The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-01-03
CHAPTER X
A Part of the Past.

II seemed to me that, when Sans
pipe bit the floor II made a noise like
doom cracking. We all sat still as
stones ! suppose It could not have
been more than minute. but il
seemed a long time before John left
0anny's side and went and picked up
the pipe and handed II TO Sam.
"It's all right. dad" he said.
"Not by d-n sight, it's not all
right" Sam came back to his senses
vigorously. "But II Is Interesting
this thing. It is getting interesting
anyway Let me see If | had got
Chad to help-and | could have by
telling him II was some joke or other
I had on hand-l could have sneaked
out of The barn, met her and killed
her. during that hour When could
| have got the body upstairs. though {
That's the first missing link My
reason for killing her would be an
other. but"
"Sayl See here. dad" John cut
In.
you shut up, son. We are wait
ing to hear the rest OF what Damn.
has to say. Come. Danny, can you
supply either of those missing linksp'
NO. she said. and sighed 1t was
easy to see that she was plumb tuck-
cred out "No. Of course ! can't"
"Sam. you look here" I began.
You shut up, too. Mary" Sam said.
Mrs Kicker spoke. She had her
say out Nobody. not even Sam.
would any more think OF telling Mrs.
Kicker to shut up, than they would
think of telling any other dumb OBJ
ject, that suddenly started to talk to
shut up.
81 think" Mrs Kicker said, "that
the girl herself probably killed her
sister. Ii Sans pipe ashes were on
the bag, she put them there. after
wards, to make trouble for him"
Sam said, ''Shucksi
thought John would be the first
to speak was mistaken.
1t was Danny herself who said.
Make her talk. now, Uncle Sam.
Make her ttR now. and give her rea-
sons for saying such cruel. wicked.
lying thing"
"Mrs Kicker" Sam put the CUES
zion very solernnly. have you any
reasons for making this accusationr
II have feeling thar she is guilty.
.'This." Sam said sternly "is nc
time for feeling. nor for Quibbling.
You made a serious accusation
straight out. want your reason. or
reasons. for making it, and ! want
them JUS. as straight"
- have no reasons" Mrs. Kicker
said "That is why J suspect her."
"Ah-ah-ahl Womenp Sam said
and the way ne Id 1t. IL was the
blackesf oath he had used that day.
81 think" said. talking fast to
keep San from shutting me up be-
fore | cOnld get anything said. THAT
IL, In suspiciOning an innocent girl
like Danny. Mrs. RickeI is simply
| drawing on her woman's instinct,
she'd better pass 10 up. for the pres
emf. and listen to some plain sexless
sense
"Gaby came downstairs at four.
Danny called after her, right then
so Danny was In the house right
then. Gaby went IT, the rabbit hutch
and stopped long enough TO give
Martha the bracelet. Almost as soon
as Martha was In the house with the
bracelet, Danny was downstairs with
us, cool, collected. and undiSturbed
Now suppose that Gaby had come
straight back into the house guess
every one would agree that II would
take her five minutes to get back
upstairs. That would leave Danny
not more than ten minutes to kill her
and to come downstairs. as I've said
collected and undisturbed Come to
think of 1t. Gaby could not have
talked to Martha and got to the
| attic stairway In any i've minutes
At the widest figuring. that leaves
Danny about five minutes"
AS ] had been fearing ne would.
Sam stopped me. .Thaf's all right