The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1916-05-11


would have any motive for doing such
thing?"
THAT is what we have to find out.
What time did your son 60 to his room
the night of his disappearance?
Earlier than usual, as I remember.
A little before nine o'clock. He want
ed to experiment with new fishing
outfit just given him for his birthday
II see. Will you take me to his
room?"
They mounted to the boys quarters,
which overlooked the roof of the side
porch from a window facing north.
The charred ruins Of a barn about half
a mile away were plainly visible
through this window.
"rhe barn which the meteor de-
stroyed," said Rev. Mr.. Prentice, point
ing it out.
One glance was all that Average
Jones bestowed upon spot which,
for a few days, had been of national
interest. His concern was inside the
room. A stand against the wall was
Uttered with bits Of shining mechan-
ism. An unjointed fishing rod lay on
the bed Near at hand were a small
screw-driver and knife with a broken
blade.
"Were things in this condition when
you came to call Bailey in the morn
ing and found him gomez" asked Aver
age Jones.
Nothing has been touched" said
the clergyman in low voice.
Average Jones Strengthened up and
stretched himself languidly. His voice
when he spoke again took on the slow
drawl of boredom. One might have
thought that he had lost all interest in
the case-but for the thoughtful puck
err of the broad forehead which belied
his hating accents.
"Then-er-when Bailey left here
he hadn't any idea-of-er-runni
away"
II don't follow you, Mr.. Jones'"
Psychology" said Average Jones.
Elementary psychology. Here's your
abandon a brand-new fad when he runs
away. 1t isn't in boy nature. No, he
was taking this reel apart to study it
when some unexpected occurrence
checked him and drew him outside"
'The meteor"
II made some inquiries in the vii
lage on my way up. None of the hun
dreds of people who turned out for
the fire, remembers seeing Bailey
about"
THAT is true"
1.-THE meteor fell at ten-fifteen.
Bailey, it's probable, was out Of the
house before the meteor fell"
II should have heard him go out of
the front door,"
THAT is, perhaps, why he went out
of the window" observed Average
Jones, indicating certain marks on
the sill. Swinging his feet over, he
stepped upon the roof Of the porch.
and peered at the ground below.
and down the lightning rod" he
added. .... .-.....
For a moment he stood meditating
"The ground is now frozen hard" he
said presently "Bailey's footprints
where he landed are deeply marked.
Therefore the soil must have been
pretty soft at the time"
Very" agreed the clergyman.
There had been three-day down
pour, up to the evening of Bailey's dis
appearance. About nine o'clock the
wind shifted to the northeast, and
everything froze hard. There has been
no thaw SINCE"
"You seem very clear on these
points, Mr.. Prentice"
IT noted them specially, having in
teorite for the Congregationalist."
"Ah! Perhaps you could tell me,
then, how soon after the meteor's fall,
the barn yonder was discovered to be
afire."
almost instantly. 1t was in full
blaze within very short time after"
"How short? Five minutes or so?"
mot so much. Certainly not more
than two"
HIN! Peculiar! REHABILITATION
peculiar" drawled Average Jones.
Particularly in view of the weather"
"In what respect?"
I'm respect to barn, water-soaked
by three-day rain bursting into flame
like finder"
1T had not occurred to me. But the
friction and heat Of the meteorite
must have been extremely great"
And extremely momentary except
as to the lower floor. and the fire
should have taken some time to
spread, from that. However, to turn
to other Matters" He swung him
self over the edge Of the roof and went
briskly down the lightning rod.
Back in the study, Average Jones
sat meditating a few moments. Pres
emily he asked:
Did you go to the spot where your
sons clothes were found?"
Eyes. Some time after
Where was it,"
ION the seashore, some half mile
to the east of the Tuxall place, and a