The Detroit times., 1913-01-18


| did you see tho man that killed
old MIR. McBride?" asked Custer,
breaking the breathless spell that was
upon him.
NO; ii I'd been just about fifteen
minutes sooner Id have seen him. but
| was just about that much too late,
sonny. | guess he's whole lot bet
ter of, though
What would you have done il
you'd seen him?" Clusters voice sank
to whisper.
We'll, | don't pack a gun for moth
ing. II Id seen him there, he'd had
to go round to the Jail with me.
guess | could have coaxed him there;
| was ready for to offer extra induce
ments."
And does everybody know you
seen old Mr.. Mcbride the first OF
any" asked Custer
Il guess they do; | amt afraid
about that. Colonel Harblsons too
much Of gentleman TO claim any
credit that amt his he'd be the
first one TO own up that he don't de-
serve no credit
What took you into McBride's
store? You hadn't no errand there.
Mrs. Shrimplin was careful and
aequisitive wife.
II allow | made an errand there, "
said Mr.. Shrimplin brldling. reck-
on many another man might have
thought he hadn't no errand there
either. but | feel different about them
things. was just turned into the
Square when along comes young
] John North
What was he doing there?" sudden
| ly asked Mrs. Shrimplin.
II 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 we're positively cruel, and-so
like a woman
Me and young John North passed
the time OF day continued Mr.
Shrimplin, thus abjured, and | starr
ed around the north side of the
Square to light the lamp on old man
McBride's own corner II I'd Just
knowed then" he paused impressive
ly, IF I'd just knowed then, that was
my time | could have laid hands on
the murderer. He was there some
where's, most likely he was watching
me; well, maybe II was all for the
best, don't know as married mans
got any right to take chances. Any
way, | got TO within, WE'LL should
say, thirty feet of that lamp-post when
all of sudden Bill began TO act up.
You never saw a horse act up like he
done. He rose in his britching and
then the other end OF him come up
and he actd like he wanted to st down
on tn singletree."
Why did he do that?" asked Gust
well. guess you've got some few
things to learn, Custer said Mr..
Shrimplin indulgently. "He smels
blood-that's what he smelt!"
oh" gasped Custer.
I've knowed II to happen before
It instinct, explained Shrimp1in
singular" say ], and out jumps TO
have a look about l walked to the
lamp-post, and then / seen what /
hadn't seen before, that old man Nc
Bridess store was open, so l stepped
on TO the sidewalk intending to close
II, but as | 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
II sort OF come over me the way Bill
had acted, and | went along into the
store In pretty considerable OF
hurry
We're you afraid" demanded Gust.
er in an awe-struck whisper.
fol h.,
wasn't. / own I'd drawed my
gun, wishing TO be on the safe side.
First thing l noticed was that the
lamps hadn't been turned up, though
they was all lit. got back TO the
end OF the counter when | came to
halt. for there in a heap on tho
floor was old man Mcbride, with his
head smashed in where some one had
hit him with a sledge. There was
blood all over the floor, and Il was a
mighty sickenin spectacle. | sort OF
looked around hoping I'd see the muir
derer, but he'd lit out, and then
went back TO the front of the store.
where | seen Colonel HARRISON COM
ing across the Square. told him
what I'd seen and he went inside TO
look and while he was looking. along
came Andy Gilmore and I told him.
too, and he went in. They knowed
the murderer wasn't there, that I'd
been in ahead OF them. After that tho
people seemed to come from every
direction; then presently some one
started TO ring the town bell and that
fetched more people, until the Square
in front OF the store was packed and
damned with EN- Everybody wanted
to hear about II first-hand from me.
they wanted the full particulars from
the only one who knowed EN-"
Mr.. Shrimplin paused for breath.
The recollection of his splendid pub
licity was dazzling He imagined
the morrow with it's possibility OF
social triumph; he went as far as 10
feel that Mrs. Shrimplin now had a
certain sneahing respect for him
did you see tracks in the snow ,"
demanded Custer.
mo. didn't see nothing" declared
Mr.. Shrimplin.
You seen young John North"
II was Mrs. Shrimplin who spoke
We'll yes. | seen young John
NORTH said seen him.
! CHAPTER vi.
Putting on the Screws.
A score Of men and boys follow.
the undertaker'g wagon to the small
frame cottage that had been Archi.
| bald McPrides home for a half a cen
tury and a grouO of these assembled