The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-03-21

to Donald McNish was given to me by
McNish himself. He wanted me to
answer 1t. II was his last request
He"
"Silencei" / cried; and then, "Mr.
Bryan, get him into that chair before
the bureau, facing the door. These
people outside must not be kept wait
ing any longer" With which l turned.
and with hand on knob once more.
paused until the nurse had rather
roughly, but in all haste, dragged his
charge across the floor and fairly
flung him into the indicated seat
1t was not until after the immedi-
ately succeeding occurrences that l
learned from O'Hara what had been
told to John Soy on his way up town
in the taxicab. AS ! understand It,
the other detectives had informed him
that he was being taken to this house
| so that his chief accuser, who was
nigh unto death, could make an ante
norton Identification. As a matter Of
fact, OF course, the situation was prac-
tically the reverse: We desired Soy to
Identify McNish, and McNish, under
stress Of the encounter, to admit his
own identity. The Eurasian, however,
having been thus misinformed, was at
a distinct disadvantage. So, when ]
drew back the door, and he was push
ed forward into the room, instead Of
seeking, he imagined himself sought.
and with bowed head and eyes on the
floor, stood shrinkingly Ill at case.
To this Misunderstanding is proba-
bly, attributable all that followed. Had
Soy known that McNish was regard
ed, equally with himself, as an ag-
gressor, he might have controlled his
outbreak and permitted the law to
wreak its tardy justice. But Soy did
not know, and the tide of events met
sudden change.
1t is, indeed, scarcely conceivable,
how rapidly 1t was all enacted. For
just a moment the weakened figure
stood still, while behind him crowded
the rest Of us-the three detectives
the two Cinnamon and myself.
saw McNish struggle for an in.
slant to maintain his pose Of indiffer
ence, and then saw his cheeks
blanch, and his little eyes widen in
craven terror as he recognized the
shabby, silent thing before him. His
lips parted. his barred teeth clicked
together, and his hands, like talons
clutched tensely his chair arms.
In that strained moment the room
was strangely hushed. / know
|
tent l watched those two miserable
creatures; the one keenly conscious
the other blind to everything save the
rug pattern at his feet.
Then, like a flash, Soy stole glance
at his supposed accuser, and l saw
him culver into steel. It was al
though an electric bolt had sho
through his shrinking frame and limI
limbs. He seemed to grow out Of him
self, to rise inches taller, towering
, with stiffened neck and lifted head.
, To describe with any degree OF &C
> curacy what ensued, cannot.
} know. only that McNish rose cum
I brously to his feet, only to fall bacl
+. again beneath tbe bouncing spring o
| the Eurasian. Then followed pisto
shot, muffed, yet sounding lethall,
g loud against the grim silence of tn
a chamber; and, as with one accord W.
e leaped forward, saw Soy roll over Il
/ a spasm Of contortions, and McNist
8 thus freed from his gripping hold
raise an arm and fire again, with tn
e pistol pressed to his own temple, Jus
>, as Bryan, who had been nearest t
e them, bravely made a grab for tn
Il weapon.