The Coolidge examiner., 1935-06-21


/ floyd 2" said Campo "Whnt I want
90 know Is how much more you
! didn't tell the jury ="
"Not much. Campo. John Mason
was killed by two shots-not one
from a gun of lighter callber than
Z forty aye. Tomorrow the whole
country will know that-aud our
chances Of getting the Killer are cut
% two"
Naturally" Kentucky put IN
equabiy. Its easier 10 catch a
criminal who thinks he's safe"
And easier yet" said Campo r.
rliably. TO explain away a killing
as an accident :"
Yes said the sheriff without
heat. lie returned Highlands stare
through the smoke cloud from bis
pipe. but also had one or two
other reasons For one thing. this
Is some worse than just one man
killing. Campo. It's kicked the
whole % Wolf Bench onto the edge
~ a general smash"
1--WE al have reason 10 know
that" Raglnnd grnwled.
-All right Suppose now some
body that don't know much about q;
picks himself out a first-ciass sus
pecl Suppose. for instance. some.
body Just goes around Wolf Bench
pointing out that lee Bishop JUS,
happens 10 be the man that found
both Mason and Sanders-both deep
hidden under the snow. There's
been many a blow-up on less evi-
dence than that-and with less
feeling back OF Il than this Is 20
Ing 20 raise up here."
Lee Bishop said nothing Campo
was eyelng sheriff Hopper narrow
". Somehow. Floyd" he said. 1T
seems like TO me you haven't come
to your real reason yet
"NoT' said sheriff Hopper. lie
took a deep drag on hls pipe. Then
IN give you just one reason more
Maybe you've forgot, Campo, that
John Mason wns shot down within
dozen horse jumps % your own
house here: and-by singular coin
cidcnce-thai neither you. nor your
daughter. nor a single one OF your
hands. was even within earshot OF
the guns"
After a moment Campo said in a
low voice. Floyd. what do you
mean by thaty
Campo, know that John Mason
was your close friend. know that
you and your brand are as bad hurt
as anybody. Is. almost. And with
my experience. can reason that
the thing couldn't have happened
II any OF you had been here. But
most people hate condolences.
Campo"
Ragiand stood up. his face blank
Floyd. II you're saying you smoth-
cred that inquest as a favor 10
me-"
Maybe said the sheriff. I
should just have let you explain all
that TO the rlmrock In your own
way"
Wen. anyway. Floyd" Campo
mumbled. Il appreciate what you
tried TO do"
-All right" the sheriff accepted.
"see that you dol Seems TO me,
Campo, that after this you'd be
justified II you'd stop holding In
formation back"
What do yon mean by thatT"
Tonight over the phone ! asked
you II anything else peculiar had
happened. You told me NO But
| happen TO know that you got
home here Tuesday to End that this
house had been searched"
Kentucky Jones had never seen
Sheriff Floyd Hopper show to as
good advantage as he did tonight
He was the man In the saddle here.
lie sat now sprawled behind his
smoke. his eyes surly and red, Ike
the eyes ~ bear.
"whai hnuseT" said Campo Rag
land NJ lsst.
This house." said the sheriff.
~What are you trying TO do, Cam
po? IL doesn't get you anything 10
stall with me. This house was
searched and something was taken
from IT,"
1t seems" saio Campo Ragland.
that you know a lot OF things that
nobody thought you knew. I'm
thinking that maybe you know a
lot OF things more"
what you'd better be finding out
is this. Campo" said Sheriff Hop
per. I'm no fool. even IL l am
the duly elected sheriff of Water
man county. You could do a whole
lot worse than play a straight game
with me"
Campo's retort was mildly ex-
plosive. straight gamer OF
course I'm playing a straight game !
I'm willing TO turn face up what
cards 1 hold-they're always fare
up. It's not my fault when l hold
very d-n few cards"