The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1924-04-03

ben made till after the rug was drug
back"
The preacher peered at him through
his huge sp~ectacles; a subtle premo-
milton Of what was coming reached
him.
Il may have stepped there when l
came out of my room. That was a
most distressing scene, Mr.. Warhope."
But the board was scratched
where the heel had slipped and dug
into II under strain. How colne y'u
slipped?"
The affable, benevolent smile weak
ened; the %premonltion Of what was
coming deepened.
Really, you must not expect me TO
remember every small detail OF so dis
tresslng a moment, Mr.. Warhope."
THAT trick of removin' the brim.
stone from the caps on the shotgun
was what | call downright smart. 1t
took a good head T. think o. that. But
amt II queer that a master hand like
that would unlock the door after the
murder, lnstld OF b'fore, and leave
blood on the key?"
The studious quicker around the
eyes was fast smoothing out, and the
man was breathing fast. His hand
was fumbling the lapel Of the frOck
coat and slowly stealing down the side.
what do you mean? You surely
are not accusing me of the murder
Of my old friend?"
II mean" rasped the woodsman, his
Sits Of eyes on the hand stealing
down the edge of the frock coat, that
night b'fOre last | laid in the little
park and heard what was said
b'tween you and Black Bogus"
Like lightning the creeping hand
darted under the frock coat. But
quick as he was. the ivory-handled
revolver was not quite out of the
holster when the heavy six-gun of the
woOdsman leaped up and covered him.
Butt first, Parson," came the cold,
decisive command over the steady
barrel.
Hopkins stood just as the gun had
caught him-motionless; poised on
the hat of one foot and the toes of
the other; his body slightly crouched
forward. Reckless though he was, a
man who held the world at bay, and
keen-witted as a dog fox, he slowly
relaxed the pose and grudglngiy hand
ed over the r~evolver-the ivory butt
first.
The woodsman snatched II removed
the caps from the tubes and stuck Il
back into the holster under the frock
coat.
"And now I'll Jist trouble y'u fr that
parlor-door key"
Hopkins scowled; whipped a black
look at the steady muzzle of the six
gun; dragged the key out Of his
pocket and passed 1t over.
mo, I ain't accusln' you Of the muir
DER the woodsman went on. as cool
and collected as If there had been no
interruption, at the same time drop
ping the key into his pocket. I'm
dom y'u the honor Z think y'u hain't
quite fell that iow-bein' y'u didn't
want is death, nohow. No. y'u wanted
I'm L live, SOS you could slip out all
the good bills y'u dast every night and
!, leave eounterfit bills In their place.
You'd jlst got through changin
the money that night when e rushed
!. out on YIN. He tried Z shoOt-botf
bar'ls-but you fixed the caps SOS the,
wouldn't go of. Then foller'd the
struggle, and no doubt you was bat
clustered when e fell back across, the
chair. dead of heart disease. Their
y'u unlocked the door L head of sus
picion. but y'u must "a ben fiusteret
r y'u wouldn't "a left blood on the
key"
Hopkins was bowed forward, star
Ing hard through his glasses. Tbs
~woodsman glanced at him.
Theirs jist n pint | amt quite
clear on-did e know It was your
The question caught the other of
guard.
MY God. yes! oh. his dead fac,
there In the cofin-in the black nigh
IT'S before me"
He shusiered; gripped his hands I'll
the knuckles turned white: stiffenet
after a moment aud pulled himself to
gether.
"Mr. Caleb Hopkins peculta
twist had slid into his voice tina
brought q quick look from the maj
addressed-"l low y'u didn't aim I
XIII Pap Simon. but the Fiatwood
ain't big enough any more Z hold yo'
and me both. The Milford stag
from down the river Is ieavin' the pos
office fr the city In a few miIutes
You're eoin' Z he a passenger-an'
yfn amt comm hack"
: Hopkins WINGED; i~nvoluntaril
dropped his hand 20 the hun Of hi
|. six-gun. before remembering II wa
! useless; snapped out a muttered curs
) and stood glarine about him.
grin. hard and dangerous crawlt
4 pul az the .woodslaap.s eyes anu twlsI
ed bIs face.
low wsli be startIr'-ncw. ,
rasped.