The Dermott news., 1919-04-17

 the road for m hour eyesl You come right into the house this min ute-hoth O you"
 The table was spread with the things l enjoyed most-big brown bis cults and great comb of honey sur rounded with it's nectar and q pitcher of milk and plate of cheese and some jerked ment and an apple pie.
 "Set right down an' eat-I just want to see ye eat-ayes 1 do"
 Mir. 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 nil. as he came in at the open door. "Baynes, I want to have talk with you and the boy. Tell ne what you know about that murder"
 Wal. I had some business over to Plattsburg." my uncle began. While I was there l thought I'd go and see Amos. So I drove out to Beekmans 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 mornn'. He left some time in the night an' took Beekman's rifle 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"
 It surprised me that my uncle knew all this. He had said nothing to me of his journey or it's result.
 How do you know?" snapped MT. Grimshaw.
 This boy see 1t plain. It was a gun with piece O wood broke out O the stock"
 "1s that so?" was the brusque de- mand of the money lender as he turned to me.
 .Yes, sir" I answered.
 "'rhe 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 ye now7'
 Uncle Peabody. keeping his temper, shook his head and calmly said: "No. aint anything ag'in' you or Amos, but it's got to be so that man can travel the roads Q this town without cettin' his head blowed off"
 Mir. Dunkelberg turned to me and asked:
 Are you sure that the stock of the gun you saw was broken?'
 "Yes, sir-and I'm almost sure il was Amos that ran away with it."
 "Why?"
 "I picked up a stone and threw 1t at him and t grazed the left side of his face, and the other night l saw the scar It made"
 My aunt and uncle and MT. Dunkel- berg moved with astonishment as I spoke of the scar. Mir. Grimshaw. with keen eyes fixed upon me, gave u little grunt of increduity.
 Huh Liar" !" he muttered.
 "I am not q lar" declared with ln- dignation, whereupon my aunt angrily stirred the fire in the stove and Uncle Peabody put his hand on my arm and said:
 Hush. Bartl Keep your temper. son."
 If you tell these things you may be the means of sending an innocent boy to his death." Mir. Dunkelberg said to me. "I wouldn't be too sure about 'em if I were you. It's so easy to be mistaken. You couldn't be sure in the dusk that the stone really hit him, could you?'
 answered: "Yes. sir-I saw the stone hit and saw him put his hand on the place while he was running. l guess it hurt him some"
 Look a here, Baynes.a Mir. Grim shaw began in that familiar scoldins tone of his, T know what you want an we might jest as well git right down to business first as last. You keep this boy still an I'll give ye five years interest"
 Aunt Deel gave gasp and quickly covered her mouth with her hand, Uncle Peabody changed color as he rose from his chair with a strange look on hIs face. He swung his big right hand in the air as he said:
 By the eternal jumpin'-"
 He stopped. pulled down the left sleeve of his flannel shirt and walked to the water pail and drank out of the dipper.
 Say. Mir Grimshaw. I'm awful sorry for ye." said my uncle as he returned to his chair. but I've always learnt this boy to toll the truth an the hull truth. I know the danger I'm in. We're gettin' old. It1l be hard to start over agin an you can ruin us if ye want to an I'm as scared O ye as mouse in cats paw, but this boy has got to tell the truth right out plain. l couldn't muzzle him if I tried-he's too much of man. If you're scared O the truth you mus know that Amos is guilty"
 Mr. Grimshaw shook his head with anger and beat the floor with the end O. his cane.
 Nobody knows anything O the kind. Baynes." said Mir. Dunkelberg. "Of