New Britain herald., 1923-05-07
NOM CO on WITH mn STORY

NV Hb IN WIN fhls AlilfA
Mercedes placed her hands on the
shoulders Of the two men, she
seemed 10 gain strength from the
very nearness Of Kent and her nncle,
you better go with Peter, too"
Tusearofa advised, wen get you
homs In a few" lie stopped as he
caught sight Of the grisly object in
the corner, Land" he cried. look
here"
The sheriff called in several OF his
deputies before he moved out OF the
Kitchen.
"you know what the law is" he
warned them. you're here 10 de-
fend H."
His shrewd eyes scanned Aeklin's
face. The Big Boss scowled darl<ly,
As Land was about 10 step past him,
the cnttln.man spoke,
There's dead man IN the next
room, That little pouter- pigeon who
came In with you has found him.
You'd better let the coroner take care
OF this
The sherlff's mustachc began to
bristle.
According TO last reports, the
county is payin' me my wages: not
you. Don't you be 80 hostile"
Bodine grinned at this speech. His
respect for the law increased IA hum
dredfold.
Land hastily examined the dead
man.
Everybody step In here" he or
,ered. He got to his feet and wiped
his hands on his trousers. who
,o ha continued
"He amt ben dead long"
Bodine answered him. Had not
this good sheriff saved his neck?
II reckon ] can tell YOU about IT,
he said "Acklin knows, too. Me
and Kildare and the girl were here
when 1t happened. She killed him"
NO" Land groancd. unable to be-
lieve his ears. Not that little girl
there
That's who ! mean. She pulled
my gun out Of my holster and fired
from the doorway
The sheriff shook his head uneasi-
~. His deputips-all Paradise men,
caught their breath Acklin gared
at Bodine.
Kent placed his arm about Mer-
cedes' shoulders.
"You didn't do this honey did
you?" he murmured.
II / don't
don't know" she sobbed. Il came
to get Rasilio. Bodine had him. lie
would not let me go. He said must
go away with him. Woulo
not do that He made the other man
hurt the baby. He was
sob chokcd her.
Lands Basque deputies muttered
angrily and the Double \ men
scowled at Bodine. Before Mercedes I
could go on, Acklin got the sheriff S
attention
"She don't know what she's say
ing he cried. She's in no condition
to know what she did. You can't
take the word of u hystcrical girl
know what happened. Kildare was
here; he knows also. Bodine's trying J
10 save his own skin. | amt going
to see this girl thrown into jail.
tell you. i5odine did it,
The Big Boss turned until his eyes .
met Kidare's. They stared at each ,
other for a fun second before Acklin
continued. The crowd caught the
deadly intenscness OF that glance. 1t
held It's Dreatn again ne i'lS i'o'' =
turned back to the sheriff.
You ask Kildare if what | say
isn't So" The words clicked off his
tongue.
Land arched his eyebrows.
.Well2" he demanded.
1t grew quiet. The crowd waited
for Kildare's answer. He began to
shake his head He was speaking
The crowd strained its cars
That's not what happened they
heard him say.
He was about TO go on when the
kitchen door flew open and Big Hoo
nier, Adkins Kelly Creek foreman,
came in. herding before him Bodine's
men. Morrow was back of him.
Found these birds hiden' out III
the hills beyond Liotard's shack,
Cash announced. Had to be little