The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-01-10

Mcst OF the crowd fingered about
the cemetery for a time, even after the
last solemn rites had been performed
as III slow to realize that q man Sc
prominent, so long a power in the life
OF the little community, had with such
suddenness dropped that prominence
and power for the mean and ~voiceless
walls of the grave.
Immediately on the death of the old
banker, the preacher had, for the sake
of appearances, moved to the parson-
age. He had returned from the flu
neral and had been for some time
pacing back and forth, or fidgeting
re~Stlessly in his chair, in the cool front
room upstairs-the former minister's
study-when he was very much sur
prised to see Jack Warhope ride up
on Graylock, dismount, throw the
bride rein over the hitch-rack and
come striding up the v"rd.
He sprang from his chair, opened
one of his satchels, snatched out the
holster with the ivory-handled revolver
sticking in it; hurriedly buckled it on
under his vest, where it was concealed
by the somber frock coat, and tiptoed
back to his chair.
A knock disturbed the sanctimonl-
Gus quiet of the study door.
"COme in"
The knob turned, with a force and
decision that somehow suggested the
power of the hand laid upon it, and
Jack Warhope entered; carefully
closed the door; stood coolly looking
the other over.
The preacher slowly rose from his
chair; slipped his hand down along
the front of his frock coat and loos-
ened it against his side.
The motion was not lost upon the
woodsman. His eyes had narrowed
to Sits in his face; his lips were tight
ened to a straight hard line. He
dropped a quick look at the preachers
feet.
'"Ther' amt another pair O. boot
heels in the Flatwoods like them, Mr.
Hopkins"
O1ONO Vi lie OluGI lllleu LII DO-
lite surprise.
u found the print O. them heels on
the dusty floor boards there by Pap
Simon's desk, where they couldn't "a
ben made till after the rug was drug
back"
The preacher peered at him through
his huge spectacles 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 it under strain. How come y'u
slipped?'
The affable, benevolent smile weak
ened; the p%remonition of what was
%deepened.
Really, you must mo- expect me to
remember every small detail of so dis
tressing a moment, Mr.. Warhope,"
THAT trick of removin' the brim-
from the caps on the shotgun
was what l call downright smart. 1t
-ook a good head t. think O. that. But
lint it queer that u master hand like
hat would unlock the door after the
murder, instid of b'fore, and leave
Hood on the keyY"
The studious quicker around the
yes was fast smoothing out, and the
nan was breathing fast. His hand
vas fumbling the lapel of the frock
oat and slowly stealing down the side.
What do you mean? You surely
re not accusing me of the murder
f my old friend?"
Il mean" rasped the woOdsinan, his
of eyes on the hand stealing
own the edge Of the frock coat, that
light b'fore last | laid in the little
ark and heard what was said
tween you and Black Bogus"
Like lightning the creeping hand
under the frock coat. But
uick as he was, the iyo%ry-handled
avolver was not quite out of the
olster when the heavy six-gun of the /
.oodsman leaped up and covered him. ;
Butt first, Parson," came the cold, {
command over the steady
ariel.
Hopkins stood just as the gun had i
Mf4lw4h.., i