Thursday, July 5, 1928. THE TIGER TRAIL Sam's other errands he had done with dispatch. -And where did you pick up the; rowboat?” I asked. “You went over; in Mr. Southley’s duck canoe.” The question drew a long and de tailed explanation. The motor craft it seemed had been procured by the j coroner, and was to be used to con- | vey the body. The duck canoe was ; not large enough to bring any sup- j plies, so Mr. Southley had ordered j Sam to procure a large, well-made j row-boat to go back and forth in. At first he had despaired of finding any, until the old man who had steered on the way back to« the house encountered him and offered nis own boat and services for hire. He was a quaint old character that lived by the river at the edge of the city, and he had heard of Sam’s in quiries. But he had insisted that he be carried along to handle his own boat. The reason was rather ob vious. The old man was evidently in need of the few extra dollars that his own services would bring. “And what’s the old fellow’s name?” “Robin —and he talked like a cockney.” Southley and I were with the in spector —his name turned out to be : Freeman —when he examined the ! body. He made no comment. Since i I had given up all hope of a greater ! detective coming to our aid, I turned over all the clues I had gath- j ered to him. He was entirely scorn-: ful. -Like as not you and young | Southley spoiled a whole lot more ! dues than you found, by tramping j around the body.” “We were careful about that, in spector,” I assured him. “I don’t mean to infer your mo tives weren’t the best,” he went on with a world of tact, “but amateur aid doesn’t help any, as a rule. The hat is evidently the property of the murdered man. This cuff-link—” He examined the cuffs on the j silken shirt that Hayward wore. “It’s j his cuff, too,” he said shortly. “Brok- 1 en off when he fell.” There was nothing more to be said o n this point. The link in the left sleeve was the mate of the broken link we had found. He heard our story and we walk ed down with him to show him where the body had lain. He listened very attentively to our theory that Hay ward had attempted to flee from his enemy. “It’s a queer case,” he told us then. “I don’t know' of any like it. As you say, he must have used some thing as heavy as a sledge-hammer, and yet not hard like a sledgeham mer. Anything very hard would have broken the skull into pieces, at the speed that it must have come. Those queer scratches are funny, too. But at least we’ve got the murderer pret ty sewed up. If he’s in this house he can’t get away—because guards are already watching the shores of the swamp. If he’s in the highlands yonder, he can’t get off them either, i except into the water w r here my men will see him.” Soon after this the body was car ried down to the boat. The negroes seemed all to have disappeared when the moment came, but Ahmad, in scrutable as ever, and the bewhisk ered old man that w'e 'called Robin, came to our aid. The inquest was to Cute in a Baby-1 Awful at Three -and it’s Dangerous" by Ruth Brittain Thumb sucking does look sweet in a baby, but it is disgusting in the three year-old and sometimes it hangs on until i’fteen or sixteen! The habit may cause an ill formed mouth or induce adenoids; it always interferes with digestion. Finning the sleeve over the hand; at taching mittens, or putting on cardboard ' y>s, which prevent bending the arms the elbows, are some of the ways to stop the habit. AnoTier bad habit — irregularity in .j action —is responsible for weak 'els and constipation in babies. Give ! iny bowels an opportunity to act regular periods each day. If they ; i!)i ; r - a(l t at first, a little Fletcher’s Cas o>r will soon regulate them. Every * 11 r should keep a bottle of it handy U3e case of colic, cholera, diarrhea, on , stomach and bowels, constipation, f, ss ? ! sleep, or when baby is cross and !Ve rish. Its gentle influence over baby’s system enables him to get full nourish ment from his food, helps him gain, lengthens liis bowels. v>astoria is purely vegetable and harm ieas the recipe is on the wrapper. Phy smians have prescribed it for over 30 With each package, you get a valuable book on Motherhood. Look for Thas. H. Fletcher’s signature on the tapper so you’ll get the genuine. by Edison Marshall be held three days later, after the de tectives had time to make their in ; vestigations. “There’s room for me, I hope?” I asked. “Yes—” “It will be necessary for me to j leave this place and go back to my practice in Tampa.” Because I hadn’t forgotten my j promise of departure. Besides, there I was no further reason for me to | stay. Alexander Pierce had failed to come. I had just been a guest, a spectator from the first, and Jose phine had seen to it that I had been no more. The renouncement in the den the evening before had told that all too plainly. I couldn’t deny to i myself how much I would have liked to stay, to see the affair to its end, perhaps to behold the curse lifted from the old manor house, and to watch the shadows depart from those sad eyes. Never before had the thought of being of service been so dear to me. But the stand the girl had taken in the den was impossible to disregard. “I don’t see why you can’t go, Long, if you want,” the inspector said. “You were just a guest here —though I will say that you came at a propitious time—and, besides, j both of the Southleys vouch for you. I Vilsa says you’re innocent, and they say that you were in the library j when the crime was committed. Os course, you must tell us where we can get you on a moment’s notice.” I told them, and asked them to wait until I got my bag. It was all packed and ready. And as I came down from my room, I met Jose phine in the hall. She started back at the sight of me. I couldn’t read the look that leaped to her face, except that it was a hurt look, almost a look of pleading. It was a surprise to me. Evidently she felt that she would miss whatever support I had been in these last nights of trial. “You’re going after all,” she said. She didn’t Dut it as a question. She spoke as if it were some unbe lievable circumstance. “Os course I’m going. I’m afraid Ido not surpass as a detective. Be sides —I’ve got to get back to my practice. Probably a hundred little fevered hfinds stretching to me—” But her eyes arrested me and stopped the flow of my silly words, but we promised frankness. The first night at Southley Downs!” “I had forgotten. Forgive me. And how long ago it was. “And how much has happened since.” “How much —and this is the end.” I stretched out my hand, and she gave me hers. I had always won dered at that hand. It was so yield ing, seemingly so tender. But I drop ped it quickly, wondering at the tremor on her lips. “Good-by, Miss Southley.” “May I walk with you down to the boat?” “If you wish. But you remember what is in the boat.” “I’m past all horror of that,” she led the way out of the great door and down the path. What a slight, slim creature she was! “And I suppose there is nothing—that I can tell you—that would make you stay?” “You’ve already been very kind and sweet” I said. “I’m glad that you cared at all. But I don’t see any use of keeping up the sorry game any longer. It can’t help but come to unhappiness in the end. I want you to have all happiness —■’* I could scarcely hear her answer. The tone was so .low —hardly more than a whisper. Perhaps it was just a little tremulous. “I don’t think you are very kind, doctor,” the words came back. “You don’t understand.” “Unkind because I wish you hap piness? At least I can do that — with propriety. There has been enough between us that I can do that. The walks we had —they will be very beautiful to think about.” “I wish you’d not say any more.” But I went on remorselessly: “And don’t think I’m going to be bitter. Women have always sacri ficed for the men they loved—ev erything they had to sacrifice. No man can blame them if he is one of the sacrifices, as I was —in the den —last night.” She stopped as if I had struck her. . “You mean —that you think I re nounced you last night, that I let you fall when I could have saved you—because I loved Vilas Hay ward?” “I would sooner attribute it to that than to some less worthy rea son. At least it showed me that your love for him was everything—that nothing in the world could stand in its way.” “Then there is no use pleading with you any more, Dr. Long. Some time you may understand —and may be be a little sorry. If you’d only stay, that time might be soon —be- fore it is too late.” We could say no more. We had reached the boat. I shook hands with the Southleys; and, even as I said good-by, two strange impres sions were knocking at the doors of my consciousness. They were not dis tinct. One of them was that old Rob in was "gazing at me with what was almost a look of abject bewilder ment on his face: the other was that Josephine was whispering to Inspec tor Freeman — a hurried urgent mes sage. Illustrations by PAUL FREHM When I looked at them they had moved to opposite sides of the group. His lean face was thoughtful. I gave my bag to the negro, and started to step on the boat. “Wait just a minute, Dr. Long,” the inspector commanded. i “I’ve just been thinking—that I ! really haven’t a right to let you go. I’ve learned that you had a scene with the elder Hayward—words and all that — on the night he was kill ed. It puts a different face on the situat-oii; so 1 guecs I’ll have to com iuai.d you to stay here until I know it is safe for me to let you go, doc tor.” j All the white occupants of South ley Downs—and that of course in cluded the brown-skinned Ahmad, whose race is the root and source of , the whole Aryan breed —met in the library immediately after the motor boat’s departure. All of us' took chairs, and Inspector Freeman stood in the center. “This isn’t a third degree, or any thing like it,” he explained. “I’m simply in search of explanations. I want to know who’s who, and who knows what.” He called on Vilas Hayward first. “Where were you on the night of the crime?” he asked. “I went to bed at midnight.” “You were present in the den, in which you were insulted by Doctor Long?” “Yes, sir. But I’m willing to for get that.” Yet his eyes did not look as if he were walling; they glowed darkly. “But we’re not willing to forget it,” the detective replied. “The mat ter of motive for this murder is prob ably the most important feature in identifying the criminal. If we have a motive, w r e have ' something to work on. I believe that your father took your part in that discussion.” “That is true.” “And Southley did also.” Vilas hesitated —just an instant. “Yes, he me.” “I belie daughter sided in with you, too.” “I would hardly say that.” “At least she offered no explana tion why Dr. Long attacked you. Isn’t that true?” “It is.” “How did Dr. Long take this com bined stand against him?” “I don’t know what you mean.” “It seems to me I am perfectly clear. Did he become angry?” “I won’t venture to say. It was plainly the greatest shock to h : m when Miss Southley took the atti tude she did. I suppose my father gave him the greatest cause for ang er.” “Why?” “My father took the most determ ined stand against him, insisting on ° 1 <► o Confidence |; <► .jt JJ Confidence is one of the great factors in this world. y So much depends upon confidence! Ever think of it? J[ it . <; !*> You employ your doctor bceause you have confid- JJ [Jt ence in him. You have confidence in your lawyer, in <► ' O r 1 your friends, in your advisors. And in your bank? o t o . o it Yes, indeed, or you wouldn’t keep your money there a o lJt minute. Without confidence we do not deserve your o Jt patronage. Confidence in this Bank is what has made it I <► it strong. J[ - ♦ f <► The Bank of Pittsboro | Jt PITTSBORO, N. C. Jt *Jt A. H. London, President J. L. Griffin, Cashier Jt J[ W. L. Farrell, Asst. Cashier J[ iit - ", 3t $ it ♦ t ; o j; II THE SOUTHERN PLANTER j !J[ Semi-Monthly l Jt it it I Richmond, Virginia S| The Oldest Agricultural Journal in America 50 Cents For One Year Jt SI.OO For Three Years “It is a fair question.” i “In spite of the difference in their ages, Southley and my father were , old friends. They were very free with each other in all things.” “And did your father say any thing of an insulting nature that the doctor might want to avenge?” “He called him a ‘pup,’ I think, as well as other things.” “You say you went to bed at mid night. When did you learn of your father’s murder?” “After the levee broke —when the others came back to the house and told me.” “The sound of the breaking levee wakened you?” “Yes.” Freeman ealled on me next. I told my story, as far as it concerned the finding of the body. I corroborated most of Vilas’s testimony. “How much time were you alone after the scene in the den and the time of the murder?” he asked. “A few minutes after a midnight walk with Ernest —between a few minutes before one o’clock and im mediately after.” “How did you spend your time?” “I was undressing for bed.” “And then what did you do?” I told him of our stalk through the halls. He seemed particularly in terested, but also somewhat scorn ful. “It isn’t the purpose of the State to chase down ghosts,” he said. “I t’ : nk the less thought and said about that matter the better. You v ore all under a nervous strain and I’ve heard the testimony of people in that condition before. It usually isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. I want to know if you had any time to yourself between the scene in che den and the murder.” Os course his reason for wanting to know was perfectly obvious. He wanted to see whether I could have possibly had time to Tire o* negroes to murder the elder Hay ward. He knew that 1 had not done the deed with my own hands from the fact that I had already establish ed an alibi. “We’ve got a motive for you, i Long,” he told me at the end, “but not much else. There are others that we have some of the other things on but no motive.” He called on Ahmad The latter told, him how he had gone out to the garage after the car; how he had looked in vain for Hayward on the driveway, and how, later, he had found the body. The detective flushed slightly and lea nod. forward. “You didn’t like the elder Hay ward, Ahmad?” Freeman asked, abruptly. “No, sahib.” “Why didn’t you? What had he ever done to you?” “He was not pleasant to serve, sahib. Many times he swore —” “And I believe he struck you once, Ahmad.” "V o On The Rural Route :: ]► Why not let Uncle Sam work for you? His services !t <► are cheap, prompt and business-like, it it Suppose you are on the farm and receive notice of JJ it an account that is due in town. If your funds are at j> Jt the bank, just mail the party a check by R. F. D., and <► <► go right ahead with your work. It’s all done for a !► * two-cent stamp. Os course, if you really want to come it jt to town—that's different. J* it <► | THE BANK OF MONCURE | t MONCURE, N. C. j> I I ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ »♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»»<>»»» ■ A Real Acrobat Some one has said that the politician is a real acro bat, because he can have his ears to the ground, his feet in his mouth, his eyes on his job, and his hands in the pork barrel all at the same time. Possibly true of some politicians, but not all. How ever, there is no politics at our bank. We are simply here for business trying to meet the needs of this com munity for an up-to-date bank. One man’s money looks as good as another’s here, and we try to be cour teous to all. ♦ THE BANK °f GOLDSTON HUGH WOMRLE, Pres. T. W. GOLDSTON Cashier GOLDSTON, N. C. 4 k WHEN rrs TIME TO BUY ROOFING ir i ► l J t For Chatham and surrounding counties, <► ]► Budd-Piper Roofing Company in Durham is <► headquarters for all kinds of roofing. <► <► The Budd-Piper Roofing Company edn sup < ► ply you, and supply you at the right price, J l with anything from 5-V Crimp Galvanized ► l Jt Roofing to the better grades of roofing for ‘ ► good homes, churches, schools, factories, O <►. stores and other structures. < ► * i| THE BUDD-PIPER ! I ROOFING CO. Jt DURHAM, N. c. it it PAGE SEVEN Ahmad’s voice lowered. “Yea.** “And why did he?” “I was slow in a service that he asked.” “He didn’t like you either, Ah mad.” “It is true.” “Considering his influence with your master, did it ever occur to you that he might get you thrown out of employment?” “Employ—” “Get you kicked out of your job?” “No, sahib; I never thought of that.” (Continued next week)