The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-09-04

What did the sheriff mean by ask.
ing Gansett Jim where he was the
night Of the m%urder?"
"Murder?" said Kent quizzically.
What murder?"
1.-THE murder of the unknown wo-
man. Of course. | think that Gansett
Jim killed Ter and is trying to turn
suspicion on me-"
"Humph!'
But IL the sheriff knows where
Gansett Jim was at the time Of the
killing. he can't suppose me guilty. 1
wonder If he really does believe me
guilty?'
III he does. he doesn't care. His con
Germ is quite apart from your guilt"
Its too much for me-" confessed
the artist.
And for me. That is why l am
going back to the village"
But l thought you were fright
ened."
III | stayed away from everything
that alarms me-" said Kent. I'D never
have a tooth filed or speak to a
woman under seventy. I'm a timid
soul, Sedgwick. but l don't think |
shall be in any danger in Annalaka 50
long as I'm alone. Here we are. Out
with you! III be back by evening""
TO his surprise. Kent. turning into
the village square. found the crowd
still lingering. A new focus of in
terest had drawn it to a spot opposite
Sterrettis store. where a wagon. deco
rated In the most advanced style of
circus art. shone brilliant in yellow
and green. Bright red letters across
the front presented to public admira-
ton the legend:
SIMON p. GROOT
SIMON PURE GOODS
A stout projection rested on one Of
the rear wheels. Here stood the pro-
prietor Of the vehicle. while behind
him in a window were displayed his
wares. 1t was evident that Simon p.
Groot followed the romantic career of
an itinerant hawker. dealing in that
wide range Of commodities roughly
comprised in the quaint term. "Yan-
kee notions" Kent was struck with
the expansive splendor Of the mans
gestures. the dignity Of his robust
figure and the beauty of a broad
whitening beard that spread >1lewise
like the ripples from a boats stem.
Two blemishes unhappily married the
majesty Of Simon r. Groot's presence
"a pair of pinhead eyes. mutually at
tracted to each other, and p mean and
stringent little voice.
There. gentlemen and ladies'" ST.
mon P. Groot was saying. there in
that place Of vast silences and Unfold
Ing shadows l met and addressed n
who was soon to he no more. Madam
l said. you are worn. You are wan.
You are weary. Trust the chivalry of
one who might be your father. Rest
and be comforted as with balm
Standing by the roadside. she dropped
like a flower. There is no rest for
me- she said in mournful tones. !
must away upon my mission.
'She vanished. that fair creature, into
the forest. l looked at my watch
Che unerring. unwarranted. sixteen
jeweled chronometer which l shall
| presently have the honor Of showing
to you at the unexampled price Of
three seventy-and saw that the hour
was exactly-for these timepieces vary
not one fraction of a second a day
S:45. When next l looked at the face
Of Father Times trustiest accountant.
It was to mark the hour of the horrid
shrek that shook my soul-precisely
9:31. And later. when l heard the
dread news. l. realized that my ears
had thrilled to a death cry.
Kent moved away. his chin pressed
down upon his chest. He went to the
Office of Lawyer Adam Balm and spent
an hour waiting. with his feet propped
UP on the desk. When the lawyer en-
tered Kent remarked,
you rather put our two official
friends in a hole this morning."
Just a mite maybe. But they've
crawled out. guess l spoke too
quick"
How so?"
"Well. If they'd gone ahead and
buried the body as 1t was we could
have had 1t exhumed. And then we'd
have seen what we'd have seen."
"True enough. And you didn't see it
u it was?"
See what? Did your" .
Suppose" Kent said. you give me
the fullest possible character sketch of
our impulsive friend. the sheriff.
Half an hour was consumed in this
process. At the end of the time Kent
str0lled back to the square. where
Simon P. Groot had been d%iscoursing.
There he found the ornate wagon
closed and it's ornate proprietor whis-
Ting w some minor repairs that he
had been making. An invitation to
take a ride in Kent's car was promptly
accepted.
Business first said Kent. You're
a seller. I'm a buyer. You've got
some information that | may want. If
so I'm ready to pay. Was any Of your
talk true?"
Yep" replied Simon p. Groot aus