The Coolidge examiner., 1936-06-26
CHAPTER XI-Continued

Merry plVoted on one tOOt, snug
Cling the box against his side
swinging it away from the out
stretched hand.
Not just yet, sheriff." he said.
Bridger gawped.
Not just Say,"-straighten
ing and whirling on Ezra -"just
what comes off here"
The coroner's face showed bewil
-derment.
Kerry spoke quietly:
whats coming off, Bridger, is a
corOner's investigation"
well, l,"-harshly-"it's a sheriff's
investigation, now. Give me that
bOx!"
fOung rose, then.
mo, Bridger. When the coroner
mas finished, then it'll be time fol
your"
who the hell are yon to be bot
tin into murder case?"
Kerry shrugged.
I'm only a deputy coroner" he
said.
Deputy cor Since when?"
Ezra grabbed the cue.
For a couple of weeks now, Nat
I appointed Young as my deputy
SOS to have another pair of eyes
and ears in this country"
The sheriff scratched his head
and grunted. Tod West took a step
or two which put him close to the
table and leaned against it, watch.
ing, listening. A tin cup was there
he picked it up and twirled it in his
hands. His heart was pelting his
ribs, now, but it was no moMent
to make move, to say word
Things had been happening OF
which he had been ignorant. His
play was to learn as much as pos
Sible.
We'll, ev'.n So" began Bridgel
and scratched his head again. He
haZarded a course:
But you had your inquest; yor
got nowhere. Now, seems to me
we got hot lead on this case.
guess it's up to my office to &C
through with it and make the
pinch. We've got to have evidence
so l guess I'll demand what yor
two have found here"
Demand away!" snapped Kerry
Demand and be damned to you
Bridger. Your authority isn't one
two, three with coroner's. CT
read your law"
No need of this. Bridger knew
that much, but on the rebuff he
flushed hotly. Before he could
speak, however, Young went on:
There's nothing about what
we've found to cover up. In this
box are just three hundred dollars
in three bills. The serial numbers
correspond to those Cash drew
from the bank the day he was
killed.
There may be other items here
which will figure quite largely ir
the case, though"
That, he knew, was bad judg
ment. He knew it before the words
were on. of his mouth, before West
dropped the tin cup. He did droE
II and il rolled across the floor.
'Just what d'you mean?" MAI
demanded.
I'VE don't know yet. We've just
made a start. Now, you're at lib
'erty to do any investigating you
want TO just so long as you don't
mess things up for us.
"Our plan," he concluded, "was
to take this stuff in and go over
the evidence taken at the inquest" !"
But what about StuartY
swell. you answer that. What
about him?"
MY God, amt you goin' to make
a pinch7"
Kerry debated. Have Holt Stuart
dragged on to the Shoestring Jail
before Mans eyes? Have him
lodged there, even for no more
than few hOHrS, perhaps, charged
With her fathers murder?
do you think that's smart?" he
asked in a cOnciliatory tone, spar
ring for time. $50 far as we know,
there's not great deal against him
yet. And if we keep quiet until
tomorrow who knows what'll
develop"
Bridge saw his chance Of max
Ing an immediate and impressive
arrest fading.
I'm not so damn sure, Young
Throw 'em in the can first md in
vestigate afterward, l say! If he
But you might spill the whole
platter OF beans. Don't you think
Ezra, 1t would be wiser to hold
back?"
IT certainly dol I'm not going
off half cooked on this case, Nat
want chance to sit down anG
add up what we've got now"
Kerry nodded once, encouraging
", and looked covertly at Too
West, who was retrieving the tir
cup, twirling 1T with apparent cas-
aainess in his fingers again. The