The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-04-18

shebang"
In three minutes Macdonald Joined
the marshal and walked down with
him to the bank. He unlocked the
front door and turned to the little
crowd that had gathered.
Better wait here, boys. Gopher and
I will go in I expect everything is
all right, but We'll let you know about
that as soon as we find out"
The bank president opened the door,
let the officer enter, and followed him
self.
The sun had not yet risen and the
blinds were down. Macdonald struck
q match and held If up.
Banks been robbed" he announced
quietly.
Looks like" agreed Jones. His
voice was uneven with excitement.
The Scotch-Canadian lit another
match. In the fare OF if he saw that
the steel grill cutting of the aIcove
was open and that the door had been
blown from the safe.
The marshal clutched at the arm OF
the banker did you see-that?'' he
whispered
His finger pointed through the dark
ness to the other end OF the room In
the faint gray light OF coming day
Macdonald could see huddled mass
on the floor.
There has been murder done. I'll
get a light Don't move from here.
Jones. 1 want to look at things before
we disturb them. There's no danger.
| The robbers have been gone for hours"
| By the light of another match the
1 mine-owner crossed the room into the
sitting room of the cashier. Presently
he returned with a lamp and let its
light fall upon the figure lying slumped
against the wall A revolver lay close
to the inert fingers. The head hung
| forward groteSquely upon the breast
The dead man was Milton. His en-
/ plOyer saw nothing ridiculous in the
4 twisted neck and sprawling limbs The
cashier had died TO save the money
entrusted TO his care.
Macdonald handed the lamp to the
marshal and picked up the revolver
Every chamber was loaded
''They beat him to it They were
probably here when he reached home.
Ny guess is he heard them right away.
got his gun, and came in He's still
wearing his dress suit. That gives Us
the time. for he left the club about
midnight Soon as they saw him they
dropped him. 1 wouldn't have had this
happen for all the money in the safe.
How much was there in it7"
81 don't know exactly. The books
will show. I'll send Wally down TO
look them over"
''Shot right spang through the heart
looks like" commented Jones, follow
ing with his eye the course OF the
wound.
''Wish I'd been here instead of him, -
Macdonald said grimly. His eyes soft
ened as he continued TO look down at
the employee who had paid with his
life for his faithfulness. "It wasn't an
even break. Poor old fellow You
weren't built for job like this, Robert
Milton, but you played your hand out
to q finish That's ali any man car
do"
He turned abruptly away and begaI
examining the safe The silver still
stood sacked in one large cOmpart
ment. The bank notes had escaped the
hurried search Of the robbers, but The
gold was practically all gone. On'
sack had been torn by the explosion
and single pieces Of gold could b
found all over the safe.
Macdonald glanced over the paper
rapidly. The officer picked up one o
dozens scattered over the floor. 1t wa
a mortgage note made out to the banl
by a miner. He collected the others
Evidently the bandits had torn on tn
rubber, glanced over one or two q
see If they had any cash value, ant
tossed the package into the air as
: disguised gambler does a pack o
, cards.
; The bank president stepped to tn
door and threw it open. He explainei
the situation in three sentences.
ST can't let you In now, boys, unit
, the coroner has been here" he went o.
to tell the crowd. But there Is on
way you can all help. Keep your eye
) open. If you have seen any suspicion
characters around, let me know. o
If anyone has left town in a hurry
! or been seen doing anything during tn
. night that you did not understand q
the time"
A man named Fred Tague pushed t
] the IIOnt- ne kept lieu COLE0A ASd
the edge Of town 81 can tell you on
man who muShed out before five O'cloc
this morning-and that's Gid Holt"
The eyes OF Macdonald. cold an
: hard as jade, fastened TO the mar
''How do you known
THAT dog team he bought from Til
: Ryan Well. he's been keeping II i
, my corral. When I got there thi
: morning If was gone. The snow hadn'
wiped out the tracks Of the runner
vet. so he couldn't have left more tina
fifteen minutes before"
"You don't know that Holt took tn
team himselfT'
Come TO that, I don't But he ha
a KEY to the barn where the sled was
;, Holt has been putting up at the hOte
: 1 reckon ii is easy to find out If he
. still there"
MacdonaId's keen brain followed tn
facts as the nose OF bloodhound doe
!, a trail. Holt. an open enemy Of his
= had reached town only two days be
fore. He had bought one OF the bes