The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-12-27
CHAPTER IX-Continued
3

n MIXED four COWS And I will
swear that you were in the barn
the entire time. Anyway, that Is
easy settled. Mary. did L or did any
'one of the three of Us, come through
the kitchen and 20 upstairs during
that hour?"
NO." | answered
Mrs. Kicker" Hubert Hand ques-
toned, "did any one Of Us men come
in, and GO upstairs through the living
room, during that hour?"
No." she said
Mrs Kicker" Sam asked, were
you right there, alone, In the living
room during that entire hour?'
~ was not alone. Martha was
with me- And. several times during
the hour, five or six times al least.
Danny came in from the dining room
TO see whether she could see John
coming up the road"
Danny" Sam spoke TO her, were
Mrs. Kicker and Martha in the living
room every time you went In there7"
~I-think So"
Only think so, eh?" Hubert Hand
half sneered It
Il mean" Danny explained. that
am sure Mrs Kicker was here. i
did not particularly notice Martha"
Il can vouch for Marthr," Mrs.
Kicker snapped.
"All right" Hubert Hand went on,
so far, so good. The ladies. 1 think.
especially if yOu remember the glass
doors between the living room AM
the dining room. have established
alibis that would satisfy any jury.
Now for you and Chad and me.
again. We walked together, carry
ing the milk. TO the dairy. There we
took of the barn coveralls, and, at
your suggestion, washed up In the
dairy kitchen TO save time. We came
back TO the house together. Mary
said that supper was on the table
We all sat down TO the table to
gether. Ali present you see. except
John.
would II have been possible for
you, or for me, or for Chad, to have
gone down TO the barn (you and !
each MIXED four cows remember).
come back to the house and through
1t, with not one of these ladies see
ing Us, committed the murder. got
back &c the barn, ard then to the
house again. all in an hourf ! think.
Sam, the wisest thing you can do Is
20 grant US all our aIihis for that
hour. anyway, and then work on from
there, If yOr're bound to-"
The alibf hour sounds fine. Hand
Sam said. "but YOU are making a
mistake. You are assuming that 4
think that someone here committed
the murder. | don't think that | do
think that someone in this room.
right now. knows who did It Where
any one of Us was, or was not, at
the particular hour you're making
such a stew about probably doesn't
cut any ice"
Il think il does. told you I didnT
have any proofs. didn't L when you
made me talk? But 1 have got some
pretty solid bases for my suspicious
John decided. all OF q sudden. To go
TO Rattan for the mail-or some
thing. he was gone four hours in.
stead Of the two-two and a malt.
anyway-that be could have made
II in He had two bum excuses. First
tire trouble. Two hours Is long time
TO change tires The second excuse
was, that be had met Leo SauIe and
had given him a tow. Sauie is a rot.
ten little half-breed Sbo could be
bought for half dollar. Also. be lives
alone, away on the main road"
John Jumped to his feet Get this.
Hand"
Sam had Jumped too. He got to
John and put his hands on his shout.
ders- Keep your shirt on. SON am
20 blame for this You turn Is com.
Ing Wait for It Go on. Hand"
John hesitated. and sat down again.
Sam went back to his chair by the
table.
Sorry" Hubert Hand apologized.
Il don't Ike .his a d-n bit better
than John does; but II seems TO be up
TO me- Well then. be came In two
hours late he came through the
Kitchen; and, instead OF leaving the