The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1946-02-08

mrs. Priddy the dead man was
found In Farawayl"
She added, looking at Adam. her
eyes twinlkling family: earl claims
he has some important information
that he's going to give Joe Danei
SO II you and Inspector Tope don't
hurry, Joe viii be the one to-read
the riddle, after ALI"
Adam grinned. "Joe couldn't read
the alphabet In large type" he told
her confidently. "And Earl wouldn't
know information II he saw It,"
I'm afraid you've always UNDER
rated Joe," she retorted. "But then
you don't know much about real
criminals. You've spent your time
annoying innocent menl"
Mrs. Tope watched them, amused;
and Adam protested: "Bee, I never
claimed Eberly had committed any
crime, done anything wrong. But
the bank had to be closed to protect
all the depositors. Those Utilities
bonds" He checked himself,
looked at Tope in a startled way.
Inspector, I forgot about that It
was Ledforge stuff that ruined
Eberly's bank. Do you suppose
Eberly-"
Bee uttered an indignant exclam-
alton: adam Bruce, if you try to
pretend that Mr.. Eberly-"
Adam shook his head; he grinned
at her. mo, Bee," he said. you're
stubborn young hussy, and no one
can beat any sense into you; but
Eberly's all right, Tope. He threw
all his own money into the bank,
made every sacrifice possible to
help save the depositors." He looked
at the girl in sudden concern.
'Bee," he asked, "you don't think
it possible that he would
mo, no." she whispered. "He's
too"
She was interrupted. The door
burst open, violently. Here was
Earl Priddy, his eyes wide and Cog
Cling with excitement, his hands
shaking. He leaped into the room,
and banged the door behind him,
and set his shoulders against it, his
hands outspread to press hard
against the panels.
"Sh-h-h!" he whispered. "Sh-h-h!"
Bee said reproachfully: earl,
you're drunk! Don't be a nuisance!
Go out of doors!"
mot me-" said Earl Priddy hot
ly. II don't go out there again to-
night! No sir, not me-"
Some one pushed at the door from
without, and he fought to hold it
shut. The door bulged, and Adam
leaped that way. There was sud-
denly weapon in the young mans
hand. He thrust Priddy aside, and
Earl stumbled and fell, and Adam
Jerked wide the door, his gun ready,
expecting anything.
But he saw only Wade, and Isaac
Murrell, and Mrs. Murrell and the
twins clustering curiously there,
pale and alarmed. They recoiled
before Adams weapon; and Earl,
scrambling to his feet, cried:
'Come in! Come in, quick, every
bodyl Shut the doorl Lock It'll
There's man in Faraway!"
Halt a dozen people had heard
Earl's announcement. Tope regret
ted this; but regret did not impose
on him inaction. He said briefly:
"Adaml" And with young Bruce
beside him, he started up the drive
toward PARKWAY.
There was never in Tope any par
ticular capacity for fear; if he knew
danger lay ahead, he was not above
taking precautions, for there was
no arrogance of folly in this man.
But tonight he had-or seemed to
have-no feeling that it would be
dangerous to surprise the intruder
in PARKWAY. He made haste to
come to the cabin; and before Adam
could intervene, he had thrown the
door open and stepped firmly in.
Night had by this time almost full
ly fallen, and the interior Of the
cabin was dark. Yet there was light
enough efor them to see the bed
that bed under which body once
had been bestowed-all in disorder,
with blankets and coverlet and mat
tress in heap upon the floor; and
man, with lighted match in his
hand, staring down through the
springs at the empty space below.
The man, at their entrance,
whirled, and the match went out;
but Adam snapped on the lights.
Then Balser Wade came up on the
porch behind them, and Tope turned
and saw him, said CURLY:
wade, 60 tell Miss Dewain to
call Mat Cumberland. Tell him to
come here" He added: "And Wade,
don't you come backl"
'Hello, Kell," he said.
The big man twitched as though
some secret agony tormented him,
but he made no move nor sound.
"What are you doing here?" Tope
asked.
The answer came stammeringly.
"I-wanted place to sleep. I'm
L..~ks~~