The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-01-31
CHAPTER XIlI-Continued

got about half an nour to disguise
family meal as company dinner"
Don't bother" she interrupted.
''They won't be here for luncheon
dinner. | need to see them only about
ten minutes"
l didn't bother-answering. II she
didn't know any more about the ways
of people in this country than that.
didn't see why should take II Oh
myself to teach her.
But she was right. She talked to
them a few minutes; and, though !
insisted that they stay for dinner. off
they went. II was an insult to the
Desert Moon ranch. Every one on the
place. but Miss Macdonald. knew it.
Two weeks before, If couple of
friends had left the ranch at eleven
thirty in the morning. with no rea.
sOnable excuse for so doing, Sam
would have blown up and burst with
rage That noon be was not even
1ecently Indignantly interested.
He had plenty of interest, though,
concerning the finding of the attic
key. he had had II all settled. and
was satisfied that, since II had been
proven that Gaby had been killed on
the stairway. II had also been proven
that no lember of the household
could have been implicated. Now this
second key coming to light. the key
that must have been put over back of
the wood before the fire was lighted
that night, and that must have been
blackened in that one fire, because
there had been no fire In that fireplace
since, dragged, TO quote Sam. mol
wishing TO use such words on my own
hook, Every d-n one of us back into
the On mess again."
SAM" ! said, and guess my only
excuse is that was still angry at
having my honest word doubted. "do
you know what | think? | think that
Miss observation-disclosures land knows
she is a nice girl, and a living won
der as help In the kitchen and around
the house-is going to be fat fizzle
from start TO finish when II comes to
discovering the murderer"
udt nilu VI tue way j SUt IL
sized up, too" Sam said. "But If
she's good help TO you, she's worth
lot more than her expenses"
at isn't the cost of her," I said
I'm afraid sue is going to do LOT of
harm around here"
Goodnight, Maryr' he said. "If
anyone can do any more harm around
here than has been done already
why, leave 'em do IT,"
"NOt much with your leave 'em do
It's said. "My idea is that we've
had about enough trouble. What I'm
getting at is this. Sam: think that
fool girl, at present. Is suspecting you
more than any other one of u.s."
That's the way had that sized up.
too" he said "But LET her go ahead
If she can prove I'm guilty, I'm will
ing TO hang for It."
Don't be a fool, SAM" | snapped
Ibid you ever happen to hear of cir
cumstantial evidencep
"You bet But they can't hang more
than one innocent person on circum-
stantial evidence. and there's enough
OF that stuff around here now to hang
about five or six of Us. IN take my
chances with the rest of you, Mary
Lands. Sam" | was taken aback
''do you think she suspects meT
Something pretty close to the old
twinkle came into Sans eyes. "Well.
Mary. Gaby was one extra to do for
and she came late to meals and pes
tered you quite lot Furthermore.
Though il hasn't been made point OF,
you were all alone in the kitchen for
the hour between five and six O'Clock.
YOu might have slipped up and have
done the deed between the time you
put the meat on and took the biscuits
OUT
knew that he thought he was be-
ing funny; but 1 didn't like It. "See
here. SAM" | began, Danny was GO
ing back and forth all the time"
"'Now Them" Sam interrupted
hooking Miss Macdonald Ibid Miss
Canneziano have any particular rea