The Coolidge examiner., 1932-10-21

you for yours now." Wilson cut
back curtly.
swell, he'd told us he was allow
in to bump off Tom on account of
being jealous of him."
when did he tell you that?"
Several times"
who was present when he told
it?
Carl Gitner."
Anybody elseT'
"Not far's / recollect"
"What did he say he was jealous
about?"
About Toms stand-in up at the
sheep ranch"
Jasper's manner was sulky and
unconvincing.
did you or didn't you tell the
sheriff your suspicious about
Stone?"
mo, didn't" snarled the badg-
cred man. Tell you | hadn't a
thing TO go on but suspicious"
How come you to wait nearly
three months before you told the
sheriff about meetin' Miss Clifford
near the scene of the killingT
Il hated to bring her name into
1t, she being a woman"
Wilson had talked with his IA
ther few minutes while the jury
was being chosen. Roughly he knew
the facts as to Jasper's relations
with the Clifford sisters.
Ever have any trouble with Miss
Giffordf" he demanded.
The witness hesitated. "Well,
she didn't like 1t when | said |
reckoned I'd have to tell what I
| knew"
did she order you off the place
and tell you never to show up there
again?"
"She was some excited. won't
say she acted friendly"
Young Mccain moved a step
closer. He waited a moment, to
give full effect to his question. did
you tell the Clifford girls that unless
Miss Ethel would marry you her
sister would have to go to the peni-
tentlaryT
mo, sir" clustered Stark. II
never said any such a thing. Ii
they claim | did"
"Never mind that" Again WI
son waited for absolute silence be-
fore he spoke. He was sending a
shot in the dark, but he guessed
shrewdly II would strike home. "Is
there any reason why you an Git
ner want Stone outa the way. any
reason why you're afraid of him,
anything he knows you're scared he
might tell?"
Jasper's jaw dropped. For a mo-
ment he stared at his questloner.
Apparently he felt the impression
his near-collapse had made, for he
tried to strengthen his denial by
iteration. why no, w-what do you
mean? live amt scared of
him tellin' a thing. If he claims
he's got thing on me he's liar"
McCann's next question seemed to
be far afield. but nothing he could
have asked would have so startled
the crowd with a sense of impend
ing drama. The words of the sen
tence seemed almost to be spaced In
their measured evenness.
Were you and Gitner together
between ten an eleven O'Clock on
the morning when yore father was
killed?"
Stark clutched at the railing OF
the porch to steady himself. He
moistened his lips and the Adams
apple In his throat moved up and
down spasmOdically. you got a
nerve to ask me that, you ID
murderer" he got out at last.
Not for an instand did Wilson
release his fear-filled eyes.
Were you with Gitner between
ten o'clock and eleven the morning
yore father was shot?" he repeated
steadily.
81 don't remember right now
whether | was Why?
"Where were you at that timer
Jasper. sweating blood. appealed
to the Judge. do | have to stand
for his insults. Mr.. Fletcher
Not unless they have a bearing
on this case. You'll have to show
the connection. Wills"
The defending attorney smiled
He had got all the effect he wanted
all he could reasonably hope for
II reckon I'll withdraw the question
Mr.. Fletcher. Far as I'm concerned
the witness may step down."
Imply Jasper descended. II,
felt himself the focus of a batter!
OF eyes. AS his glance lodged eva
sively from one TO another he knew
they raked him with a newborn
suspicion skillfully planted In thei
minds. Beneath the shock of Ii h,
quailed
Ann Clifford was the third wit
ness. Julia stood beside her Will,
she testified. II was impossible TO
her to tell her story without emo
1