The Holly chieftain., 1919-03-06

jerked meat and an apple pie.
"Set right down an eat| just
want to see ye eat-ayes I dol"
Mr.. Grimshaw came soon after we
had finished our luncheon. He hitched
his horse at the post and came in.
"GOod day." he said, once and for
all. as he came In at the open door.
'Baynes, l want to have a talk with
you and the boy. Tell me what you
know about that murder"
"Wal, had some business over to
Plattsburg." my uncle began. "While
was there L thought I'd 60 and see
Amos. So drove out to Beekman's
farm. They told me that Amos had
left there after workin' four days.
They gave him fourteen shillins an
he was goin' to take the stage In the
mornin'. He left some time In the
night an took Beekman's rife with
him, so they said. There was piece
o. wood broke out O. the stock o the
rifle. That was the kind O. gun that
was used In the murder"
1t surprised me that my uncle knew
all this. he had said nothing to me
of his journey or its result.
"How do you known" snapped Mr..
Grimshaw.
''This boy see 1t plain. 1t was a
gun with piece O. wood broke out
O. the stock"
"Is that so?" was the brusQue de-
mnnd Of the money lender as he
turned to me.
"Yes, sir" I answered.
"The boy lies" he snapped, and
turning to my uncle added: "Yer mad
cause I'm tryin' to make ye pay yer
honest debts-ain't We now1"
Uncle Peabody, keeping his temper,
sliook his head and calmly said: mo,
I amt anything ag'in' you or Amos
but it's got to be so that a man can
travel the roads O. this town without
gettin' his head blowed of"
Mr.. lunkelberg turned to- me and
asked:
"Are you sure that the stock Of the
gun you saw was broken?"
Eyes, strand I'm almost sure Il
was Amos that ran away with it"
| "Whyf'.
II picked up stone and threw i
at him and 1t grazed the left side ot
his face, and the other night l saw
the scar 1t made"
| My aunt and uncle and Mr.. Dunkel
berg moved with astonishment as
spoke of the scar. Mr.. Grimshaw
with keen eyes fixed upon me. gave I
little grunt of incredulity.
!-Liar!" he muttered.
u am not liar" declared with In
dignation, whereupon my aunt angril!
stirred the fire In the stove and Uncl'
Peabody put his hand on my arm ant
said:
"Hush. Bart! Keep your temper
son."
IF you tell these things you ma!
be the means Of sending an innocen
boy to his DEATH" Mr.. Dunkelberg sail
to me. Il wouldn't be too sure abou
'em IL were you. It's 80 easy to b
mistaken. You couldn't be sure IN tn
dusk that the stone really hit hin
could you2"
1 answered: "Yes, sir-I saw tn
stone hit and I saw him put his han
on the place while he was running
guess 1t hurt him some"
Look a. here, Baynes," MIR. Grin
shaw began In that familiar scoldin
tone of bis, II know what you wan
an we might jest as well git righ
down to business first as last. 70
keep this boy still an I'll give ye Nv
years interest"
Aunt Deel gave gasp and quickl
covered her mouth with her hant
Uncle Peabody changed color as b
rose from his chair with strange loo
on his face. He swung his big rigt
hand In the air as he said:
"By the eternal jumpin'-"
He stopped, pulled down the lei
7 sleeve Of his flannel shirt and Wake
to the water pail and drank out {
the dipper.
: 'Say, Mr.. Grimshaw, I'm awful sorr
. for ye," said my uncle as he returne
? to his chair, 'but I've always learr
this boy to tell the truth an the hu
truth. l know the danger I'm II
3 We're gettin' old. It'll be hard
8 start over ag'in an you can ruin I
3 If We want to an I'm as scared o. )
as mouse in cats paw. but tn
;. boy has got to tell the truth right OF
d plain. couldn't muzzle him II
tried-he's too much of a man.
o you're scared O. the truth you mu
= knO,y thOt Amna ia 1uilty"
p Mr.. Grlmshnw shook his head viii