Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-07-18

GOO by, OF Sandlot. 100 py!
Sandlot hesitated moment and then |
arose and. after a parting glance at
Wixy. struck out across the drying |
floor Of the brickyard and was lost in
the darkness. Wixy blinked and bal
anced the empty bottle in his hand.
Hes afraid he boosted TO himself
Hes a coward. 'Fraid of dark!
'Fraid Of ghostsl Los his nervel |
amt fraid"
He arose TO his feet unsteadily.
"Sandlot's a cowardr' he said. and
threw down the empty bottle with a
motion Of disgust at the cowardice of
Sandlot. The bottle burst with
jangling Of glass.
On the loose board roof Philo Gubb
raised his head suddenly. For an In
slant he imagined he was a olsen
bodied spirit. his body having been
dissolved In gasoline, but as he be-
came wider awake he was conscious
of a noise beneath him Wixy was
shifting twenty or thirty bricks that
had fallen from the kiln upon truss
of straw used the last winter to cover
new nodded bricks to protect them
from the frost against their drying
He was preparing bed. He muttered
to himself as he worked, and Philo
Gubb, placing his eye to crack be
tween the boards Of the roof. tried to
observe him. The darkness was so
absolute he could see nothing what
ever.
He heard Wixy stretch out on the
straw. and in minute more he heard
the heavy breathing Of sleeper
Wixy was not letting any cowardice
disturb his repose at all events, and
Philo Gubb considered how he could
best get himself off the roof.
The sleeping man was Immediately
beneath him the ladder was full ten
yards away; every motion made the
loose boards complain. Looking down.
Mr. Gubb saw that the top of the kiln
reached within few feet of where he
lay and that the partially removed
sides had eft a series of giant steps
He loosened his pistols in his belt
Now that he had the chicken thief so
near. he meant to capture him. He
slipped the lantern into his pocket
reached out his hands and jumped into
the dark. dropping straight upon the
sleeping WiXy. He alighted fair and
square on the murderer's stomach, and
the air went out of Wixy I'm a sudden
"whoofw II was solar pleXUs blow,
delivered with a boot heel, and WiXy
never did know what struck him.
Philo Gubb In the unreasoning ex
element OF the moment grappled with
Wixy. but the unresistanee Of the man
told that he was unconscious, and the
correspondence school detective re
leased him and stood up. He uncoy-
cred the lens of his dark lantern and
turned the ray on Wixy.
The murderer lay fat on his back
his eyes closed and his mouth open
Mr. Gubb thought he was dead, and
chill ran through him. In undertaking
the life of a detective he had believed
his career might possibly be marked
by the corpses of those he must kill in
the interest of Justice. but he had never
killed a man before. and it shocked
him He put his hand on Why's
heart. 1t still beatl The man was not
dead
With the dark lantern In one hand
and a rusty tin can in the other, Mr..
Gubb hurried to the pond and returned
with the can full of water. But even
In this crisis he did not act thought
lessly.. He set the dark lantern on a
shelf of the kiln, so that its rays might
illuminate Wixy and himself alike,
drew one of his pistols and pointed 1t
full at Why's head, and. holding it so,
he dashed the can of water in the face
of the unconscious man Wixy moved
uneasily. He emitted long sigh and
opened his eyes.
81 got you!" said Philo Gubb sternly
"There amt no use to make a move,
because If you do TIL shoot this pistol
at you. If you're able so to do just
put up your hands!'
Wixy blinked In the strong light of
the lantern. He groaned and placed
one of his hands on his stomach.
Put 'em upr' said Philo Gubb, and,
with another groan, Wixy raised his
hands. He was still fiat on his back.
He looked as if he was doing some sort
Of health exercise. In minute the
hands fell TO the ground.
81 guess you'd better set up said
Philo Gubb you amt goin to be
able to hold up your hands If you lay
down that way" And he helped Wixy
to a sitting position. with his back
resting against the side Of the kiln
He kept the muzzle Of his pistol against
Why's head as he did so.
"Now, then" said Philo Gubb when
be had arranged his captive to suit his
taste. what you got to say?'
81 got to say never done what you
think I done, whatever it is said
Wixy. 81 don't know what It is, but
never done it, Some other Teller done
IT,"
''That don't bother me none. said
Philo Gubb IF you didn't do II
don't know who did Just about the
e.. ac