Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1939-10-06
CHAPTER x

SaDe DLxOn, SOlCltOr OF tne Sew
enth Judicial Circuit, prided himself
upon being, at all times and under
all circumstances, a gent. He gave
proof Of this now by removing his
feet from the desk-top as Sonia
Henkel entered the room. His shifty,
watery eyes blinked and his promi-
nent Adams apple bobbed excitedly
as he murmured, "Siddown, Miss
Henkel," and jerked his head in
the direction of eane-bottom chair
near the desk.
Mr.. Dixon scrutinized his visitor
keenly. He had heard all about
Sonia (not without personal interest)
and had seen her occasionally on the
street but this intimate view
was more than trifie intriguing.
The silence was broken by Babes
low-pitched, husky voice. "You're
the district Attorney"
"Yes'm. We call it Solicitor down
heah."
1--WE got to talk to you about
something important"
She said, tensely, "There are
some things you ought to know
about Kirk Reynolds" She hesitat-
ed, but only for a moment. "He
killed Harvey jackson"
"Yes'm. know"
"You couldn't know. You could
only suspect"
Gabe's watery eyes betrayed in
terest. "How come you to know it
for sure, Miss Henkel?"
Kirk told me, and I don't mind
telling you because nothing-noth-
ing moroccan happen to him now"
That's right, ma'am."
'.Kirk went to that dance three
weeks ago with Kay Forrest. They
went for ride afterwards. He had
trouble on the road with jackson,
and killed him. He didn't think any,
body would suspect, so he didn't do
anything at first" Babe was speak
ing carefully. "Then he heard that
folks were talking so he made
Kay Forrest marry him because in
this State wife can't be made to
testify against her husband"
"Yes'm. Kirk was pretty smart
lad"
"Anyway-that's the story. It's
true, and you know it's true"
"Mm-hmm! l reckon do. But
Kirk is dead now"
Eyes :" Her eyes clouded.
"And I know who killed him-and
why"
Mr.. Dixon was uncouth and none
too literate, but he was shrewd. He
asked softly, SIS that what you come
to tell me?"
Eyes"
"Well, ma'am, I'd sho' be glad
to hear the truth. Who was it?"
Tiny points of light glinted in her
black eyes. She said, Barney Ham,
ilton!"
"Hmmm You sure?"
Eyes. Now listen, the night Kirk
was killed he went to Cathedral Gar
dens for the purpose of bringing Kay
Forrest back to Beverly"
Barney Hamilton was in love
with Kay Forrest. So he waited
there for Kirk-met him-and killed
him, and I'm here to ask you what
you're gonna do about it?"
Gabe Dixon's long, lean fingers
closed about the bowl of an ancient
pipe. He filled it with tobacco and
tamped it down carefully. Then he
held a match to it and inhaled Deep
ly. His voice was distant and i'm
personal. Got any real evidence,
Miss Henkel?"
Evidence? Amt that enough evil
dence?"
Gabe shook his head. Nom, I'm
afraid it amt. Just the fact that
young Hamilton was there don't
mean nothing. Other folks were
there, too"
She shrugged impatiently. 81 know
all about them. This Owenby guy
and Kay's father and brother. But
they didn't have any reason for kill
ing Kirk" ~.
mo? Now just for the sake of
argument, ma'am-let me show you
Just how much reason they had. Jim
Owenby had been Harvey Jackson's
best friend, and he knew dawg-gone
good and well that Kirk killed Har-
vey. So that takes care of him.
And Andrew and Andy Forrest :.
well, you amt from Beauregard
County, Miss Henkel so maybe
you wouldn't understand that the
menfolks don't usually stand back
and see their women pushed around
by men they don't like. So it could
easy have been either Mr.. Forrest
or Andy"
Babe said. you're stalling."
..Me?"