The Ely miner., 1925-04-03
Mebby Yes, and
Mebby No
BY r. w. MccULLoCH


THE little old man set cautious
foot on the topmost step and let
his face twist awry with the pain Of
the climb, before the saw the slat-
ternly figure standing at the head of
the rickety stair.
Sorry, Mrs. Harraday," he said,
but 1t was you that guessed right
after all when you" He stopped
there. The landlady was not the only
one waiting in the smudgy hall. He
saw head or two at nearly every
door except his own. "Oh, you needn't
have got me up party!" he ex-
claimed 81 told you I'd give up the
room today If didn't find job!"
The woman's fat fingers clutched
his wasted arm.
"Oh, Mr.. Dicks!" she whispered.
Hes shot 'er! Why don't the police
ever Gomez"
whats that?' he asked in sur
prise.
red undershirt, came edging toward
them. He stopped at arm's-reach
from closed door and called harshly:
"Come out o. that p
In moment he leaned and his fist
struck the door a blow that was
promptly answered by shot from
within.
The man in the red undershirt fled.
heads vanished, and doors slammed.
Mrs. Harraday's Topping heels clat-
tered down the stairs; but from below
she looked back at the little old man
left alone in the hall.
He stood quite still for time; then
she saw his face take on something
like a smile, and he moved away.
Hearing his limping step, she took
courage and crept back. She saw him
standing before the door In which a
white fieck now appeared, heart-high,
In one of the panels, where he stopped
and tried to peer through the newly
made bullet-hole.
"Open up," he said gently. as he
suuinted. "Open up and come out ="
Lord o. mel'' Mrs. .Harraday
gasped. She put her two fat, grimy
hands before her eyes and turned
away. She heard the old mans halt
ing step on the bare floor before she
dared TO look again. She saw him go
into his own room and return with
chair.
"Come out" he called, cor I'll be
climbing in to get YOU"
At last the old man got his leg
through the transom and was squeez-
ing himself under the open sash when
sergeant and two patrolmen came.
"Oh, officer!" Mrs. Harraday sobbed.
"Such a deal fer anyone TO give
poor widow woman like me! An they
only took the room hour ago. Muir
der an suicide both! An old Mr..
Dicks is goin' in to open up the
door!"
One of the patrolmen mounted the
chair and looked into the room. With
a quick movement, he drew his gun.
"What is it, Daly?" asked the SER
geant, in whisper.
The officer, with his eyes at the
transom, waved back a warning. He
saw a young man, chalk-white, crouch
ing in corner, revolver held
steadily before him. He saw an old
man limp toward the crouching figure,
swerve toward the single window to
avoid stepping over slimpsy, gray
ish heap on the floor, turn and stand
as If waiting. Then an open, slow
swinging hand hid two staring eyes
for moment as it landed against
the white face.
The crouching youth Strengthened,
shrank back, let the revolver fall.
DAILY, the patrolman on the chair,
had showed the barrel of his gun over
the edge of the transom frame. He
waited, then brought the weapon
down. He eased himself to the floor
and moved the chair aside. When the
key in the lock turned, he sprang into
the room.
After the ambulance surgeon had
gone in, DAILY came out, notebook in
hand.
'"The woman's dead-murder, all
right" he said ATTEMPTED suicide,
too, mebbe-or I guess wrong!"
He looked sharply, rather wonder
ingly, at Dicks who. twisted and bent,
stood leaning against the wall. The
old man had his hat and his coat on
now and held a small bundle tightly
under one arm.
Scared stiffw DAILY said to him.
Dicks Strengthened
Rheumatic" he answered feebly.
"Oh, was that it?' exclaimed the
patrolman. "Well, I thought you was
sure goin' to get cured! Him inside
I meant was scared. Three shots left
and he lost his nerve! Say. but
rheumatism must be mighty bad! l
was lookin' in the transom when you
hit 'im."
The old man glanced about in quick
alarm.
Mrs. Harraday was bustling toward
them.
"He can't be witness!" she volun-
teered. "He wasn't here the time 1t
happened"
"No, didn't see anything" Dicks
quickly put in.
"Neither then did 1, If you like"
DAILY answered softly.
"And BESIDES" the old man added.
"I'm leaving"
mo. but you're mott" cried Mrs.
Harraday. "You can stay right here
- IN fnh