Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-29


cd the kiliin' had been intended.
but not the way o. 1t nor the time,
ana that the person happened to-
come out on the gallery late that
night and see Bernhard settin' down
there, right in O line with where the
loop o. the lanyard would swing II
II had a weight o. FIVE or six pounds
ON It, Mebbe they'd noticed afore
that the knob on top o the post
was loose, so they tied 1t up in the
bathin' cap and fastened 1t to the
LANYARD with another cord to hold
on to, swung IL down and crashed
the back o. his head in-the blow
would a-kilied q OK from that height
with sech O start!-then hauled 1t
back UP agin and dxed ev'rything as
they thought the way It had been,
not noticin' that little slit had tore
off from the cap"
"why didn't any one else-ths
doctor or that detective" She
paused as though unable to go on.
Seems to me twas because all
the folks workin' on the case went
at 1t with their noses to the ground
but it was from above death come
to Bernhard; q death that he de-
served IL ever O man did, and the
person who dealt II to him was
above suspicion all the time, Geofr
replied simply.
The slim hand resting ut Miss
Sherwood's side suddenly clenched.
what had he done to deserve it?'
Her tones were very low but steady
now.
II only found that out piecemeal,
n
reason. to hate Bernhard and who let
on that the one he'd probbly injur-
ed most In his life was young fell
Ter named Lawrence ShfTley-did
you say any-thin', ma'am?"
Above Suspicion
Miss Sherwood shook her head
She was staring straight before her
once more, and her lips Quivcred
slightly.
Seems this young Teller was sup
posed tove killed himself ten year
ago after Bernhard refused TO help
him make good for some money
he'd stole. but he didn't: twas Ben,
kard shot him down because he was
goin' to expose him bout that EN-.
bezzlement which he'd planned and
was mainly responsible for. L
never found that out till after ev'ry-
thin else. but / suspicioned it right
along" Geoft spoke hurriedly. as il
anxious to have this part of his
explanation over with. Il tried To-
git some more facts bout young
Shirley. but he didn't seem TO have
no folks and nobuddy knowed where
he come from till William Dunn told
me. Him and the hoy had been
cnnI fv.in nj him 4 ,nf
further TIL l got ut the hull truth"
And you never meant To speaks
Miss Sherwood cried. Not even
when Rupert Ashe was arrested"
II knowed IL he was ever held for
a-come forward and told" Geof
said gently. the nasal drawl for
once gone from his voice.
NO jury in the world would a.
trung in a verdict for nothin
more'n justifable homicide agin
EN-"
Miss Sherwood turned her head
for moment and glanced out over
the flaming garden.
"Geoffrey," she seemed to find Il
difficult to give utterance to her
thought, don't you think the truth
ought to have been told when that
queer. inCohcrent confession of poor
William Dunn's to you and to the
authorities made 1t logical to put
the--the crime on his memory----?"
mo. ma'am!" Geoff interrupted
earnestly. Il was the one started
that ball a-rollin, and fought II
all out with myself first. Dunn
didn't leave n soul to care whether
he'd done 1t or not, and he's gone
where the name o. 1t can't hurt
him. Young Shirley had been his
friend and l figured II he'd knowed
the truth-which he'd suspected so
long-'bout how the boy came To his
death, he'd a-killed Bernhard him.
self, takin' into consideration his
own wrongs. Mebbe / took a hull
glad if he could know his suicide
had done one great big thing. in
pr0tectin' the ono who did
Miss Sherwood rose and stood
very straight. looking levelly into
his eyes.
"Who--who did kill Mr.. Bernhard
Godfrey"
Geof swallowed hard, and the
cords stood out in his lean neck
above the coarse shirt
We'll" he remarked slowly. This
young Shirley had little sister
Miss Sallie, who got killed in n rail-.
load wreck out in Californy some
year ago. figure she'd been grow.
ed up now II she WAS alive"
Miss Sherwood drew I'm her breath
sharply once more. but she did not
speak, and Geoff went on:
"Mebbe she is alive. Mistakes Isl
made right often in accident re.
ports, I've heard tell. and names is
easy changed. Mebbe Miss Sallic
lived for just that one idec. TO git
revenge for her brother even If she
couldn't clar his name. That's all
,, Miss Sherwood. l thought till now
I'd done the best thing for ev'ry-
buddy SOS they could forgit the
hull affair and be happy but 1t
seems 'sif / aip't: seems 'sif some
selves unhappy when they amt no
need o. 1t. That's why ] can't fix
my mind on my work.
A shadow moved far Off on n sun
III space in the garden. and Adrian
Middleton's solitary figure appeared.
Miss Sherwood gazed at him with
troubled eyes in which, all at once.
sole light began to glow.
Amt that MIR. Middleton dowa
there?" Geoff asked innoccnuyD
Seems to me he wants you
|; "Geoffrey!" Vera Sherwood turn
! ed to him suddenly and held out
both her hands,
IT had kind o. idec 7 heard him
calm you, ma'am." A smile light.
ed Geoff's homeiy countenance., !
amt figufin' on what he's waitin' 70
say to you, though: faint my busl'
ness."
. THE END