The Red Cloud chief., 1922-04-13
Old Ribtree's
Dog
py HUBERT RAY

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Copyright, 1922. Western Newspaper Union |
The murder of Old Ribtree had
passed from a nine days sensation Ia.
to an unsOlved mystery. only one
man knew who had killed Rlbuce, and
5 that was James, because James had
killed him himself.
Rlbtree and James lived in town
Of fifty thousand inhabitants, just
large enough to escape that prying
gossip Which makes murder 50 unsafe
in villages. The two men had always
been enemies, under the guise Of friend
ship. James had especially wanted
Ribtree's girl, Ada Lachaussee.
James had made no elaborate plans.
He had figured out that Il spontaneous
murder Is the safest. He went to Rib
trees house one night when he knew
he would be alone, walked straight In
TO the study, and shot Rlbtree through
the heart, and went away. Now he
had Rbtrees girl, Ada Lachaussee.
Detective Aston had questioned
James very closely the next morning.
Happily James was able 10 prove that
he had been in bed all the day
before, with grippe. His Old house
keeper, Mrs Cannon, confirmed this
statement. Being quite deaf, she had
not heard James open his window and
descend; being in bed when James
returned, she had not heard his key
in the front door.
Ada Luchaussec, moved by James
protestatlous OF sympathy, had trans
ferred her affections to him. Three
months after the murder, James moved
to Rlbbleneld, and next week they
were no be married.
James knew that Aston suspected
| him, and lie was worried. Aston was
the sort OF detective who, with little
imagination, possessed the pertinacity
of bulldog. a bulldog? That was
| the fly In the ointment. Ribtree had
had bulldog-Bones.
| Bones and james had always been
! good friends. But Bones was an un-
canny dog. 1t was not until James
| had shot Ribtree that he perceived
| Bones lying In front OF the gas log.
Bones got up, shifted at his dead mas
ter, and jumped up at James for Il
caress. The memory of it made
| James blood run cold.
Next day Bones had met James In
the street and tried to follow him
home. Bones did not know where
James lived; but every time James
took q stroll In the direction of Rib
! trees house, he met Bones. Each
time he met him nearer and nearer
his own house. He knew that Bones
was slowly running him down.
james, seated in his new house In
Ribblefeld. heard Il scratching at the
door. The sweat started TO his fore
head. He rose and opened it, and
Bones came in, wagged his tail, and
lay down at his feet.
For tie first time James felt his i'm
pending doom. The sweat streamed
down his forehead. He did not know
what to do.
He kicked the dog furiously, and
Bones gave n yelp, and then jumped
up at him for caress again. There
was something devllish in the bull
dogs deliberate design. 1t was as If
Bones had set himself to run him
down, TO furnish the one proof that
could connect him with the murder.
Bones must die. James formed that
determination as he watched the bull
dog crouching mt his feet, looking UP
at him with an expression Of devotion
on its face. He must get his pistol
shoot 1t, dispose of the body before
morning.
A policeman passed, stamping heav-
lily on the sidewalk. He was accom-
panied by a man whom James, looking
into The darkness, could not recognize
But horrible feal came to him that
this man was Aston
AS the men passed James took the
bulldog by the collar, dragged 1t to
the front door, and opened it. He was
determined to take Bones to a lonely
place in the country, shoot him and
throw the body into ditch.
But as he opened the front door he
heard the pounding feet stop. HC
stopped, cold with terror. The po-
llceman and his companion were re
turning They walked back to the
gate OF the garden, pushed it open
and came up the path.
And James, standing silently upoT
the step, his hand in Bones collar
:, knew that Nemesis was ut hand.
: The light from the street lamp fel
on the face Of the second man. james
i recognized Detective Aston.
: 81 want to see you," Aston said.
!. you've got mer James babbled
= "For Gods sake take me away. Yes
/ killed Ribree, ana I'm ready to e
to the chair for him."
i Aston stared at him In stupcfactlor
= ana q light broke over his face
"Why, It's Mr.. james" he eS
. claimed. 81 didn't know you were liy
. ing here. Lucky / got that transfe
last week You heard what he sait
MulllnsW
James looked at him pIteousl!