The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1946-02-22

Assistant District Attorney of High
land County. Mr.. Cumberland, my
chief, sent me to bring you up
there"
Holdom - his head swathed in
bandages, his eyes swollen and
weary-looked at Joe slowly. what
for?" he asked in a dazed tone.
Dane glanced at Pringle as
though calling the other mans at
tention to his discretion. "Mr. Cum
berland will tell you himself" he
said, but could not resist adding, "if
you don't already knowl"
81 don't know anything" Holdom
said. "But I'm due at my office"
''I'm afraid that isn't possible"
said Joe Dane Importantly. "But
if you wish, I'll let them know that
you will be away for few days."
ga few days?"
Dane smiled grimly. "a euphe-
mism!" he murmured; and felt
Pringle's amused eye upon him, and
colored holly.
But thereafter he held his tongue,
and Holdom made no new objection,
and presently they were on the road,
Pringle driving, Dane and the hurt
man in the seat behind. Holdom
for while sat staring straight
ahead with dull eyes; but presently
he went stupidity to sleep, his head
back, his mouth open. Sometimes
when the car struck a bump, his
face twisted as though he WINGED
with pain.
When toward noon they reached
the courthouse in North Madderson,
Dane and Pringle, supporting Hol-
dom, who was weak and unsteady
on his feet, went up the worn old
stairs; and Dane flung open the
door of Cumberland's private Office,
with some notion of making an en-
trance in style.
But Cumberland was not here to
be impressed, and the office was in
charge of Janet Cumberland, Mats
niece; meek, colorless young wom-
an in whose eyes Unncle Mat was
an old and rather stodgy man, while
Joe Dane was young and handsome.
She looked up at him with shy de-
light, and Joe tweaked her ear and
said loftily:
Hello, Jan! Office get along all
right without me?"
''We've missed you, Mr.. Dane,"
she told him. "There's been so
much going on. They caught Kell,
you know. He's the chauffeur. And
they found the car in the quarry.
Oh, and Mr.. Dane, / have a tele-
phone message for you from Earl
Priddy. You know, down at De
wain's Mill. He says he has some
important evidenced"
Dane chuckled. "Ear1's the big
gest liar in the county. But I might
run down TO the Mill, see if he's got
anything. Be back soon, Ed" he
told Pringle. "You keep Holdom
here"
Dane found Priddy peeling onions
in the kitchen under Mrs. Priddy's
watchful eye. At sight of Dane, Earl
came starting to his feet.
"Joel" he cried. "High time you
come! / got something to tell
you"
Mrs. Priddy thrust her husband
forcibly back into his chair. "You
can set right there and tell it'll" she
exclaimed. II want them onions
skinned!"
''Now, Ma, this here's private and
confeedential," Earl insisted. "Joe,
you make her"
''Let him step outside with me, for
minute, Mrs. Priddy," Joe sug-
gested. II know you wouldn't want
to obstruct justice"
She yielded grudgingly. "Just be-
cause he seen them people when
they fust come here" she began.
Earl, his hand through Danes
arm, was already at the door. Sand
1t was me see this here Kell sneak
into PARKWAY tool" he boasted, and
dragged Joe outside.
"Saw what people?" Joe demand
ed.
'That teller and the woman Fri
day night" Earl retorted, and told
Tic Tale VI Tile SCOlGH car anu LIlcu
he gave his version of the capture
of Kell, and of TOPICS midnight de-
parture; and Joe asked many ques-
tons.
II amt a hand to Isten," Earl
said loftily. "Only in the line of my
dootyl But Ike Murrell, he snoops
around all hours Of the night. He
heard this woman that was in Little
Bear Friday night-them that stole
the garland she was talking to the
teller with her, begging him not to
do it, whatever it was. Ike heard
her call him by name. Name Of
Rupel"
Joe was instantly alert. "Rupe?"
he echoed. "Say. was it Rufe? Ru-
fus? Does Tope know about this?"
Rufus was Ledforge's name.
They found Isaac; and Joe ques-
toned him rapidly.
Isaac and Earl between them re-