The Detroit times., 1913-03-11

| and descended into a byway- where
stood light runabout, empty. Throw
ing on the switch. Kent motioned hif
companion TO get in. Twenty minutes
OF curying and lodging along the
rocky roads brought them 10 the turn
pike, In sight OF the town OF Annalaka
Not until then did Kent offer a word
| The inquest is set for eleven
O'clock" he said.
"All right" said Sedgwick, with
teqnai taciturnity.
| They turned "A corner and ran into
the fringe OF a crowd lowering about
the town hall. Hating his machine In
bit OF shade, Kent surveyed the
gathering. At one point IL thickeNed
about man who was talking eagerly
the vocal center of a small circle oil
| silence.
Elder Bennett" said Kent, back
from Cadystown. You'll have TO face
the music now"
m ready.
You're ready for attack. Are you
ready for surprises?"
No one is ever ready for surprise
or 1t wouldn't be surprise. would it?'
True enough. One word Of warn.
! ing: don't lose you head or your tenn
| per II the suspicion raised against you
by bennett is strengthened by me-"
by you"
Unfortunately. My concern 10 to
get TO the bottom Of this matter. There
Is something the sheriff knows that
don't know. Probably il is the identity
of the body. To force him into the
open, ii may be necessary for me to
augment the case against you
Ought | to be ready for arrest??"
Hardly probable at present; No;
go on the stand when you're called,
and tell the truth, and nothing but the
truth"
But not the whole TRUTH"
Nothing of the necklace. You
won't be questioned about that. BY
the way, you have never kept among
your artistic properties anything in
the way OF handouts, have your
No"
Il didn't suppose you had. Those
manacles are sticker DON'T
absolutely do not like those manacles
And on one wrist only Perhaps that
Is the very fact. thOugh--Well, we
shall know more when we're older !;
two hours older, say. Whether we
shall know all that Mr.. Sheriff Len
Schlager knows, is another question.
| don't like Mr.. Schlager, either, for
that matter"
bennett has seen me-" said Sedg-
wick in a low voice.
Indeed, the narrator's voice had alb
ruptly ceased, and be stood with the
dropped jaw of stupefaction. One af-
ter another of his auditors turned and
stared at the two men in the motor
car.
Stay where you are" said Kent,
and stepped out to mingle with the
crowd.
No one recognized, at first. the i'm
maculate fiannel-clad elegante as the
bearded scientist whose strange &C.
tons had amused the crowd on the
breach. A heavy solemn man address
ed him:
Friend of his?" he asked, nodding
toward the artist.
Yes
Hell need 'em. Going to give evi.
dence?'
ITO hear it. rather" replied Kent.
pleasantly. Where's the body?"
Inside. Just brought 1t over from
Doctor Breed He's the medical Off
Ger, and he and the sheriff are run
ming the show. Your friend want a
lawyer, maybe?"
The thought struck Kent that while
a lawyer might be premature, a friend
in the town might be very useful.
Yes he said; from tomorrow on"
"Meanin' that you're in charge to-
day." surmised the big man shfewdly
Kent smiled. Il dare say We shall
get on very we'll together, Mr." his
voice went up interrogatively.
Balm, Adam Balm, attorney and
counselor at law for thirty years in
the town of Annalaka."
Thank you. My name is Kent. You
already know my friends name. What
kind Of man is this medical officer?"
Breed? Not much. More OF pol
itician than a doctor, and more Of a
horse trader than either. Fidgety as
sandpaper undershirt.'
Did he perform the autopsy at his
own house,
Him and the sheriff last evening.
Didn't even have an undertaken to
help lay out
The lobe of Kent's ear began to suf-
ltT lIOul Iepcdlcu HdiiuiiuS Tic
body hasn't been identified, | sup
poser"
"Nobodys had SO much as a wink
at it but those two and Ira bennett.
| He viewed the corpse last night.
That's why | guess your friend needs
his friends and maybe a lawyer"
Exactly. Mr.. bennett doesn't
seem to be preciselysa deaf mute"
| Lawyer Balm emitted the bubblina
chuckle of the fat-throated. Its quite
some time since Try won any prizes
/ for silent thought" he stated. You
are known, hereabouts?' he added
after a pause.
! VERY little"
"Gansett Jim, yonder, looks as If
he kinder cherished the honor OF your
acquaintance"
over his shoulder Kent caught the
half-breed's glance fixed upon him
with stolid intensity A touch on his
arm made him turn to the other side
where Sailor Smith faced him.
Didn't hardly know you, with your
beard on piped the old man. How
tdy, Professor? You're finickied UP
like your own weddin'
Good morning" said the scientist
Are you going, inside"
NO hurry" said the other. Hot
tern Tophet in there"
Il want good seat: SO ! think III
go in at once" said Kent. "Sit with
us. won't you? MIR. Sedgwick is with
me-"
rho avsailor startpd "Hirn nc