The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-03-12

an emergency, l guess. Nan didn't go
into detail about the killing Of her
father l want you to know that.
You've got to know it. That is, If
you're going to consider my proposal.
You see, Downer was queer old
duffer. Salt of the earth, but queer;
eccentric. 1t was one Of his eccen-
tricities that led to his murder. He
never would deal with a man except
all, but when he did business checks
didn't go.
HE had this payment due to West
last November. The fifteenth, it was.
That was pay day at his mill, too.
The day before he drove into town and
drew the money from the bank. start
ed home about dusk and was killed
not three miles from here by bull
let in the brain. The money, in one
of these tin boxes, was taken out of
his car. 1t amounted to over twelve
thousand dollars.
you see, I'm coroner here. / start
ed an investigation and the sheriff, he
fused some, but that's about the eX-
tent of his abilities: fussing.
1.-TWO men, only, that we knew of,
had the slightest motive. One was
Jim Hinkle, whose money you got
back for him tonight. He'd been work
ing for Cash, had been fired the day
before and fired with gusto, which was
Downer's way. But he was playing
cribbage with Tod West all that eve
ming and stayed in Vests house all
night, his family being away. So,
with West being what he's thought
to e,"-drily-"Hinkle was counted
out.
"West was quite active in this thing.
He wanted his money and Nan, Dow
ner's only heir, didn't have more to
pay him. He dug up the information
that Holt Stuart had had run-in
with Cash early in the week. Holt
was working for Cash. Well, it seems
that Hollis pretty well struck with
Nan. He's a good boy, but Cash was
a cantankerous old cuss and he rode
the boy pretty hard because Of where
he'd let his interests stray. AS sort
of punishment, he'd sent Holt out to
a cabin on Townline Lake to do some
mapping and made him stay there all
alone.
1.-The sheriff, after West got through
with him, was convinced Holt was his
man and started right in to work up
case against him. But 1 stopped
that A coroner, you know, s got it
all over a sheriff for authority. drove
out and found the boy with an ankle
so badly sprained that he couldn't pos
sibly've been out
"Well, we impaneled a coroner's
jury and I got the bullet out of Cash
but we had so little to go on that the
verdict had to be an open one. Then
we started trying to trace the money.
1t was mostly in new Federal Reserve
notes and the bank had the serial num-
bers. We broadcast those and then
called it a day. That's where it sits
now"
"Downer's dead and the moneys
gone," said Kerry. Lord, if Miss
Downer could get hold of that stolen
money it'd save her life, wouldn't itT'
ut would" = again drily. That's
what I'm here for. To see If you'll
help me locate it."
Locate it? What d'you mean?"
This" The old man leaned for
ward and tapped Young's knee. 'The
money" he whispered, sis still in the
countryr'
1.-THE devil!"
as truth! In my pocket have
a twenty dollar bill that was part
Of it. 1t was paid me on account to-
night"
you got any idea where it came
from?"
Ezra looked around and listened.
"Out of your poker game" he said
grimly.
After moment Kerry gave a low
| whistle.
SAY! That makes the situation
look up, doesn't it?"
That's why 1 came to you, stran-
ger. 1 need help and need it right
now. That money is cached some.
where in the country. Whoever is
hiding 1t, needs money badly. That's
the first bill to be put into circulation
out of the lot. .. Young, will you take
a commission as my Deputy"
Kerry's heart was beating rapidly
Here. indeed, was a chance to do some.
thing for Nan Downer. He waited a
moment. considering all things. Then
he said:
'I'll go you, doctor!"
"Goodl But we'll have to keep IL
between you and me. Not even Nan
must know"
And leaning back on one elbow the
old man cleared his throat and began
to talk again.
Across the river in the big house OF
peeled logs which was Tod Vests
abode that citizen stood before jim
Hinkle, who was seated and whose
eyes remained averted.
"And now it's up to you," West SAID
heavily. II guess it's my right to ex
pect that much from you.'
'It'll look like hell, for me to d.
that" Jim protested. after what he
thought he done for me. !. How'll
go at It? Besides. he's nobody to foo
| With"
Never mind that. I'll take care Of
that" = nodding meaningful. "Ant
about how it'll look: you mean be
cause he made play at getting your
money back?"
| "Well You see
Don't hedgel You can't pull WOO
over my eyes. Listen here, spite o.
all your talk In the store about no