The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1914-12-25
CHAPTER VII.
Beckonines.


Chester Kent.
Fumes of tobacco were ris-
ing from three pipes lowered about
the porch of the Nook where Kent,
Sedgwick and Lawyer Balm were hold
ing late council A discouraged obser-
walton from the artist had elected
kent's epigram.
Not all of them. anyhow" said
Balm. The chore III this case is to
find facts enough to work on
ION the contrary declared Kent.
"facts in this case are as plentiful as
bIackberrieS. The trouble is that we
nave no pail to put them in
Maybe we could borrow Len
Schlagers." suggested the lawyer
dryly.
I'VE don't seem to be getting much
of anywhere" complained Sedgwick.
"Complica ted cases don't clear them
selves mp in day remarked Kent.
"In this case we've got opponents who
know more than we do
"Schager?" asked the lawyer.
And DR.. Breed Also. | think,
Gnnsett jim What do you think. Mr.
Balm, is the handspring of the sheriff $
action|'
viction. He's as crooked as snake
with the collie"
would 1t require much money to in
f1uence him|'
AS much as he could get. If the
case was in the line of blackmail, he'd
hold out strong He's shrewd."
DIR. Breed must be getting some
of it,"
ION, Tim Breed is Lens little dog
He takes orders. OF course he'll take
money, too. if it comes his way. Like
master. like man."
"Those two" said Kent slowly,
"know the identity of the body. For
good and sufficient reasons. they are
keeping that information to them
selves Those reasons We aren't likely
to find out from them"
Murderer has bribed EN-" opined
Balm.
Possibly. But that presupposes
that the sheriff found something on
the body which led him to the muir
derer. which isn't likely. How improb-
able it is that MISUNDERSTANDING for
argument. that there has been murder
who would go as far as to cover his
trail and the nature of the crime by
binding the body on grating. would
overlook anything like letter incrim-
mating HIMSELF
what did the sheriff find, then. in
the dead woman's pOcketT'
perhaps handkerchief with a dis
tinctive mark"
And that would lead him to the
identity OF the bodyY
presumably. Also to some one.
we may assume, who was willing to
pay roundly to have that identity con-
ceaied."
That would naturally be the muir
derer. wouldn't it?" asked Sedgwick.
No. 1 don't think so"
1T looks to me So said the lawyer.
Hes the one naturally interested in
concealment."
I'm almost ready to dismiss the no
ton of murderer at ALL"
why so." demanded both the 9th
ers
Because there was no murder prob
ably"
How do you make that out?" que
ried Balm.
prom the nature of the wounds that
caused death "
They Iook TO me to be just such
wounds as would be made by a blow
with a heavy club
Several blows with heavy club
might nave caused such wounds. But
the blows would have had to be deliv.
cred peculiarly. A circle ON the skull
six inches in diameter. impinging on
the right ear, is crushed in. If you
can imagine a man swinging base
ball bat at the height of his shoulder
repeatedly and with great force at the
victims head you can infer such a
crushing in of the bone. My imagina.
ton hardly carries me so far"
Beating down from above would be
the natural way" said Balm.