The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1920-02-21
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By
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Copyright
CHAPTER I.
A Strange Death.

OI tUe t.IlCUi tt'i-''uSH "'''"e
house, furnished. so far as II was fur
nishcd nt all. with severe simplicity.
II contained two beds, n pine chest OF
drawers. strip OF faded carpet, and
wash stand.
All these things might have been
guessed NJ from the other side Of the
closed door. But there was that on
the floor which set this room apwrt
from thousand rooms Of the same
kind.
Fiat on his back. one leg twisted
oddly over the other. his hands
clenchcd and his teeth cleaning
through his black beard In u horrible
grin, Capt. John Gunner stared at the
ceiling with eyes that saw nothing.
Until a moment before he had had
the little room to himself. hut now
two people were standing Just inside
the door, looking down Mt him.
One was n large policeman who
twisted his cap nervously In his hands.
Tie other WIS n tall, gaunt old won.
an in a rusty black dress. who gazed
with pale eyes at the dead man.
Her face was quite exprcssionlcss.
The woman was Mrs. Pickett owner
Of the Excelsior boarding house. The
pollccman's narne was Grogan. lie
was genial giant, n terror 60 the riot
GUS element of the Long Island water
front, hut obviously III at ease In the
presence Of death.
lie drew In his breath with curl.
ons.hlssing sound. wiped his forehead.
and whispered: "would you look at
his eyes. mn'nm !"
Mrs. Pickett did not answer. She
had not spoken since she had brought
the policeman Into the room.
Officer Grogan looked at her quickly
FROM the corucr Of his eyes. lie was
afraid of Mother Pickett, rs was every.
body else along the water front.
Her silence. her pale eyes, and the
quiet formldablcness ~ her personal
ity cowcd even the tough old salts who
patronlzcd the Excelsior. She was n
queen Ia that little community OF
sailormen.
"You've phoned for the DOCTOR
ma'amr
p Mrs. Pickett nodded.
The breeze. blowing In through the
open window. brought with ~ the
sound OF noisy laughter. A cheerful
voice beloved n popular song.
'-That's just how found him." said
Mrs. Pickett. She did not speak loud
IL, but her voice made the policeman
start.
He wiped his forehead again.
eft might have been apoplexy." he
haxarded.
Mrs. Pickett said nothing.
''Some guys drop Ia their tracks on
account Of a bum heart" he went Oh.
''There's no marks ON him.
The old woman did not answer.
There was a sound OF footsteps out.
side. A young man entered. carrying
q black bag.
"Good morning. Mrs. Pickett. What's
the Good beavens!"
He dropped TO his knees beside the
body and raised one OF the arms. lie
lowered II gently 10 the floor and
shook his head.
"Been dead for hours. When did
you find himf"
'"Twenty minutes back" said the old
woman. II guess he died last night.
He never would be called In the morn.
ing. Said he liked TO sleep on. Well.
he's got his WISH"
"What did he die OF, docr' asked
the policeman.
impossible TO ray without an ex-
animation. II looks like apoplexy, but
II Isn't. II might be heart disease. but
I happen TO know the poor fellows
heart was as sound as a bell. lie
called In 10 see me only week ago.
and tested him thoroughly. Lord
knows what II ISL The coroncr's In
quest viii tell US
He eyed the body almost resent
fully.
iii beats me-" ne said. "The man
had no right 10 drop dead Ike this. lie
was a tough old sailor. who ought 10
have been good for another twenty
years. II you ask me. though j can't
possibly be certain till after the in
quest. i should say he had been pol
soned."
"For the love Of Petel" exclaimed
Officer Grogan.
"How would he be poisonedf" asked
Mrs. Pickett.
"That's more than can tell you.
There's no glass about that he could
have drunk II from. He might have
got II In capsule form. But why
should he have done il? He was al
ways pretty cheerful sort Of old
man, wasn't hef'
"Surei" said Onicer Grogan. He
had the name Of being a champion
Josher In these parts. I've had guys
come to me all raw from being mixed
up I'm arguments with him. He had
a way with him. Kind. of sarcastic,
though he never tried IL on me-" -.
'pThis man must have died. quite
early last night" said the doctor.
"What's become Of Captain Muller?
no. al. 1. .le l. L.