The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-06-26

asking Brood a single question, Al
though he knew him to be a witness
to the shooting.
Yvonne saw the reporters and later
On an inspector Of police Ranjab told
his unhappy story He had taken the
weapon from a hook on the wall for
the purpose of cleaning it It had been
hanging there for years, and all the
time there had been q single cartridge
left in the cylinder unknown to any
one. He had started to remove the
cylinder as he left the room An these
years the hammer had been raised;
death had been hanging over them all
the time that the pistol occupied its In
secure position on the wall Somehow,
he could not tell how the hammer fell
as he tugged at the cylinder No one
could have known that the revolver
was loaded That was all that he
could say. except TO declare that if his
masters son died he would end his
own miserable, valueless life
His story was supported by the dec
larations Of Mrs Brood, who. while
completely generating her husbands
servant, had but little to say in expla-
nation Of the affair. She kept her wits
about her Most people would have
made the mistake Of saying too much
She professed to know nothing except
that they were discussing young Mr.
Brood's contemplated trip abroad and
that her husband had given orders 20
his servant TO pack a revolver in his
sons travelling bag when the time
came for his departure She had paid
but little attention to the Hindu's
movements All she could say was
that it was an accident horrible,
bIighting accident For the present, it
would not be possible for anyone to
see the heaTt-broken father. Doubt
less, later on, he would be in the mood
| to discuss the dreadful catastrophe,
| but not now, ETC., etc He was crushed
with the horror Of the thing that had
| happened
The house was in a state Of subdued
/ excitement. Servants spoke in whis-
pers and tip-toed through the halls.
Nurses and other doctors came Two
old men, shaking as with palsy, roamed
about the place, intent only on worm
| ing their way into the presence OF
/ their friend and supporter to offer con-
! ISOLATION and encouragement to him in
4 his hour Of tribulation They shud-
! dered as they looked into each others
i faces, and they shook their heads
without speaking, for their minds were
/ filled with doubt They did not cues
/ ton the truth Of the story as told, but
/ they had their own opinions. In sup
port to the theory that they did not
/ believe there was anything accidental
| in the shooting OF Frederic it is only
necessary to speak Of their extraordi-
nary attitude toward Ranjab- They
/ shook hands with him and told him
that Allah would reward himi Later
/ on, after they had had time to think 1t
all out for themselYes-being some
what slow Of comprehension-th
sought out James Brood and offered to
/ accept all the blame for having loaded
/ the revolver without consulting him.
! their object having been to destroy a
cat that infested the alley hard by.
/ They felt that it was absolutely neces-
/ sary to account for the presence OF
/ the unexploded cartridge
Brood, coming between them, laid
! his hands on their shoulders. shaking
/ his head as he spoke to them gently
Thank you, old pals. understand
what it is you are trying to do. It's no
use I fired the shot Il isn't neces-
sary to say anything more to you, I'm
sure, except that, as God is my wit
ness, I did not intend the bullet foI