The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-02-12
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BY
P. G.
Copyright
CH@2TER /.
a Strange Death.

niShed at all, wi5h a severe simplicity
1t contained two beds, a pine chest Of
drawers, a strip Of faded carpet, and a
wash stand.
All these things might have been
guessed at from she other side of the
closed door. But there was that on
the floor which set this room apart
from q thousand rooms of the same
kind.
Flat an his back, one leg twisted
oddly ever the other, his hands
clenched and his teeth cleaning
through his black beard in a horrible
grin, Cap. John Gunner stared at the
ceiling with eyes that saw nothing.
Until a moment before he had had
the little room to himself. But now
two people were standing just inside
the door, looking down at him.
One was a large policeman, who
twisted his cap n%ervously in his hands.
The other was a tall, gaunt old wom-
an in a rusty black dress, who gazed
with pale eyes at the dead man.
Her face was quite expressionless.
The woman was Mrs. Pickett, owner
of the Excelsior boarding house. The
poIicenan's name was GrOgan. He
was a genial giant, a terror to the riot
Gus element of the Long Island water
front, but obviously i'll at ease in the
presence of death
He drew in his breath with a Curl
~ousshissing sound, wiped his forehead,
and whispered: "Would you look at
his eyes, ma'ami"
Mrs. Pickett did rot answer She
had not spoken since she had brought
the policeman into the room.
Officer Grogan looked at her quickly
from the corner of his eyes. He was
afraid of Mother Pickett, as was every
body else along the water front.
Her silence, her pale eyes, and the
quiet fo~rmidableness of her personal
ity cowed ever the tough old salts who
patronized the Excelsior. She was a
queen in that little community of
sailormen.
you've phoned for the doctor.
ma'am?"
Mrs. Pickett nodded.
The breeze, blowing in through the
open window, brought with it the
sound of noisy laughter. A cheerful
voice beloved a popular song.
"That's just how | found him." said
Mrs. Pickett. She did not speak loud
ly, but her voice made the policeman
start.
He wiped his forehead again.
at might have been apoplexy," he
hazarded.
Mrs. Pickett said nothing.
"Some guys drop in their tracks on
account of a bum heart" he went on.
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 heavens!"
He dropped to his knees beside the
body and raised one of the arms. he
lowered it gently to 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, doc7" asked
the policeman. ,
Impossible to say without an *
animation. 1t looks like apoplexy, but
it isn't. 1t might be heart disease, but s
I happen to know the poor fellows s
heart was as sound as a bell. He
called in to see me only a week ago,
and / tested him thoroughly. Lord
knows what it is! The coroner's in
quest will tell u.s.
He eyed the body almost resent t
fully. O
ut beats me-" he said. 1.-THE man r
had nc right to drop dead like this. He I:
was a tough old sailor, who ought to o
have been good for another twenty o
years. If you ask me, though I can't f
be certain till after the in c
quest, I should say he had been poi Il
h
For the love of Pete! !" exclaimed o.
officer Grogan.
"How would he be poisoned?" asked a
drs. Pickett. W
'That's more than / can tell you. a
There's no glass about that he could C;
ave drunk it from. He might have
'ot it in capsule form. But why 81
hould he have done it? He was al M
gays a pretty cheerful sort of old ly
ian, wasn't hep h:
"Surel" said Officer Grogan. HE
ad the name of being a champion pr
osher in these parts. I've had guys bl
ONE to me all raw from being mixed so
p in arguments with him. He had cl
way with him. Kind of sarcastic, to
Rough he never tried it on me-" OF
"This man must have died quite
lrly last night" said the doctor. ar
What's become of Captain Muller? Ell
he shares this room he ought to be ha
lie 10 tell us something about it." he
captain Muller spent the night te
IT'D some friends at Brooklyn" said III