The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-07-05
He Saw the !
Pistols Flash

BY CHARLES E. BAXTER

dcIerlZeS some people.
Yet the inn was not really haunted
A murder had been committed ther
% years before, and Lizzie Wilkin
found it paid to tell the story to Wis
itors, especially as her father, Ezra
had remained, as it were, demente,
ever since. And never had he Sc
foot outside the house since the nigh
his brother died.
Of late years he had hardly eve
spoken, but sat brooding beside tn,
fire, his eyes fixed upon vacancy.
This brought money. That stormy
night the elderly traveller and his wife
listened to Lizzie's story through the
peals of thunder and the swish Of the
rain, agape. Here it is:
Twenty-Five years before Ezra and
John Wilkins had run the inn-ther
known as the wilkins inn-together
aided by Ezra's wife, Jane, the mother
Of Lizzie, and now dead. They ca
tered to travelling men and farmers,
The Wilkins brothers were supposed
to have boarded money.
One night Ezra Wilkins was-he
Observation-Disclosures by a pistol shot, a
cry. He leaped out Of bed. AS he
opened the door of his brothers room
a second shot sounded. By the light
of the pistol fash-he -claimed-IIzra
saw the face of the murderer bent
over his brother. He flung himself
upon him-he claimed-but the man
succeeded in escaping.
That was all the murderer was
never taken. Suspicion attached it.
self to Ezra, for-here Lizzie was dis
creet-"wicked stories were being told
about Pa and Uncle Johns sweet
heart. They were all lies" But
against this it was shown at the in
quest that the brothers had
%quarreled in their lives, had been ex-
traordinarily devoted to each other.
Neither was of a sentimental nature,
both were hard, practical New Eng
landers-yet in some peculiar way
they were devoted to each other.
Ezra said robbery was the cause of
the murder. Nothing had been taken,
because John had awakened and crap
pied with the intruder-to receive his
death shot through the head. SID
know that face I saw by the flash to
the last day of my life" Ezra de
clared.
1T was after that that Pa began to
go peculiar" Lizzie explained. Folks
said he was grieving for Uncle John.
That shows what wicked lies those
were which said that he killed him."
For years now Ezra had sat by the
fireplace. He seemed to understand
what was being said, but he often said
nothing for weeks on end. He sat
looking at nothing in particular, and
yet seemed to be watching.
A ring at the bell a tall man en-
tered, clothed in an ulster. He was
dripping rain. "Can you put me up
for the night and give me a bite to
eat?" he asked. "Im a stranger in
these parts, travelling to Lynn. I
missed my train, and they told mi
this was the best place to stay"
Surely" said Lizzie. She hustled
upstairs, bringing out sheets for the
bed. When she came down the new-
conner was in animated conversation .
with the elderly traveller and his
They were talking about the
Lizzie joined in, and recount
ed part of the story she had already
told.
81 sort of think sometimes he's set
ing there waiting for Uncle Johns
murderer to come back" she said. II /
remember when Pa used to talk. He )
said sooner or later the man that /
Kills another always comes back to !
lee the place. I sort of think Pas !
got that on his mind, and that's why !
le's setting there" {
The traveller laughed and looked at ;
Ezra, whose dark eyes rolled vacuous- (
y on his. :
He'd find it pretty hard to swear :
o him after % years." he answered. {
"How did you know it's % years?" &
sked Lizzie. 3
"Why this gentleman mentioned it." 9
eplied the other, turning to his elder B
Y companion. The latter searched 9
is memory to find if it was true. 5
Mind if I light my pipe?" asked g
younger man. 8
There came the splutter Of a match; 9
e bent his head over his pipe. The 8
ilhouette showed dark against the 3
anne. Suddenly Ezra was out Of his s
hair, his hands upon his wrists like 2
yves of steel. q
"The facet" he screamed. 'The face 3
7 the pistol FASH" 9
The other glared about him, 3
rithed desperately, got n hand .
zee to the pistol in his pocket; there 5
flowed two shots. .
Ezra stood on his feet, his yes de- 5
oniac, watching the stumbling figure Q
A. -..-o-y 10 khA d. -