The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-01-17
Ia ~ THEJUST
RdM AND
BY Vaughan kester
- ~The Prodi9aI Judge
"a cssvssA.
c.gxr;~ht 1914 The Bobbs Merrill Company.

| The body and the hoor; his manner
was cool and businesslike. After a
moment he withdrew his baud and
looked up into the colonefs face.
''Well?" asked the colonel.
oh. he's dead. all right" Gilmore
glanced about him, and the colonel's
eyes following. they both discovered
that the door leading into the side
yard was partly open.
He went that way. Ell, Colonel ?"
ITS altogether likely" agreed the
veteran.
ITS nasty business" said Gil.
more refiectiyely,
Shocking" snapped the colonel.
"He took big chances" commented
the gambler, living the way he did"
He spoke or the dead man
Poor old mani" said the colonel
pityingly.
What had It all amounted to. those
chances for the sake OF gain, which
Gilmore had in mind.
He can't have been dead very
long" said Gilmore. Did you find
him, Colonel?" he asked as he stood
erect.
mo, Shrimplin found him"
Again the two men looked about
them. On the floor by the counter
at their right was heavy sledge. Gi.-
more called Harbisons attention to
this.
Il guess the job was done with
that" he said.
Possibly" agreed HARRISON.
Gilmore picked up the sledge and
examined II narrowly.
Yes, you can see. there Is blood
on IT" He handed II 10 HARRISON,
who stepped under the nearest lamp
with the clumsy weapon In his hand.
You are right, Andy" and he
glanced at the rude instrument OF
death with look of repugnance on
his keen sensitive face, then he care
fully placed II under the wooden
counter "Horrible" he muttered 10
himself
I, 1T was no joke for him" said the
! gambler, catching the last word. But
some one was bound to try this dodge
sooner or later. Why, as far back as
| can remember, people said he kept
his money hidden away at the bottom
OF nail kegs and under heaps OF scrap
iron" He took a cigar from his
pocket, bit of the end. and struck a
match We'll, wouldn't want TO be
the other fellow, Colonel; I'd be In
al kinds OF a panic; II takes nerve
for job like this"
It's q shocking circumstance" said
the colonel.
II wonder II 1t paid" speculated
the gambler And / wonder who'll
get what he leaves. Has he any fam
lily or relatives"
mo, not so far as any one knows.
He came here many years ago. a
close-mouthed Scotchman, who never
had any intimates, never married,
and never spoke of his private af.
| fairs"
There was a slight commotion at
the door. They could hear shrimp
| Inns agitated voice, and a moment
later two men, chance passers-by with
whom he had been speaking, shook
themselves free OF the little lamp
lighter and entered the room. The
newcomers nodded TO the colonel and
Gilmore as they paused to stare mute
~ at the body on the floor.
He bled like a stuck pigi" said one
OF the men at last. He was a ragged,
slouching creature with q splotched
Iris. ling red beard He glanced al
Gilmore for an uncertain instant QUO
% pair of small shifty eyes. IT'S
Inui der, ain't II, boss?" he added.
No doubt about that, joel" re-
joined the gambler.
Il suppose II was robbery" said
the other man, who had not spoken
before.
Very likely" answered the colonel.
We have not examined the place.
however; we shall wait for the proper
officials.
Who do you want, Colonel?"
Coroner Taylor, and / suppose the
sheriff." replied HARRISON
The man nodded
"All right. I'll bring them; and say,
what about the prosecuting attor-
ney?" as he turned TO leave.
Yes, bring Moxlow, too. II you can
ind him."
The man hurried from the room.
Gilmore leaned against the counter
md smoked imperturbably. Joe Mont
yomery, with his great slouchfng
shoulders arched. and his grimy hands
buried deep in his trousers pocket,
stared at the dead man In stolid won
Ter. Colonel Harbison's glance sought
he same object but with a sensitive
as from an ugly brutal
hing. A clock licked loudly In the
,ffice; there was the occasional fall
If cinders from the CRATE Of the rust
d stove that heated the place; these |
we're sounds that neither Gilmore nor |
lie colonel had heard before. Pres
.ntly a lean black cat stole from the |
,flce and sprang upon the counter; 1:
,urred softly.
Hello, puss," said the gambler.
putting out hand. The cat stole
closer. Il guess III have TO take you
nome with me. Ell? This amt place
for unprotected females" The cat
,rept back and forth under his caress
ng touch.
At the street-door shrimplin appear