The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-29


srful relative was one of loyal defer.
eDcc. The positive statement dashed
him lie stared at the boss In oh.
vlouB ewilderment.
"ira just a case Of mistaken
identity" Cochran said. You
couldn't have seen him more'n
second $50 excited. you know - all
confusion You made n mistake"
Confused. Donayhn looked aston,
thsad. lips apart. Tbon II
wheeled back into hin mind--thaf
second or 80 IN tho front office
whom be had looked looked gquare.
Iy In the mans face at a distance Of
only few feet. Under the shock
Of Uncle Franks positive assertion
tho gripping teeth had relaxed
Now they set again. Cochran saw
that In the young mans broad, nn.
handsome face M Donayan replied
Lumbty but doggdly;
well, I could only say, on tho
witness stand. that I'm sure II was
Hatch"
Cochran perceived that there was
something about this blockheaded
stubb0rnnean which carried con
yic'ion. With flare OF exsspera.
ton he retorted; You're wrong
You're getting me into "A hell u n
mesa II cant he IIatchp
Donayan was a slow thinking and
simple minded person. Only then did
the truth about this situation dawn
upon him. This was why sunny Gus
Wheiplny had called for him, IN
such extraordinary fashion, at half
pact 10. This was the meaning Of
Whclpiey's confident words, The
old man wants 10 see YOU" as nc
had shunted Donavan into the
room where the boss ant waiting
for him II must DE Hatch
Cochran read the dawning com.
prehension IN the young mans open
face and. 30 10 speak, took him In.
side the works, leaning little to-
ward him. n confidential finger on
Donavan's knee:
Listen, Gene. Andy Hatch Amt
q bad fellow lie didn't mean any
great harm. suppose he got n fool
Idea In his head that something Yves
coming 10 him and he'd go oJt and
collect 4 suppose he got n couple
Of roughnecks 10 20 with him, and
one Of EN- shot young Mitchell
Understand II might have Imp
pened, you see, without Andy In
tending II. lie Amt bad fellow
maybe got n fool idea somebody
owed him some money and he'd
better go out and collect H. See?"
This confidence was much the
farthest Donavan had ever been
taken inside the works; by far the
most Intimate communication TINT
had yet passed between uncle and
nephew. And Donayan wondered
whether or not. in some mysterious
fashion Handy Andy had already
been tried before neeret powers and
benevolontly acquitted ms q good
fellow who had suffered the mir.
fortune OF getting into bad scrape
coehrana then took the novice
somewhat farther inside the works:
ANDY knows what's coming TO him
aa well MS anybody does He's done
good work all along II man de-
IIyers the goods, he's entitled To
claim his pay. You see, son, you're
credited to me. ] put you In
Whatever you do I'm held respon
aibie for" In another sudden flare
Of irritation he added: "Andys got
p,enty OF friends don't want 'em
taking crack al mo with a sawed
af shotgun I'm responsible for
you"
Donavan. drawing a hand across
his brow. could only mutter. II
don't see how you could be held
responsible In a case like this"
Then he blurted I'm amazement.
why this il murder. Uncle Frank
The rude word rather rasped
cochran's stout nerves. He scowled
at the lack OF tact. perhaps-~and re
torted: Il don't like II any better'n
you do don't want such things
any mora'n anybody else does But.
as great statesman said, It's
condition, not a Theory This fool
thing has happened. We can't nn.
happen IL. Nobodys going TO bring
young Mitchell back To life. Andy
Amt had fellow. lie didn't shoot.
You say yourself he might "a shot
you. but he didn't. He's got claims
and whole raft Of frlenaa-dont
forget that wish the whole thing
was IN he'll. But II aint. Its
here. I've got 10 deal with II
In his evaporation Cochran dis
closed the potentate heavily bur.
dened with earea OF state, greatly
fegrcttinE that some thoughtless
subjects hai got themselves into an
awful mess. hui obliged by his 20.