Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1924-01-30
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Murder VIII 3;
Out -:
By MORRIS SCHULTZ
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g. 1928. Western Newspaper Union)

W ENDERSON had resolved to kill
l. 4 Smith some day. He was in no
particular hurry about it, because he
had planned 1t all out, and it had be
come inevitable in his mind that Smith
must die.
There were several things between
the two men, but the principal one Of
them was that Henderson hated Smith.
The two were farmers, and they had
always been enemies.
Henderson was shrewd enough to
know that however cleverly he con
cealed his tracks suspicion would fall
on him But he was willing to be sus-
pected The law requires proof, and
so long rs he could fall short of the
ultimate of proof he did not care.
He chose snowy, stormy night for
the deed The two houses were about
a mile apart. A road ran past them.
There was a multitude of tracks in
the road. and 1t would be easy enough
to slip into the house and kill Smith.
The falling snow would quickly cover
up his footprints
Henderson took his ak and started.
No one was on the road. The wind
was almost a hurricane and it blew
furious blasts of sleet into Hender
sons face
But at last he saw the light of
Smiths cottage Smith had lived alone
since his daughter had married and
moved into town. Quietly Henderson
crept to the window and looked in
But Smith was not inside the house
And then Henderson heard the sound
of footsteps in the stable.
Smith kept two horses and a COW.
Creeping softly to the building which
housed all three, Henderson saw the
faint outlines of Smiths figure He
was bending down beside the COW,
which was uttering low, paintive
calls. No doubt she had taken sick.
Henderson raised his aX and brought
ii down with II fearful crash upon
Smiths backbone. 1t sank right in
and he felt the bones sever.
Smith tumbled to the floor of the
shed without uttering a sound. Only
the COW continued to moo plaintiYely
Henderson made his way back to the
road and house Arriving, he washed
his ak, being careful to remove all
fingerprints, and went to bed. That
night he slept the sleep of the just
He was up early next morning The
snow was still falling. There was no
doubt that his tracks were completely
covered Everything was safe
About nine o'clock there came
knock at the door Henderson opened,
to find the sheriff standing there
"Come in" he said cheerily. Jest
finished breakfast. A cup of coffee,
sheriff."
The sheriff declined. There's been
bad business up to Smiths place. he
said.
"So?"
Yeah. Murder" answered the
sheriff
Henderson's start was admirably
feigned. "Smith-murdered he
gaSped.
The sheriff did not reply directly.
thing about It, Mr.. Henderson" he
answered.
Are you accusing me of numbering
Smith," demanded Henderson in
tone of injured innocence.
"Nope-not yet. But there's party
seen some one Sinking round the Hen
derson place with an AK last night
Lemme look at your AK Mr., Hender-
son" he went on.
"You'll find 1t in the wOOdshed," an
swered Henderson with an Indifferent
shrug. but if you mean to accuse
me"
The sheriff went out without making
any reply, Presently he came back.
This AK has been secured" he said
And there's rust on the blade"
"Chopping in the snow" said Hen
derson, feeling as if a pit opened sud
denly beneath him.
The sheriff put his hand on his
shoulder. IT'S no use, Henderson,"
he said We've got you dead to
rights, so you'd better come through.
You're under arrest for killing"
"a swear | didn't" Henderson began
TO babble. ITS lie, sheriff, and no
man can prove it,"
For killing Smiths newborn calf"
continued the sheriff. And Smiths
the evidence. He was watching you
in the stable"