Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1932-09-23


my boy! Don't you lose faith ia
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. I bought a revolver
one day at Cobb and Maxwell's In
Norwalk. but l bought 1t for another
man. ! never owned 1t a minute. I
took 1t to Robert Royce that day. He
said that in travelin' around | might
see a chance TO buy a good revolver
cheap. If l did, l was to git It 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 q
five-dollar bill he give me. 1t 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 1t was good"
"Was anyone present when you de-
livered the revolver?"
"Not as remember Of, no sir. He
was alone IN the shop. He went I'D
stairs an got a present for me. 1t
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.
Bunny Brown thought moment.
"well, sir, might as well tell you
I give 1t to my wife to keep for me-"
"Your wife!" the colonel exclaimed
Il thought that your wife had been
dead for years."
Il don't blame ye fer thinkin' So"
the old man went on. 81 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 dar
I'm to home. / 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. /
never got drunk them days-never. I
done well. There on the wall she's
argued with me bout my foolishness
an l promised her that / wouldn't do
1t no more an l agreed that I'd give
her the money to save just as l used
to. Now, what I say is private.
took down her pictur' off the wall an
morticed the back O. the frame an
put a slide over the mortice so neat
We couldn't see 1t. Every week
slipped some money into that hole in
the frame. 1t was like givin' 1t to her
to keep for me-"
I'll take you to Browns cove tomor-
row and we'll see If we can find that
f7e-dollar bill"
well, sir, you'll find out that
amt no liar" said Bumpy. IF I do
any murderin' it must be that 1 do 1t
in my sleep. l amt never ketched
myself In the act-not yet"
AS Shad and Colonel Blake were
leaving the Jail the latter said: 1T is
almost clear to me that the old man
has been the victim of plot. 1 think
that we shall soon be done with him
save as 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 five-dollar
bill in question. He gave it to Royce
in paying a bill and guaranteed its
validity. In doing so he had made a
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:
at does look as If your wife was
still alive. l think that she Is going
to get you out Of this scrape."
"Oh, she-she's q 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.