The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-07-26
CHAPTER xV-Continued.

Clair thought OF protesting, but was
overcome by the idea Of the woman
In the next room and hastily donned
the garment, which was cut on lines
designed to cover any sort Of figure
which nature could turn out The ef-
feet of the dress plus the whiskers was
startling, to say the least
Before we co." the sheriff decided,
1--WE had best have a look at the re-
MAINS" To me he said: Where is
the deceased? Where is Mrs. Green p
MRS. Green hasn't been murdered"
started to set him straight.
II didn't ask how she met her DEATH"
the sheriff thundered "Of course
don't expect you to admit you killed
her All l asked was where she Is
ard, by George, I'll have an answer.
Where Is she?"
l pointed silently at the locked door
"Boys," said the sheriff with emo
ton. "a poor, defenseless woman lies
beyond that door foully done to death
by these here rufiians. Smith, Wads-
worth. Clancy, Snider you will act as
ambulance department"
Four Of his comedians went toward
the door.
wait" the lender commanded. BE
fore you enter that room take off them
hats"
The four nondescript hats came OF
silently. Then they discovered that
the door was locked. However, that
proved only slight obstacle. for the
lock was easily forced. 1t struck me
as funny that Mrs. Green had not
walked out ON the scene before this.
A premonition of coming disaster grip
ped my heart.
The four men re-entered, carrying
revereutly a limp figure, which was
Enthusiastically Mrs. Green. Had she
been struck by stray bullet from the
attacking party? If she had, things
certainly were looking black for Clair
and myself. We had no way Of PROV
ing that we were innocent, and all
circumstantial evidence would be
against us. A murmur of anger ran
around the room, and the man with the
cope fingered 1t nervously.
STEADY, boys" the sheriff ordered.
zone moment" The young man with
the camera held up his hand. Don't
move"
There was a binding fash, and my
overweight nerves jumped seven feet
and rebounded before my brain as
sured them 1t was only fashight.
The effect on the four members Of
the ambulance squad was even more
startling. Apparently not expecting
the explosion, they dropped their bur-
den and stood with mouths open. Ac-
cidentally they dropped the body In q
sitting posture.
There was slight scream. Mrs.
Green opened her eyes and demanded,
where am IY'
If the officers of the law had been
startled before, their condition now
was absolute CONSERVATION.
Madame" the sheriff inquired
aren't you dead?"
II should say not"
''Then you are not Mrs. Green"
II certainly am"
"But Mrs. Green is dead. Her daugh-
ter told us So"
"Deadi Fiddlesticks It's wonder
I'm not, though, after coming over
here in an open boat and being at
tackled by a half naked savage with
wbiskers, and, let's see-some one
was shot. That's when / tainted.
guess, because l don't remember any
thing more until just now"
'All l have to say" stated the man
with the rope, jamming his hat on dis
respectfully. rs that this is a bum
night to get a man to play a joke on
him"
Madame" the sheriff said with
gloomy politeness, you have spoiled
the only murder case we ever had In
Maskeloon county; that's what you
have done. Come on, boys"
In majestic silence the members of
the sheriff's posse filed from the room.
The young man with the camera was
left behind, hastily picking up his
traps in order to join the others before
their boat left the island.
i approached him.
Now that there is no murder mys-
fery," l began, II presume that the
picture you took will be useless"
Not at all" he answered, too busy
folding up his tripod to notice that |
had opened the shutter of his can era.
"We'll find use for it some way"
lit a match and held it about an
inch from the lens of the camera, pre-
tending to examine the name Of the
maker on 1t.
What are you doing?" he demand.
ed sharply.
"Just looking at your lens" / an.
swered, blowing out the match Its
q Dalmeyer. see"
YES / was afraid something might
happen to that negative. l left the
film In the camera"
did your ! asked innocently and
closed the shutter, once more unob-
served. May we have one Of the
=, sturas ~ tbov fnrp ont welI 2"