Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-04-12

At first II seemed as 3 the hoy nad
frustrated him. He had not been home
all night. Christine. ~wayiaying X. In
the little hall. told him that.
Mrs. DrummOnd was here" she
said. "She IL almost frantic. She says
Joe has not been home all night. She
says he looks up to you. aud she
thought II you could find him and
would talk Il him"
"J0e was with me last night. We
had supper at the White Springs no.
tel. Tell Mrs. Drrmmond he was In
good spirits. and that she's 10 70
worry. I feel sure she win hear from
him today. Something went wrong
with his car. perhaps, after he left
me-"
He bathed and shaved hurriedly.
Katie brought his coffee to his room,
and he drank 1t standing. AS he went
down the Street, he saw Mrs. Nc
kee in her doorway, with q little knot
Of people around her. The Street
vas getting the nights news.
He rentad a car at a local garage,
J and drove himself out into the coun-
try. He was not minded to have any
eyes on him that day. He went to
Schwttter's first. Schwitter himself
was not In sight. Bill. the bartender,
was s%crubbing the porch, snd a farm
hand was gathering bottlea from the
grass into a box. The dead lanterns
swung in the morning air. and from
back on the hill came the staccato
sounds of a reaping machine.
"Where's Schwitter?"
AT the barn" Bill grinned. He
recognized N, and, hopping dry a part
of the porch, showed a chair on it.
"Sit down. Well, how's the man who
got his last night? Dead?'
mo"
County detectives were here bright
and early. After the lady's husband.
l guess we lose our license over this"
"Bill, did you see the man who fred
that shot last nght?a
A sort of haze came over Bill's face,
as If he had dropped n curtain before
his eyes. But his reply came prompt
ly: "Surest thing in the world. Close
to him as you are to ME. Dark man.
about thirty. small mustache--"
"Bill, you're lying, and l know It..
Where is hep
The b%arkeeper kept his head, but his
color changed.
II don't know anything about him."
He thrust his mop into the pail. X.
rose. The farmland had filed his box
and disappeared around the corner of
the house. X. put his hand on Bills
shirtsleeved arm.
We've got to get him away from
here, Bill. The county men may come
back to search the premises"
How do l know you aren't one of
themY
Il guess you know I'm not. He's a
friend of mine. AS a matter Of fact, |
followed him here; but /. was too late.
Did he take the revolver away with
hlmf"
Il took 1t from him. It's under the
bar"
Get 1t for me-"
From inside the bar Bill took n care
full survey Of lie Moyne. He noted his
tall figure and shabby suit, the slight
stoop, the hair grazing over his ears.
Barkeepers know men: that's part Of
the job. After his survey he went be-
hind the bar and got the revolver from
under IN overturned pail.
X. thrust 1t into his pocket.
Now" he said quietly, where Is
he?"
I'm my room-top Of the house."
h. followed Bill up the stairs down
which he had carried Wilson's uncon.
scious figure. The room under the
caves was sitting. An unmade bed
stood In a corner. Joe was sitting In
the corner farthest from the window.
When the door swung open. he looked
up. He showed no interest on seeing
X, who had to stoop to enter the low
room.
Hello, joe"
Il thought you were the police. Is
he deadT
mo. indeed"
II wish I'd killed him!"
"Oh, no, you don't. You're glad you
didn't, and so am l."
Huh"
X. sat down on the bed. Loud calls
from below took Bill out Of the room.
AS he closed the door behind him, KS
voice took on a new tone:
"Joe, why did you do IT."
"You know. Don't go Into that, I
did It, and I'll stand by IT."
"Has it occurred to you that you
made q mistake"
"Go and tell that to somebody who'll
believe you!" he sncered. "Thcy came
here and took q Don l met him com.
ing out Of it. I'd do it again II l had
a chance, and do 1t better"
ut was not Sidney"
Jaw, chuck IT."
"It's Il fact. I got here not two
minutes after you left. The girl was
still there. II was someone else. Sid.
ncy was not out Of the hospital last
night. She attended Il lecture. and
then m operation"
Joe listened. II was undoubtedly n
relief to him to know that it had not
been Sidney: but II X. expected any
rcmorsc, he did not get 1t.
az he is that sort, he deserves what
he got" said the boy grimly.
And X. Ind no reply. But Joe was
glad to talk. X. got 1t by degrecs--his
mad flight into the darkness, until his