The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-05-29
NORTHUMBERLAND

At first, Il seemed as II the boy had
/ frustrated him. He had not been
home all night. Christine. wnyiaying
X In tho little hall. told him that
lie bathed and shaved hurriediy.
Katie brought his coffee TO hts room.
and he drank II standing. He was
working out a theory about the boy.
Beyond Schwittcr's the high roa d
stretched. broad and inviting. across
the state. Either he would 20
gone that way. his little car eating
UP the miles all that night. or X.
would not formulate his fear OF what
might have happened. even 10 him
self
He rented car ut a local garage
and drove himself out into the coun-
try. He was not minded TO have any
eyes on him that dag. lie went to
Schwittcr-s first Schwitter himself
was not IN sight. Biil was scruhbinw
the porch. and a farmland was gath
erlng bottles from the grass into a
box. The dead lanterns swung IN
the morning air. and from back on
the hni came the staccato sounds Of
a rsaping machine.
where's schwsttcr1"
AT the barn with the mixsus. Got
boy back there"
BIZ grinncd. lie recognized X.
porch. showed a chair on II.
"sit down. Wei. how'a the man
who got his last nlshtg D-adg''
No"
County detectives were here
bright and early. After the iady's
husband I guess We lose our license
over this"
what does Schwitter say7''
~Oh. him. Bins tone was full Of
disgust ''He hopes we DO. He hates
the place. Only man I ever knew
that hated money. That's what this
house ls-~money."
"Bn. did you see the man who
fired that shot last night7"
A sort OF haze came over Biifs
face. as IL he had dropped a curtain
before his eyes. But his reply came
promptly:
''surest thing In the world. Close
10 him as you are 10 me. Dark man.
about 30. small mustaohe-"
"Bili. you're lying. and ] know II.
Where " he?"
The barkeeper kept his head. but
his color changed.
n don't know anything about
him" He thrust his mop into the
pail. X rose.
Does Schwitter know"
He doesn't know anything. He's
| been out at the barn all night"
The farmland had Allied his box
and disappeared around the corner Of
the house. X. put HIS hand on Bllfs
shirt.sleeved arm.
We've got 70 get him away from
here Bill"
'Ciet who away
you know. The county men may
come back 10 search the premises"
How do / know you aren't one
Of them?"
~ guess you know I'm not. He's
a friend OF mine. AS a matter OF
fact. followed him here: but was
too late. Did he take the revolver
away with him."
I'll took 1t from him. It's under
the bar"
Get 1t for me"
In sheer relief. Ks spirits rose.
After all. IL was n good world: Tiliie
with her baby in her arms; Wilson
conscious and rallylng. Joe safe, and.
without the revolver, secure fro n
his own remorse. Other things there
were. too--the feel OF sidney's inert
body in his arms. the way she had
turned to him In trouble. It was not
what he wanted. this last. but IL was
worth while. The rcaping machine
was In sight now; II had stopped on
I the hillside. The men were drinking
out OF bucket that flashed In the
sun.
There was one thing wrong. What
had come over Wilson. to do so reck
less n thing? X. who was one
woman man. could not explain IL.
From inside the bar Bill took
careful survey OF lie Moyne. He
noted his tall figure and shabby suit
t h e slight stoop. the hair grazing
over his ears. Barkeepers know
men. that's part OF the job. After
his survey he went behind the bar
and got the revolver from under an
overturned pail.
X. thrust 1t into his pocket.
NOW" he said quietly. where Is
her"
I'm my room--top OF the house"
X. followed Bill up the stairs. He
remembered the day when he had