Part 4 (1/2)
Mr. Parker fingered the black mask. ”All the same, Sheriff, you can't just laugh off a thing like this. Even if the November elections aren't far away--”
”I'm not worried about my job,” the other broke in. ”So far as I know there's no underground organization in this county. All this mask proves is that Clem Davis may be the man who set the Preston fire.”
The officer turned to leave the stable. Before he could reach the exit, the double doors slowly opened. A woman, who carried a lighted lantern, peered inside.
”Who's there?” she called in a loud voice.
”Sheriff Daniels, ma'am,” the officer answered. ”You needn't be afraid.”
”Who said anything about bein' afraid?” the woman belligerently retorted.
Coming into the stable, she gazed with undisguised suspicion from one person to another. She was noticeably thin, slightly stooped and there was a hard set to her jaw.
”You're Mrs. Davis?” the sheriff inquired, and as she nodded, he asked: ”Clem around here?”
”No, he ain't,” she answered defiantly. ”What you wanting him for anyhow?”
”Oh, just to ask a few questions. Where is your husband, Mrs. Davis?”
”He went to town early and ain't been back. What you aimin' to lay onto him, Sheriff?”
”If your husband hasn't been here since early evening, who has ridden this horse?” the sheriff demanded, ignoring the question.
Mrs. Davis' gaze roved to the stall where the black mare noisily crunched an ear of corn.
”Why Sal _has_ been rid!” she exclaimed as if genuinely surprised. ”But not by Clem. He went to town in the flivver, and he ain't been back.”
”Sorry, but I'll have to take a look in the house.”
”Search it from cellar to attic!” the woman said angrily. ”You won't find Clem! What's he wanted for anyway?”
”The Preston barn was set afire tonight, and your husband is a suspect.”
”Clem never did it! Why, the Prestons are good friends of ours!
Somebody's just tryin' to make a peck o' trouble for us.”
”That may be,” the sheriff admitted. ”You say Clem hasn't been here tonight. In that case, who rode the mare?”
”I don't know anything about it,” the woman maintained sullenly.
”Didn't you hear a horse come into the yard?”
”I never heard a sound until your car stopped at the entrance to the lane.”
”I suppose you never saw this before either.” The sheriff held up the black hood which had been found in the barn.
Mrs. Davis stared blankly at the cloth. ”I tell you, I don't know nothin'
about it, Sheriff. You ain't being fair if you try to hang that fire onto Clem. And you won't find him hidin' in the house.”
”If your husband isn't here, I'll wait until he comes.”