The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-10-02
The PlOtters
AN UNUSUAL SERIAL OF EAST AND WEST
Amos Chaplin Is Killed, Apparently
by John Butler, After Noisy
Quarrel Over Elizabeth Wade


tons before she saw Talak cross
ing the meadow back OF the barn.
his head bent in depression or sui
lenness.
She had thought that he was go
ing away then But later she had
seen him creep back and disappear
in the direction OF the stable. AT
that time Amos was resting in the
living-room, and she did not tell
him that the discharged farmland
had returned.
Instead she had waited until her
husband fell asleep Then she had
crept out upon a tour of investiga-
ton. She was not afraid Of the
Pole. She had always been kind to
him, and he had never been uncivil
to her Therefore she felt quite
able to protect herself.
Going into the dusky recesses OF
the barn, she called the man softly
but distinctly.
"Taiak. she said. 'Talak. where
are your
No answer came. He had probably
left at last.
Passing out through the rear
door, she climbed a little knoll at
the side OF the baruyard. From this
fields lying between her and the
pine woods to the south
Across the most distant OF these
fields she spied a figure walking
slowly. It carried something long
over its shoulders-it looked like =
stout stick-and from this hung an
object which she thought she recog-
nized as the bundle containing all
Taiak'S earthly possessions.
She breathed a little more freely
now that she knew that the Pole
had really started on his Journey.
pa and he have had so many
words lately that it's made me
awfully uncomfortable" she NUT
tered. 81 don't feel somewhow as IL
pa had done right by him. and yet
he says the poor fool hasn't done
q decent days work since the death
Of his dog. Well" with a sigh OF
pity. II suppose Mig was his only
friend. Anyway, since he's going,
I'm glad he's gone. I hope pa will
be less upset now. I don't under
stand him these days. He's worse
then everT'
which admission would have
proved to an unparalleled listener
that Martha Chapin's matrimonial
walk was not . path Of roses.
Returning to the house, she st
about preparing supper. As she
was doing this her husband came
into the kitchen
"It's getting Iate,- he remarked
where's Butler gone with that
girl?"
"For a walk guess his wife
replied.
IT'S time they were back he
grumbIed.
What do you carer his wife
reasoned, gently. Don't bother 50
much about things, pa It's not
good for you"
"Its easy enough for you to say
Don't bother" he retortsd- You
don't need to bother. You don't
have to work the way do on an
other mans place and get no credit
Well it's coming to an end now"
His wife looked up eagerly. @You
mean" she said--"thAt you're going
to give up the farm. or"-aS he
shook his head-'what do you
mean?'
81 mean I'm going to buy the
place myself II It's possible" he
said. "I've told you all along that
meant to. Now I've about got II
settled"
She could not answer immedi-
ately. When she did she gave no
sign of the disappointment that was
tuggins at her heart strings
She was thinking OF this now as
she got supper for Butler and Eliz-
abeth.
She had always hoped against
hope that Amos would change his
mind and move to town-prefera-
bly, Chicago, where she could be
near Clifford as long as she lived
Now that was out Of the question
Her husband had, in some way that
was mysterious to her, secured tins
money with which to buy the farm.
He and she would probably enc
their days here.
Well. she must try to bear her
lot cheerfully, and not to tnlnk
about II now. The duty or this
minute was to call the young peo-
pie to supper. II pa would only le;
that young man go and wash up.
She started across the hall 10
summon Elizabeth. As she did so
her husbands excited voice reached
her ears. At the same moment
EIizabeth's door opened, and the
girl hurried down the stairs.
"Oh, Mrs. Chaplin" she saspeG-
EWhat is the matter in there
What can they be sayirg?" Then,
as the matron caught her hand
nervousIy. Mr.. Chaplin must be
very angry-he must
She got no further. for The scc-c
of a shot rang through the house.
Pushing past the terrified woman
who tried to detain her. Elizabeth
rushed to the small room back OF
the parlor. Opening the door. she
stopped short on the threshold.
In the center OF the room: stood
John Butler. as white as death. At
his feet lay the body OF Amos
Chaplin, blood oozing from a bullet
wound In his temple.