Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-03-06

II did not"
"Were the windows all DOWN.
II think So"
"Were the doors all closedf"
"All but the door OF the settln'-
room--It was open little Bit"
WAS II closed when you went TO
bedr
Il s'pose so--father never failed
to shut and lock H."
"was there more than one key &
the doorf'
"No, only one"
"Where was II kep'T
"HaDgIn' blind the door"
Marshal" directed the coroner. "will
you see II that key is still hangin'
therer'
The marshal peeped behind the door.
"Yes. It's thar yit. Y'ur Honor" he
answered. with as much pompous I'm
portance as II announcing the discov-
cry Of the pivotal clue In the case.
The coroner relaxed his gruff sever
ity long enough to offer the weeping
girl word Of kindly sympathy. and
then dismissed her.
The housekeeper was next called.
Her testimony agreed In every par
ticular with rexie's.
And then came the preacher. In his
peering. jerky way, he testified that
he was q heavy sleeper-that he had
heard nothing tn Miss Texie screamed
THAT he had then hastily thrown on
the few articles Of dress necessary TO
make himself presentable before ladies
that he had opened his door and
hurried across the parlor. across the
sitting and into the Office. where
he was Mortified to find his dear friend
dead, and the room in Its present dis
array.
lis II true that you carry a key to
the parlor doorr
st is. Brother Colin placed II OF
my disposal the evening I came"
where Is itf'
"Here."
He drew II forth and held II toward
the coroner. who waved II away.
did you lock the parlor door las
nlghtT"
II did"
you're excused"
The coroner looked In his note book
glanced into the corner OF the room
where Jack warhope stood near
Texles chair and motlOned with his
hand. The woodsman approached the
table.
"What do you know Of this casef"
In his slow. careful way the woods
man told what he had heard anc
seen. from the moment OF Texle's
scream to the arrival Of Jerry Brown
"What was you doin up so later
The question probed deep. Things
would have happened had he answered
lt--and they would have happened
fast. Back along the wall the preach
or Strengthened trifie and his eyer
frightened behind the huge spectacles
II was-studyin'."
Just what the character Of his
studies had been he let fall no word
and fortunately the coroner did not
ask. Back along the wall the tight
ened eyes behind the huge spectacles
relaxed.
rs II true that you carry. and have
for some time carried, key to the
kitchen doorr'
Eyes. SIR"
"where was that key-las' nightr'
I'm my pocket"
He drew II out and held Il forth
the coroner waved II away back along
tho wall the eyes behind the tinted
spectacles frightened again.
ut appears from the evidence that
you was the only person who could
have entered this house las night
without breakin' In"
Texie slowly rose from her chair
her eyes suddenly dry--and wide.
"Your Honor-wy--that's Jack
Father trusted him the same as he
did me"
The coroner looked toward her |;
waved his hand. The girl glanced
helplessly at the woodsman; sank back
into the chair and buried her face In
her hands.
Uncle Nick had edged through the
crowd and approached the table.
DOC. Y'ur Honor. he never done II.
He couldn't Hit Amt In tm-nr the