New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-03-23
TO save Joe, then, was KS first


would talk to him"
Joe was with me last night. We
had supper at the White Springs ho-
tel. Tell Mrs. Drummond he was in
good spirits, and that she's not to
worry. | feel sure she will hear from
him today. Something went wrong
with his eur, perhaps, after he left
me-"
lie hAthcd and shaved hurricdly.
Katie brought his coffee to his room,
and he drank it standing. AS he went
down the Street, he saw Mrs. Me
Kcc in her doorway, with Il little knot
of people around her. The Street
was getting the nights news.
lie rented n car at n local garage,
and drove himself out into the coun-
try. He was not minded to have any
eyes on him that day. He went to
SchWitter's first. SchWitter himself
was not in sight. Bill, the bartender,
was scrubbing the porch, and IL farm
hand was gathering bottles from the
grass into II box. The dead lanterns
swung In the morning air, and from
back on the hill came the staccato
sounds of Il reAping machine.
"Whcre's Schwitter?"
AT the barn" Bill grinned. lie
recognized H., and, hopping dry II part
of the porch, showed Il chair on it,.
"Sit down. Well, how's the man who
got his last night? Dcad?"
no.
County detectives were here bright
and early. After the ludy's husband.
| guess We lose u license over this"
"Bill, did you see the man who fired
that shot last night?"
a sort of haze came over Bits face,
as if he had dropped Il curtain before
his eyes. But his reply came prompt
~: "Surest thing in the world. Close
TO him as you are to me. Dark man,
about thirty, small mustache-"
"l}ill, you're lying, and l know it.
Where Is hep
The barkceper kept his head, but his
colon changed.
Il don't know anything about him."
lie thrust his mop into the pail. X.
i'F'' Itl lillliiiu lluu lllItu HIS DOA
and disappeared around the corner of
the house. X. put his hand ON Bits
SllirtSleeved arm.
We've got to get him away from
here, Bill. The county men may come
back TO search the premises"
How do | know you aren't one of
thrm?"
Il guess you know I'm not. He's a
friend of mine. AS Il matter of fact. |
followed him here; but | was too late.
Did he take the revolver away with
Get it for me-"
From inside the bar Bill took Il care
full survey of lie Moync. lie noted his
tail figure and shabby suit, the slight
'toop, the hair CRAVING over his ears.
.|'arkccpcrS know men: that's part of
he job. After his survey he went be-
lind the bar and got the revolver from
lndcr an overturned pail.
X. thrust it into his pocket.
Now he said quietly, where is
'ln my room-top of the house" ;
X. followed Bill up the stairs down
which he had carried Wilson's uncon-
figure. The room under the l
was sitting. An unmade bed
stood In IL corner. Joe was sitting in
he corner farthest from the window. I
When the door swung open, he looked :
lp. lie showed no interest on seeing !
y, who had to stoop to enter the low |
"IIello, Joe" l
Il thought you were the police. Is j..
,e dead2' |
mo, indeed
Il wish I'd killed him ~ :,
"Oh, no, you don't. You're glad you I
idn't, and SO am l."
Huh! !" S
X. sat down on the bed. Loud calls
ON below took Bill u OF the room.
$ he closed the door behind him, KS
dice took on n new tone:
Joe, why did you do itY" Il
you know. Don't go into that, o
id it, and I'll stand by it," p
"IIas it occurred to you that you e
Iade a mistaken" "
eco and tell that to somebody who'll IL
Alieve you" he sneered. "They came Il
ere and took a ROOM. / met him COM y
e out of it. I'd do it again if l had W
chance, and do it better" IL
at was not Sidney" b'
Jaw, chuck it," h
ITS a fact. l got here not two HI
inutes after you left. The girl was p'
i'll there. 1t was someone else. Sid VI
y was not out of the hospital last p'
ght. She attended a lecture, and 81
en- an operation" Is
Joe listened. 1t was undoubtedly a al
lief to him to know hat it had not tn
Sidney; but if X. expected any D
morse, he did not get it. IA
'If he is that sort, he deserves what hi
got" said the boy grimly. pl
And X. had no reply. But Joe was he
to talk. X. got 1t by degrees-his lo
I'd flight into the darkness, until his pc
soline gave out his resolve to walk al
ok and surrender himself at Schwit- of
IS, so that there could be no mis- WI
ke as to who had committed the Nj
me.
Il intended to write a confession and
IN shoot myself" he told X. But
? ~barkeeper got my gun out of my al,
And" be
a pause: Does she know who as
it," SUI
Sidney? No" pr
if ba rate haftor chain p,orr- &c