The midland journal., 1946-03-22

brother, Mr.. Ledforge. Will you
view the body, identify it?"
The frail old woman turned white
as snow. "My brother?" she whis-
pered.
Eyes. Rufus Ledforge."
"But Rufus Is herei" Miss Led
forge protested, her weak voice
somehow desperate.
"Here?" It was Joe's turn to be
shaken. Then he smiled. 'Now,
Miss Ledforge, I'm sorry, but you
mustn't try to deceive u.s."
"But he is" she insisted, urgent
ly. "He's up at the trout pond fish
ing with Mr.. Eberly."
Joe Dane looked at Mat, and he
demanded angrily: "Where Is this
trout pond?"
"Why, you take the road past the
garage" Miss Ledforge told him.
"You can't miss it." Her voice was
tremulous, her white hand pressed
to her bosom.
Dane turned. "Come on, Mat"
he said harshly. "We'll soon see!"
But Mat said: ''Look out, joel"
Miss Ledforge, swaying like reed,
had slipped softly to the floor.
They were alone in the reception
room, but the door into the hall was
open. At Mats ejaculation, Bee De-
vain appeared there In the door
way, Mrs. Tope behind her. Joe
had tried, too late, to catch the faint
ing woman; he was on his knees
now, beside her; he looked up stu
pidly at Bee, and the girl with q
gesture swept him aside.
Get out of here, both of you'll"
she cried. "You heartless idiots!
Well take care of her!"
Adam carried a rifle; Whitlock,
the last to emerge, carried small
outboard motor, awkwardly.
"All right, ADAM" Tope said
briskly. "You and Beal get out on
the point, where you can see. Whit
lock, put the motor on the rowboat,
and don't make any noise. Adam,
we won't start till you shoot. Miss
him once; but hit him if you have
to-"
Adam nodded, moved quickly
away. Behind him, Tope and Whit
lock were busy for a while. Then
they waited, silent, ready.
Adam lay prone in the underbrush
on the point, the rifle trained. The
canoe was well offshore; he saw the
men in it stop padding and begin
to fish. His pulse was shaking him.
Later, Ledforge stood up in the
canoe; and then he lurched oversize
and fell. The canoe overturned,
fioated with its bottom just awash.
Adam, his eyes peering through the
sights, saw Eberly floating with his
head well out of water, saw Led
forge swimming toward the shore.
Ten yards of open water lay be-
tween the two men.
Ledforge turned to look back. And
then he began to swim back toward
the other man. Eberly threw up
one arml
Adam pressed the trigger; he saw
the water leap upward where the
bullet hit, midway between the
two men. Ledforge looked toward
the sound of the report; and at the
same instant the outboard motor on
the rowboat in the cove started with
q staccato roar.
Adam threw in another shell: but
then the boat, racing toward the
two men in the water, came between
him and Ledforge. He leaped to his
feet as the boat came to where
the two men were.
Whitlock handled the boat; Tope
was in the bow. Whitlock cut off
the engine, and they coasted to a
stop. Ledforge had reached Mr..
Eberly, was supporting the other
man in the water.
''It's all right, Carl!" he said re-
assuringly, in the sudden silence as
the engine died. "Take it easy.
You're all right now."
And then Tope and Whitlock were
helping them both into the boat.
Without word, when this was done,
Whitlock started the engine, pre-
venting conversation; and he swung
Tie DOdI UdCh tOWd1Q Tic COtCs WAus>
lock sat in the stern, Tope in the
bow, Ledforge and Eberly side by
side on the midships thwart.
Ledforge, facing forward, saw
men appear on the wharf, as they
approached. Two came leaping from
a car; two came running along the
shore. One Of these two held rifle
in his hands. But the buzzing roar
of the engine made It impossible for
the moment for Ledforge to ask
questions which the sight of these
strangers provoked; and when, the
engine cut, they slid alongside the
wharf, Joe Dane had the first word.
''What in blazesl" he demanded.
''Tope, what are you doing here?"
Tope said gently: "Call it med
ding, Joe."
Then Ledforge cut in, his face
white with anger.
"Just a minutel" he exclaimed.
'.I've a few questions to ask, my
self - he added. sOf course. Mr..