Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-12-26

utter such an absurd charge to me. He
asked me to help obtain the release OF
Edward Coston from the insane asylum.
He intimated that, II necessary, q gen.
erous amount of money would be spent
to bring the matter about. I told him
/ would see him In hell before I'd con-
slider such a thing. and was on the
point Of asking him to leave the office
when this happened"
Edward Costonl That explained the
presence OF Sylvester and Finley. Co.'S
ton mao millions. Adjudged sane and
released, 1t was a safe bet he would
be good pickings for some one. Just
the sort OF thing Sylvester would have
been interested in. Finley, too. il 1t
looked safe enough. This was news.
Reginald Stanton stepped to Caro-
line Lewis side and gave her arm a
sympathetic pat. The Judge saw it and
frowned slightly. I tucked that away
in a brain cell, too. 1t looked as though
the Judge did not take kindly to the
possibility of his law partner becoming
his grandson-in-law.
This is a bad situation" Ben de-
clared gravely. Personally, I believe
the judges story. Butt must act on
facts. I'm going to call the chief and
DR.. Hardy before l take any steps,"
He stepped to the desk and picked
up the phone.
While he was speaking. Judge Lewis
an nveterate smoker, picked up one
OF two cigars that were slowly smok-
ing on an ash tray on the desk. The
first puff OF smoke seemed to help.
Ben noted 1t, and when he set the
phone down remarked: Il see you and
Sylvester were both smoking the same
brand of cigars. Did he lay his on the
ash tray before he died?"
NO" said the judge. 1T fell from
his fingers on my desk. I picked il
up so 1t wouldn't burn the finish. Their
put nv own on the tray beside It,"
Il see. Did you give him one Of YOU
cigars?"
The judge smiled grimly.
Il don't offer men of his calibel
cigars. He saw me light one and asked
II l had another to spare. He hae
forgotten to renew his supply"
Finley scowled, but said nothing.
Il think Ben remarked, that II
ask you all to go in the other room
want to do some thinking"
Ben stopped me. When we wer'
NloAAC, AC Sd1Q III q lOW COIle. LII
is a hell OF a mess, Curly"
Tough" l agreed. What do Vol
make of it?"
You heard what the judge said Il
Sylvester. When the door opened h
sure was standing like he slugged tn
man. The book-end there shows plail
enough 1t made the wound. 1t take
nrnttu ctrcrn o1ibiipr IN oco,~.
evidence like that"
I'D believe the judges story an
day against that yarn Oscar Finle
Spun," I told him.
Sure. But wait till the machin
gets hold Of it. They and their paper
will make an open and shut murde
case against the judge"
Doc Hardy was the police surgeon
as smart an old codger as ever per
formed an autopsy. He came in wit
Black, the squarish, ponderous chief {
police, and went to the body while tn
chief stayed in the outer office an
listened to all the evidence. Osca
Finley spoke his piece to the limit, 20
can be sure.
The chief looked at Judge Lewis wit
growing hostility as the facts an
oaAAtN WIZ Ouls Az III
finish he went into the inner of1c
saying: Lets see what Hardy has I
say"
Il see no trace of heart trouble" DC
Hardy stated, "or of anything else ths
might have caused a death such 6
Judge Lewis describes. An autops
may reveal something. I shall recon
mend that be made"
That Uoc tho ctron fhot cuvopt ~
judge into Jail. He took it like a spol
When Stanton offered to go to the ia
with him and then take Caroline HON
. the judge declined stif1y. "Caroll
ID will be able to take care of herself
he declared.
le Stanton's face redeemed a little
re this rebuff before others. He sa
,y nothing more. Caroline went with Il
chief and her grandfather. Doc Har,
W and Ben stayed behind to wait for Il
I'd ambulance.
I hoped to the Office of the Stt
which wasn't far away, and ratified
~ a neat yarn, giving the judge the ben
fit Of any doubt. 1 knew the two pape
belonging to the machine would p
" him plenty.
Ct When l got back the body was go
- and Ben was sittino in the judg
al chair smoking a cigaret.
Anything new?" I asked.
in mot a thing. The doc is going rig
~ to work on the autopsy. That m
give us something to work with"
ou Call me up at the Office as soon
~ you hear, will your"
Ben agreed. We went out togeth
IN Ben had gotten the judges key fri
~ him and he locked the door and II
ISIS Jones in the outer Office that
ID one was to be allowed to get in.
ri mot even Mr.. Stanton?" she ask
mo one" Ben said firmly.
49, Ben did better than call me. Late
as the afternoon he dropped around to
s;c Star office with the news that I
Hardy had promised him the resi-
au of the autopsy in a short time.
~ (To be continued.)
49, -- --------