The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-06-13
.e TIME Of SILA AS WRIGHT


my ufe-ayesi We been lookin' up
the road for an hour - eyes! You
come right into the house this min
ute-both O. you."
The table was spread with the
things enjoyed most-big, brown bis
cults and great comb Of honey sur
rounded with its nectar and pitcher
Of milk and plate Of cheese and some
jerked meat and an apple pie.
"Set right down an eat-I just
want to see We eat-ayes doW
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, I want to have a talk with
you and the boy. Tell me what you
know about that murder"
"Wal, I had some business over to
Plattsburg." my uncle began. while
I was there I thought I'd go and see
Amos. So I 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 rifle with
him. so they said. There was a piece
o. wood broke out O. the stock o. the
rife. 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 a piece O. wood broke out
O. the stock"
"Is that soT was the brusque de-
mand of the money lender as he
turned to me.
yes, sir" answered.
oThe boy les" he snapped, and
turning to my uncle added: Eyer mad
cause I'm tryin' to make ye pay yer
honest debts-ain't We nowf"
Uncle Peabody, keeping his temper.
shook his head and calmly said: mo,
l amt anything ag'in' you or Amos,
but it's got to be so that man can
gettin' his head blowed OF"
Mr.. Dunkelberg turned to me and
| asked:
Are you sure that the stock Of the
gun you saw was broken7"
"Yes, strand I'm almest sure 1t
was Amos that ran away with II"
"Whyf"
Il picked up q stone and threw Ii
at him and 1t grazed the left side of
his face, and the other night 1 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
little grunt Of incredulity.
Huh Liar I" he muttered.
Il am not lar" declared with In
dignation. whereupon my aunt angrily
stirred the fire In the stove and Uncle
Peabody put his hand on my arm and
said:
Hush. Barti Keep your temper,
SON."
IF you tell these things you may
be the means Of sending an innocent
boy to his DEATH" Mr.. Dunkelberg said
to me. II wouldn't be too sure about
'em IL were you. It's so easy to be
mistaken You couldn't be sure In the
dusk that the stone really hit him,
could you7"
l answered: Yes, sirI saw the
stone hit and saw him put his hand
on the place while he was running.
l guess 1t hurt him some"
Look a here, Baynes," Mr.. Grim
shaw began in that familiar scolding
tone of his, Il 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 We five
years interest,""
Aunt Deel gave a 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, Mr.. Grimshaw, I'm awful sorry
for ye," said my uncle as he returned
to bis chair. 'but I've always learnt
this boy to tell the truth an the hull
truth. ! know the danger I'm in.
We're gettin' old. It'll be hard to
start over ag'in an you can ruin us
If ye want to an I'm as scared O. We
as mouse in cats paw, but this
boy has got to tell the truth right out
plain. couldn't muzzle him If
tried-he's too much of a 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
OF his cane.
Nobody knows anything o. the kind.
Baynes," said Mr.. Dunkelberg. "of
course Amos never thought o. killing