The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-02-26

of your special-brand, initial
banded cigars in the vest pocket
of the dead mani"
At this moment two men ap-
peared at the door, led by police
captain.
The newcomers were Patrick
Guinness, who had driven the
street-car in which Longstreet
had been murdered, and a lean
old man, who said he was Peter
Hicks, ferryman on the New York
side.
| Guinness glanced at Woods re-
mains, swallowed convulsively
and mumbled: cts Charley, all
right"
'Hicks, got anything to offer
about Woods movements to-
night?" Thumm asked.
The ferryman nodded "Around
ha'past ten, Charley comes into
the ferry terminal and we CAB
bled spell as usual"
you're sure of the time -
10:30?"
"Sure I'm sure. Ferries run on
schedule. Charley was carrying
his bag, and I asked him if he'd
been in town the night before as
per usual - y'see, sometimes he
stayed over in the City - but no,
he says, it was jest secondhand
bag he'd bought on his off time
today; handle of the old one'd
broke. And"
"What kind of bag was it," de-
manded Thumm.
Hicks pursed his lips. "Jest one
O. these cheap black handbags
you can buy for a buck anywhere.
Square, kind Of"
Thumm motioned to Detective
Peabody. "See if any of the pas
sengers have bags like Hicks de-
scribes. And get search started
on the Mohawk for bag of that
description. Have the boys on the
police boat search the water -
might have been thrown or fallen
overheard"
AS Peabody strolled out, Drury
Lane said: clicks, was Wood
smoking a cigar while you chat
ted?"
Hicks eyes widened at this ap-
paritional inquisitor, but he re-
Piled: eyes. Matter of fact, I ask
ed Charley for one. Them Cremos
he smoked sorta appealed to me.
but he said: I'm out. Pet. I'm
smoking my last one
"Smart question at that, Mr..
Lane" said Thumm grudgingly.
| Dewitt sat in his chair as it
turned to stone. From his eyes, it
was doubtful whether he had
even heard the exchange of ques-
tons and answers.
"Guiness," said Thumm, "do
i you know where Wood lived?"
"In rooming house in
Weehawken-2075 Boulevard"
"Any relatives?"
"He wasn't married and he new
er said a word about kim"
Here's another thing" put in
Hicks. "While Charley and me
were talkin', all of a sudden he
points to a little geezer that gets
out of a cab all bundled up and
buys a ferry-ticket. Charley says
to me that the little guy was the
broker, John Dewitt, the fellow
mixed up in the murder on Char
ley's car"
"What!'' roared Thumm. 'You
say this was around 10:30?" He
glared down at Dewitt, who had
reused now and was sitting, for.
ward, hands gripping the arms oil
the chair. go on, Hicks! Did De-
Witt see Wood?"
Reckon not. He stuck in cor
ner, all by himself. AS the ferry
boat came in he went through the
gate, and Charley says goodbye
} and goes in too"
Thumm pushed by the ferry
man to the broker. "Hicks, is this
the man Wood pointed out te
your"
Hicks stretched his attenuatec
neck. "Yep."
"Good enough. You two &C
downstairs and wait for me-
Thumm turned to Dewitt anc
growled: "Now, suppose you ex'
plain how you were seen board
ing the 10:45 ferry, yet a while
. ,ago you said it was the 1890"
Dewitt made sorry attempt t
smile. eyes, gentlemen, took the
10:45 boat"
Why'd you lie, DeWitt?'
? Thumm shouted.
"That," said Dewitt quietly, 60
must refuse to explain. I had ar
appointment with someone on the
10:45 boat, but the matter wa:
strictly personal and had nothing
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