The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-04-03

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milton OF whrt was coming reached
him.
Il may have ytepped there when
came out OF my room. That was 9
most distressing scene. Mr.. Warhope.'
But the boaru was scratched
where the heel had slipped and dug
into II under strain. How come y'u
slippedr
The affable. benevolent smile weak
ened; the premonition OF what was
coming deepened.
Really. you must not expect me 10
remember every small detail Of so dis
tressing a moment. Mr.. Warhope."
THAT trick Of removin' the brim-
stone from the caps on the shotgun
was what call downright smart. II
took a good head Z think o. that But
amt II queer that master hand like
that would unlock the door after the
murder. insud OF b'fore. and leave
blood on the key7"
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
Of my old friend?"
II mean" rasped the woodsman, his
Sits of eyes on the hand stealing
down the edge of the frock coat. shat
night b'fore last | 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
quick as he was, the ivory handled
revolver was not quite out of the
holster when the heavy slx-gun Of the
woodsman Ieaped 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, a
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 IL; removed
the caps from the tubes and stuck It |
back into the holster under the frock |
coat
"And now I'll fist trouble y'u f'r that
parIor-door key"
Hopkins scowled; whipped a black /
look at the steady muzzle OF the six
gun; dragged the key out OF his
pocket and passed II over.
mo, amt accusln' you Of the muir
der" the woodsman went on, as cool
and collected as II there had been no
at the same time drop
ping the key into his pocket I'm
dom 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 Z live, SOS you could slip out all
he good bills y'u dast every night and
cave counterf'it bills In their place.
You'd jist got through changin'
he money that night when e rushed
,ut on y'u. He tried Z shoot-both
you fixed the caps SOS they
wouldn't 40 on Then foller'd the
truggle. and no doubt you was bad
ustered when e fell back acrosst the
hair. dead OF heart disease. Then
u unlocked the door { head of sus-
icion. but y'u must "a ben fustered
-. l..fs ST Lei Ia
ey"
Hopkins was bowed forward. star
tx hard through his glasses. The
Toodsman glanced az him.
Theirs fist one pint ! amt quite
lear oD-did e know IL was your ,
The question caught the other or !
1ard.
MY God. yesi Oh. his dead face :
lere In the cofin-iD the black night
s before me-
He shUfdered; gripped his hands til :
Ie knuckles turned white: stiffened y
ter moment and pulled himself to- !, y
.ther. =
mfr. Caleb Hopkins---s peculiar :
list had slid into his voice that
ought q quick look from the nan !.
ldressed-"I Tow IN didn't aim Z :,
II Pap Simon. but the Fiatwo0ds =
nj big enough any more { hold you .
ID me both. TIE Milford stage
ON down the river Is leavin' the post i,
bee IT the city In a Few minutes :,
,u're goiu & be passenger-and -
J Amt comm hack
WINGED. invoiunfsrily -
opped his hand TO the butt OF his ~
I-gun. before remembering II was ~
eless; snapped out muttered curse \,
q stood giaring about him. ~
A grin. hard and dangerous. crawied
/ OF the woodsman's eyes snd twist u,
bis face.
I Tow wen be s,srfin'-ncw." he
ped