The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-05-13

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sheriff's Office to talk with them. He
put his hands on Shad's shoulders and
looked In his eyes and exclaimed:
"My boy! Don't you lose faith in
me-"
Never" Shad answered.
The colonel spoke: "This boy had
almost convinced me of your innocence
until I learned today that a part of
your testimony is false You once
owned revolver"
Bumpy answered:
"No, didn't. bought revolver
one day at Cobb and Maxwells In
Norwalk, but I bought it for another
man. I never owned 1t minute.
took it to Robert Royce that day. He
said that in trayelin' around I might
see a chance to buy good revolver
cheap. If did, was to git 1t for
him. The island was overrun with
cats. He wanted to shoot some of
'em. He give me exactly what the
revolver an cartridges cost. 1t was
five-dollar bill he give me- It had
been tore in the middle an pasted to-
gether. He said he had got 1t from
Henry Lockwood that day an that
he'd guarantee it was good"
''Was anyone present when you de-
livered the revolver"
mot as remember Of, no sir. He
was alone in the shop. He went up
stairs an got present for me. It
was knit muffler with his initials
wove into it. He said that he never
used it,
What did you do with that FIVE
dollar bill that was torn in the mid
dle?" Colonel Blake asked.
Bumpy Brown thought moment.
swell, sir, might as well tell you
give it to my wife to keep for me-"
'Your wife!" the colonel exclaimed.
II thought that your wife had been
dead for years."
II don't blame We fer thinkin' So"
the old man went on. II put her in her
grave years ago, but she amt dead, no,
sir. She's up there in that little shack
o. mine an lookin' at me an talkin'
to me, just as she used to, every day
I'm to home. I miss her awful when
I'm away"
The old man paused and wiped his
eyes with his handkerchief and con-
tinued:
"Ye see, alwus used to give her the
money to keep. We lived comf'table. l
never got drunk them days-never. I
done WELL There on the wall she's
argued with me bout my foolishnesS
an promised her that l wouldn't do
it no more an l agreed that I'd give
her the money to save just as I used
to. Now, what l say Is private. I
took down her pictur' off the wall an
morticed the back o. the frame an
put slide over the mortice so neat
We couldn't see it. Every week I
slipped some money into that hole in
the frame. 1t was like givin' 1t to her
to keep for me-"
9TH take you to Browns cove tomor-
row and we'll see if we can find that
five-dollar bill"
''Well. sir, you'll find out that
amt no liar" said Bumpy. IF do
any murderin' it must be that do it
in my sleep. amt never ketched
myself in the act-not yet"
AS Shad and Colonel Blake were
leaving the Jail the latter said: ut Is
almost clear to me that the old man
has been the victim of plot. think
that we shall soon be done with him
save as a witness"
The sheriff drove out to Browns
cove next day with the district attor-
ney and the tinker. They found the
mended bill with other money in the
hiding place Bumpy had described.
Henry Lockwood was at his farm near
the cove. He identified the f1ve-dollar
bill in question. He gave it to Royce
in paying a bill and guaranteed its
validity. In doing so he had made
note in his memorandum book of its
number. The Identification was per-
feet.
AS they left Lockwood's house the
district attorney said to the old man:
''It does look as if your wife was
still alive. I think that she is going
to get you out Of this scrape."
"Oh, she-she's a wonderful wom-
AMI" said the tinker. II could always
count on her in the day O. need"
Colonel Blake's mind was nearing
its decision. The tan suit, the motive,
the possession of the revolver and the
rubbers seemed clearly to indicate
the guilt of Royce.
(TO BE CoNTINUED.)