The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-06-03


his wife, Minnie, had died-had
Comb the town, and you would
not find another inhabitant so
secretive. Nor so surly as Andy
Beauford.
1t was not right for a man to
shut himself away. companioned
only by a shabby bull terrier, es-
pecially when the dog rightfully
belonged to Hank Davis, Andy's
nearest neighbor.
But Andy never heard peoples
gossip. He never wasted a thought
on any one in Milford, unless that
one was Hank Davis.
%A"We don't like him, do we,
BoZie?" he would humble some
times, when another day had
passed and the day lay snoring
before an awkward coal stove.
Hank Davis knows as we'll as
you and me do that you run out
on him cause he beat you and
kicked you and purt near starved
you to death. Let him say I'm
a thief. You and me knows bet
ter. Don't we, ole feller?"
WORKED NOW AND THEN
An odd job once in a while. if
need arose, like the time Bozie
contracted distemper and Andy
trooped across town, carrying
Bozie in his arms, to pay in full
the amount an amazed Veter1na-
rian demanded.
And fights. Occasionally, in
spite of his anguiShed desire to
Cloister himself and his dog from
the world, disturbances would
stalk right up to Andy's front
doorstep. Then what could man
and dog debut Snarl?
ITS Hank Davis back of it all"
randy grumbled to Bozie one bleak
February night. ct h m kids
wouldn't of broke our windows.
'less'n they'd heard grown people
talk. He's a devil, Hank Davis is,
Bozie.
The man leaned forward. "Stop
snorin' good-for-nothin', and I'll
tell you somethin'. Somethin'
never admitted to nobody afore.
He's bad, Hank Davis is-but I'm
worse" A break in the creaking
voice. Andy Beauford seldom
made long speeches. wanna
know why I'm worse, Bozie? Well,
Ill tell you. Cause I'm scared O.
him, that's why. All my life
made out like I amt, but am . :.
And Hank Davis knows it.
SHE DIED FOR HIM
HE knew it when he hung
around my Minnie, when she was
Twin. Knew it all the time he
was plantin' discomfort in her
pretty head. And What'd I do?
Il jes made out like my eyes
. was closed, and begged Minnie to
-Aoe happy. I used to tell her 1
would die for her And would
OF, Bozie. Only she died for him,
instead.
Maybe we oughta get a gun,
Teller. Only i never had no use for
guns I don't like to hear 'em
go off. And nobody knows bout
them Liberty Bonds I still got,
IesS'n 1t be Hank Davis; and he
must of forgot by now"
Fudge" Andy grunted, in the
lingo of nineteen-ten, you don't
think I'm dependin' on you, do
you? Why, if Hank Davis took it
into his head-onery as that head
lS-to wipe us out, he'd do it
quicker'n scat. Just like that"
ANDY MURDERED
1t was a gang of hoodlums, on
adventure bent, who discovered
Andy Beauford's lifeless body next
day. Saw it through the win.
dow, with a shabby black dog by
tits side And the hoodlums
ran for their lives.
The sheriff was busy; he had
. little time for his findings in
'sAndy's neglected cabin. But an
officer of the law cannot laugh
off a murder:
/, Enemies? Who cared enough to
hate the old man? Robbers? Ri
diculous. There was no one to ask,
unless Bozie could have spoken,
The sheriff and his men wasted
half day. Knew it was hopeless,
unless they could find a clew.
Hank Davis, Andy's neighbor,
rose nobly to the occasion.
Now if we could locate the per-
son-and there must have been
Somebody-who came in here last
night" he said, wed have the
murderer in our power. Too bad
it rained so hard this morning