had
drifted into the room. so / knew the
door must have been open some little
time. That's mighty odd, | thinks,
and then it sort of come over me the
way Bill had acted, and l went along
into the store in pretty considerable
of a hurry
Were you afraid demanded Gus
ter in an awe-struck whisper.
III tell you the truth. Custer, /
wasn't. [ own I'd drawed my gun,
wishing to be on the safe side First
thing I noticed was that the lamps
hadn't been turned up, though they
was all lit. l got back to the end of
the counter when l came to a halt,
for there in a heap on the floor was
old man Mcbride, with his head
mashed in where someone had hit
him with a sledge. There was blood
all over the floor. and it was a mighty
sickenin' spectacle. ! sort of looked
around hoping Ia see the murderer.
but he'd lit out, and then I went back
to the front of the store, where l seen
Colonel HARRISON coming across the
square ! told him what I'd seen and
he went inside to look; while he was
looking, along come Andy Gilmore
and l told him, too, and he went in
They l1nowed the murderer wasn't
there, that I'd been in ahead of them
After that the people seemed to come
from evcry direction; then presently
someone started to ring the town bel
and that fetched more people, until
the square in front of the store was
packed and damned with EN-. Every
| body wanted to hear about it first
hand from me; they wanted the full
particulars from the only one who
knowed 'em."
Mr.. Shrimplin paused for breath
| The recollection of his splendid pub
Lefty was dazzling, He imagined tbs
morrow with its possibility of socia
triumph: he went as far as to fee
that Mrs. Shrimplin now had a Ger
tain sneaking respect for him.
Did you see tracks in the snow >
| dena aided Custer.
NO, | didn't see nothing declared
Mr.. Shrimplin.
You seen young John North
It was Mrs. Shrimplin who spoke.
| well, yes, I seen young Johi
| North said 1 seen him."