The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-03-20


He bent himself to the task Of hold
ing back the end. 1t was useless.
His son. said the physician.
"We'll get him. You go-you two. L
must do what / can"
The butler and / raced like two
maniacs from the room and out into
the crisp night air.
'He is not here, sir" said the thin
old fellow.
eve can't let this wait" l said.
'"The police must be notified"
"Yes-the police" said Simmons in
a bewildered manner. "Did you hear
the shot, sir?"
"No.''
This was the first thought that had
struck me. / had heard no shot.
We went out through the iron gate
and raced like two madmen along the
street. \ The butler knew the way. |
had not yet learned enough of Triv-
orion to be sure where to find the po-
lice.
1t did not take us long to tell the
story-what we had to tell.
The police officer in charge showed
the eagerness characteristic of the
sleuth.
followed with a frenzied sort of
fascination all the movements OF the
police.
Miss Redbagh by this time had been
aroused, and sat, dry-eyed and half
stunned, at the bedside of her father.
There had been a way out of Triv-
orion that night At half-past seven
in the morning Miss Redbagh received
telegram.
"Dear Edna:
Millie and 1 reached Baldwin at
three this morning. / borrowed your
horse, and we drove over. am send
ing the horse back in care of man
from the hotel here. Don't mind about
the will. 1 am going to work.
Lovingly,
DONALD"
"Baldwin--three in the morning"
said the police officer in charge of the
investigation. eff that's true, he new
er fired that shot"
"Who did?' I asked helplessly.
"We must verify the telegram first"
Now thoroughly determined to know
the end of it, 1 accompanied two de-
tectives to Baldwin.
At the hotel we learned that DON
aid Redbagh and his wife did arrive
there (twenty miles away at three
o'clock that morning. The shot that
killed his father had been fired at
half-past one.
"The girl-was she in sympathy
with her brother?'' asked the detec-
tive.
"Yes," 1 said hesitatingly; "but she
never shot her father. The will was
all in her favor"
Back we went to TrivOrtOn. The
doctor had probed for the bullet.
"You thought young Redbagh took
revolver he said "This is a rife
ball. We heard no shot. 1t was an
accident. / am convinced that no muir
der was committed. And since the
man is dead, 1 am ready to admit that
a great injustice was prevented. DON
aid married a poor girl, and Redbagh
was always a-well-he's dead"
In small town like Trivorton such
case becomes the main topic of con-
versation. Sleepless, I was in the po-
lice station at about five that same
afternoon, when a boy came in, white
face, frightened, and carrying under
his arm a small rifle.
sI'n give myself up," he said. II
think / shot Mr.. Redbagh, although /
didn't mean to do so. I was out after
rabbits. It's fun on bright, moon
light night. My dog had scared up
several, and / guess 1 got to shooting
wild. Do you think I'll have to go to
prison?
Everybody breathed sigh of relief.
The chief of police looked at me pc
culiarly.
"Redbagh was about gone, wasn't
he?" he asked.
"He couldn't have lived through the
night"
1.-THE girl is true to her brotherY"
eyes, and Donald to her.
whats your name?" asked the
chief of the frightened boy.
"Tom Wynert."
"The doctors SOM"
eyes, sir. My father was with MIR.
Redbagh, and / was out on the old
rye field. II might have shot my ia
ther."
ct don't know don't know but
| what we'll keep the rifle" said the
chief. Gas for you, if you are wanted,
we'll send for you. 1t is not certain
that it was your bullet, anyway.
Still, the weapon is dangerous at night
| for a boy to handle"
AS I look back, remembering the
impressions made on me that night,
| the favorable light In which / looked
on Donald Redbagh, the harshness of
his father, the bitterness of fate, j
wonder-I wonder if there was not
something more than boys chance
| shot in it all. For was always be-
lever in the business of fate.