The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-04-16

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.
II may have ytepped there when
came out of my room. That was 6
most distressing ,cene, Mr.. Warhope.
But the board was scratched
where the heel had slipped and dug
into 1t under strain. How come y'u
slippedT"
The affable, benevolent smile weak
ened; the premonition Of what was
coming deepened.
Really, you must not expect me to
remember every small detail Of so dis
tressing moment, Mr.. Warhope."
THAT trick of. removin' the brim-
stone from the caps on the shotgun
was what 1 call downright smart. 1t
took good head t. think o. that. But
amt 1t queer that a master hand like
that would unlock the door after the
murder, instid Of b'fore, and leave
blood on the key?"
The studious pucker around the
eyes was fast smoothing out, and the
man was breathing fast. His hand
was fumbling the lapel Of the frock
coat and slowly stealing down the side.
what do you mean7 You surely
are not accusing me Of the murder
Of my old friend?"
II mean," rasped the woodsman, his
Sits Of eyes on the hand stealing
down the edge of the frock coat, "that
night b'fore last 1 laid in the little
park and heard what was said
b'tween you and Black Bogus"
Like lightning the creeping hand
darted under the frock coat. But
revolver was not quite out of the
holster when the heavy six-gun of the
woodsman leaped up and covered him.
Butt first, Parson," came the cold,
decisive command over the steady
barrel.
Hopkins stood just as the gun had
caught him-motionless; poised on
the fiat Of one foot and the toes of
the other; his body slightly crouched
forward. Reckless though he was,
man who held the world at bay, and
keen-witted as a dog fox, he slowly
relaxed the pose and grudgingly hand
ed over the revOlver-the ivory butt
first
The woodsman snatched 1t; removed
the caps from the tubes and stuck II
back into the holster under the frock
coat.
"And now I'll jist trouble y'u fr that
parlor-door key"
look at the steady muzzle of the six
gun; dragged the key out Of his
pocket and passed 1t over.
mo, amt accusIn' you Of the muir
der" the woodsman went on, as cool
and collected as II there had been no
interruption, at the same time drop
ping the key into his pocket. I'm
doIn' y'u the honor t. think y'u haln't
quite fell that low-bein' y'u didn't
want is death, nohow. No. y'u wanted
I'm t. live, SOS you could slip out all
the good bills y'u dast every night and
leave counterfit bills in their place.
You'd jist got through changin'
the money that night when e rushed |
out on y'u He tried t. shoot-both |
bar'ls-but you fixed the caps SOS they |
wouldn't go off. Then foller'd the
struggle, and no doubt you was bad
flustered when e fell back acrosst the
chair, dead of heart disease. Then
y'u unlocked the door t head Off sus-
picion. but y'u must "a ben flustered
r y'u wouldn't "a left blood on the
key"
Hopkins was bowed forward. star
Ing hard through his glasses. The
woodsman glanced at him.
"Ther's jist one pint | amt quite
clear on-did e know 1t was your 1
The question caught the other of
guard.
MY God. yes! Oh. his dead face
there in the coffin-ip the black night
rs before me"
He shudderod, gripped his hands till
he knuckles turned white; stiffened
after moment and pulled himself to-
yethef.
.bfr.-Caleb Hopkins"-a peculiar
wist had slid into his voice that
a quick look from the man
low y'n didn't aim t .
I'LL Pap Simon, but the FlatwoOds
lint big enough any more t hold you
md me both. The Milford stage
rom down the river Is leavin' the post /,
'ffice fr the city in few minutes. :
You're goin' t be a passenger-and
Il amt comm back" F..
Hopkins WINGED: involuntarily =
ropped his hand to the butt Of his >
ix-gun, before remembering II was q
seless; snapped out muttered curse h
nd stood glaring about him.
A grin, hard and dangerous, crawled n
ut of the woodsinan's eyes and twist r
d his face.
II low well be startin'-now," he
asped. fr
Hopkins swore again-an artistic ! h