Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-08-08
LYING
TO SAVE
ANOTHER
By H. LOUIS RAYBOLD


20. 1924. Mcclure Newspaper syndieate)
without, the wind of the Arctic
wastes howled dismally: Within, the
blaze of the fire threw fitful light on
the log walls, the crude furnishings
and the four occupants Of Jennifer's
cabin. Jennlfer himself was busied In
the preparation of supper. Jim Ken
dali sat whiting, his pipe gripped be-
tween his teeth; Jesslca mended her
parka against the morning journey /;
McDougal. the mouns, lounged on
the bunk and pondered his problem
which was-which one Of the three
had shot Kelsey who was sleeping
"far and cold" tonight under newly
built cairn some miles to the north.
McDougal had been dispatched from
headquarters to find the murderer
whose crime had been reported to the
Post by an Indian trapper. Somebody
had killed Kelsey and gotten away
with furs worth n kings ransom. The
man himself wasn't worth q wolverine
pelt, but Canadian law made no dis
tinctions.
Kelsey was known to have three
neighbors, as nelghbors go in that
sparsely settled region. There was
Bert Jennifer, company trader; Jim
Kendall, a man from the states about
whom little was known; and the girl
Jessica who had gone with her father
into the white spaces of the North and
after his death had stayed on by her
self to finish the seasons trapping.
McDougal had little to go upon. He
had found Kelsey's body exactly as
described by the Indian, but successive
snowfails had obliterated all tracks
about the place. AS to motives fol
the crime, there were several possible
The absence of the furs proved moth
ing. Quite likely they were cached
somewhere and might even have been
taken as blind, to make robbery ap-
pear the motive Of the murder. Nc
Dougal was too old at the game not
to know that the obvious was seldom
the most plausible. Tonight at this
first resting place he studied each In
turn for any revealing data. That
both men were in love with the girl
he had surmised at the outset.
It was possible, so he unused, that
Jennifer had killed Kelsey out Of Jeal-
Ously, fearing that she favored the
murdered man, to whom she was the
nearest neighbor. The same was true
of Kendall. Nothing discredlble was
known OF Kendall, but, on the other
hand, he did not have the record of
service with the company that Jen-
infer did
AS to the girl herself-here McDou-
gal paused She had been strangely
n0n-committal when he sought to
question her and McDougal knew that
hardy and fearless daughter Of a
Scotchman that she was, she would
not have hestltated to defend herself
against any unwelcome lovemaking.
Had Kelsey lured her to his cabin only
to meet his death at his first attempt
to annoy her?
One by one McDougal had found
the three suspects and had disarmed
lntlD IttlutolNu " AOhuA "A
with him. There had been surpris-
ingy little protest and Jessica had
frankly declared that the Journey back
would be very welcome.
McDougal was convinced that the
crime had not been committed by an
Indian. In the first place, the Indians
Of that region were cowardly lot and
not even the most valuable haul Of
skins would surnount their deadly
fear Of the northwest mounted. In
the second place, the testimony Of a
table In Kelsey's cabin set forth with
remnants Of white mans meals and
implements pointed to a recent white
visitor. Just who had been that
visltor1
McDougal rose suddenly to his feet.
Look here" he drawled, ITS going
TO be darned unpleasant for which
ever one Of you Is innocent to go
through the grllling at headquarters.
Also, confession often brings leniency.
I'm going to give each one Of you a
chance to talk to me alone. Pm not
afraid of you're getting away without
food or ammunition, so you two men
step outside while talk first with
Miss Jesslca."
The girl, left alone with McDougal,
looked at him with startled eyes.
Then she folded her arms reslgnedly.
IAN right. I'll tell. did 1t. Bert
Kelsey has pestered me ever since my
fnther died He met me and tied me
to his sledge and dragged me to the
cabin He tried to kiss me and killed
him"
McDougal was silent for a moment.
Then he said gently, Thanks, Miss
Jessica. Now I'll talk with Kendall"
"But-but-"
That's all right. | have my rea-
sons" said McDougal.
moment later Kendall came in.
He looked straight into the eyes Of
the other man, lifted his chin and
spoke quietly. II did 1t, captain.
heard that Kelsey had been annoying
Miss Jesslca at her traps and I went
TO his cabin and shot him."
"Thanks," drawled McDougal. "send
In Jennlfer."
Jennlfer sank into Jessica's chair
and twisted his beaver cap. Gap, be-
tween you md me, 1t was this fellow
Kendall. He's crazy over the girl and
she won'ta look at him. Besides, he
hasn't had any luck with his traps and
Kelsey's furs-"
- II