"Don't forget the body's alive and kic--" and stopping short,
in the hope that his break might escape the school-teacher's attention,
he confusedly substituted, "and here."
Anderson's jaw dropped, but the movement was barely perceptible, the
discomfiture temporary, for to the analytical mind of the great
detective the fact that a murder had been committed was fully
established by the discovery of the blood. That a body was obviously
necessary for the continuance of further investigations he frankly
acknowledged to himself; and not for one instant would any supposition
or explanation other than assassination be tolerated. And it was with
unshaken conviction that he declared:
"Well, somebody was slew, wasn't they? That's as plain's the nose on y'r
face. Don't you contradict me, Harry Squires. I guess Anderson Crow
knows blood when he sees it."
"Do you mean to tell me that you've been trailing us all day in the
belief that some one of us had killed somebody?" demanded Tom Reddon.
Harry Squires explained the situation, Anderson being too far gone to
step into the breach. It may be of interest to say that the Tinkletown
detective was the sensation of the hour. The crowd, merry once more,
lauded him to the skies for the manner in which the supposed culprits
had been trailed, and the marshal's pomposity grew almost to the
bursting point.
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