Newspaper Page Text
A
/ '
the Law”
By Bayard Veiller
erect in his clinli-7
"God!" lie cried despairingly. "And
Hint's your vengeance!"
“I don't want vengeauee—now!” she
sulci. •' f K 'wal
"But they'll try my'bo.v for murder,"
the magnate remonstrated, distraught
"Oh, no, they can’t!" came the ro-
joinder.
"What’s th.e reason we can’t?" Burke
stormed.
“Ke.rnuso my husband merely killed
n burglar. He shot him In defense of
Ids home!"
All of'you!"
'Ice ns lie spoke from Ills kneeling
stare beside the: body, to which he
d hurried after the summons 'to Ills
Ids. “I'll break you for thl$, Cns-
ildy,” he ..declared fiercely. "Why
ldn’t-you get here on the run when
heard the shot?"
“But there wasn’t any shot. 1 tell
you, chief, there hasn't been a sound."
Burke rose to Ills'feet. His heavy
face was set tu Its sternest mold.
" "You could drlvif a hearse through
the hole they ninde In him." said Cas
sidy. Burke wheeled on Mary and
Dick. “So," he shouted, “now It’s
rimrder! Well, hand it over. Where’s
the gun?" He nodded toward Dick as
ho gave his order, "Search him!"
■ Dick took the revolver from his pock-
>i . _o£ iuid held It out.
At tills Incriminating crisis for the
son the-father hastily strode into the
jj library. He bad been arouspd by the
yj? ' Inspector’s shouting and was evidently
greatly perturbed. .;
i "What’s all tills? 1 ’ he_exclaimed. •
> Burke In a moment like this was no
respecter of persons.
“You Cau see for yourself." he'said
^grimly to the dumfounded magnate.
■ "So;" lie went on. with somber tneii-
‘ ‘ace In his voice.. "you did It, young
, ■ man." He nodded, toward the dctec-
> tlve. "Well. Cassidy, you can take ’em
.' both downtown. Tlmt's.nll.”
\'-„'.'The command aroused Dick to re-
f'imonstrance against inch Indignity to--
., ward the woman lie Joyed.
) “Not her!" he cried imploringly.
. "You don’t want her. Inspector! Thls-
- Is all wrong!"
"Dick." Mary advised quietly, "dqn’t
. talk, please," .
"What do you expect?" Burke "In-
, ' quired truculently. "As a matter of
fact, the tiling’s simple enough, young
' man. Either you killed Griggs or she
did."
The inspector with his charge made
a cureless gesture toward the corpse’ of
the murdered • stool plsJepu. ■ Edwiu-d
i - Gilder looked arid saw the ghastly, in-
* animate heap of flesh arid hone that
* had onco'beeu a man. He fairly reeled
"You could drlvo a Hearse through tho
holo they made in him." ■
at the spectacle, then fumbled with an
outstretched linnd until he laid IioJd on
. a chair, into whicli- ho"saiik'iielplessly.
"Either you killed him',’’ the voice
repeated gratingly, "or she did. Well,
“ then, young; nmn, did sho.kllj lilni?"
.“Good God, 119!” Dick shouted,
aghnst.
" "Tbpii ft wad you!”
“No. no! ' He didn't!” Mary’s words
cable frantically.
Burke reiterated tho accusation.
"One of you killed ^Griggs. Which
one of you did it?” He scowled ut
Dick. "Iiid she-kill him?’.’
"I told you no!”
"Well, .then "' he blustered to the girl,
“did he kill him?"
The nod of his hem] was toward
Dick. Then as she rchmined silent,
'Tin talking to you I" ho snapped.
“Did he klN him?"
The reply cumo with a soft distinct
ness that was like a crash'bf destiny.
“Yes.”
Dick turned to.his wife in reproach
ful amazement.
“Mary!" lie cried Incredulously.
' ."You’ll swear he killed him?" Burke
asked briskly
In Ills office next morning Inspector
Burke was fuming over the failure
of Ids conspiracy. He had Imped,
through this plot to vindicate Ids au
thority, so sadly Haunt's! by Garson
and Mary Turner. .Instead of this
much to be desired result from his
scheming the outcome hud beeu noth
ing less thrall disastrous.
Some one had murdered Griggs, tho
stiiol pigeon. The murder could' not go
unpunished. The slayer’s identity must
lie determined. Ta the discovery of
this identity, the’inspector was at the
present moment' devoting himself by
a'drolt questioning of Ducey and Chi
cago Bed. Who Imd been arrested in
one of their accustomed haunts.
“Come across now!" ho admonished.
His voice rolled forth like that of a
bull of Baslian. ne was on Ills feet,
facing the two.thieves. His head was
.thrust forward menacingly, and his
eyes were savage.
”1 don’t .know nothin’!" Chicago
Hod’s voice was between a snarl and
a whine. "Ain’t 1 been telling you that
for over un hour?"
Burke gave Dacey. who chanced to
be the nearer of the two. a shove that
sent the fellow stnggerjug halfway
across the room under its Impetus.
"Dacey, how long have you been
out?"
“A week.”
.“Want to go back for another
stretch?",
“God, 110!”
“Who shot Griggs?”
The reply was.a chorus from the
two:
. "I don’t know—honest. I don’t!”
I11 Ills eagerness Chicago Bed moved
toward Ills questioner.
"Honest to Gawd, I don’t know noth
in’about.lt!” . •
The inspector’s fist shot out toward
Chicago Bed’s Jaw. The thief went
■to Ills" kiuies uuder-the'blow.
‘.‘Now. get up—and .talk!” Burke’s
voice came with unrepentant noisiness
against the-stricken man.
Cringlngly Chicago Red obeyed' as
fiir us the getting to his feet was con
periled.- While he got slowly to his
feet lie took cure to keep ut. a respect
ful distance from the* official.
Cassidy entered the Inspector’s offlee
to hnnpunee the nrrlval of the district
attorney. ’-
"Send Tin In.” .Burke directed. He
made a gesture toward the doorman
and added. “Take ’em back!”
“I came as soon as I got -your, mes
sage." the district attorney said as he
seated himself in ti chair by.the desk.
“And I’ve sent worci to Mr. Glider.
Now. their, Burke, let’s buvo this thing
qiiickly?’i
The inspector’s explanation was con
cise:. , ,
“Joe Garson. Chicago Bed and Dncey.
along- with Griggs, broke into Edward
Gilder’S house last night. 1 knew the
trick 1 was going to be pulled off. and so
I planted Cassidy and 'a couple of oth
er men just, outside the room where
the haul was to lie made. Then I went
away, and after Something like lialf- an
hour. I game back to' make the arrests,
myself. When I broke into the room,
I found young Gilder alone with that
T.lirner woman lie married, and they
were just talking together.
•T found Griggs lying on the ttbor—
dead! The Turner woman says young
Glider shot Griggs, because he' broke
Into the house. Ain’t that the limit?"
“What does the hoy say?" .
“Nothing. We’ve got Chicago Bed
ant] Dacey, and we’ll have Garson be
fore the day’s over. And, oh, yes!
They’ve picked,up ti yourig girl at the
Turner' woman’s place. And we’ve got
one real clew—for once!’ He opened
a drawer of the desk and-took out Giir-
son’s pistol, to which the silencer was
still attached;
“You never saw a gun like that be
fore, eh,7" he exclaimed. Demurest ad
mitted the fact. ' ..
"I’ll bet you never did! ’ That tiling
on the end Is a Maxim silencer, There
are,thousands of them in use oil rifles,
but they’ve, never been able to use
them on revolvers before. That thing'
is absolutely noiseless. I’ve tried it.
Well, you see. It’ll tie an easy thing—
easiest thing in the world!—to trace,
that silencer attachment. Cassidy’s
working 911 Hint end of the thing now!"
THE GRADY COUNTY PROGRESS, CAIRO, GEORGIA. *
liv
CHAPTER XVI,
Who Shot Griggs?
OB a few minutes longer the
two men discussed., the detnlls
! of the crime, theorizing over
the baffling event. Then Cns-
sidy entered. '
“I got tile fnctory at Hartford on the
wire,” he explained, "and they gnve
me Mr. Maxim himself. He‘said this
wns surely a special gun. which was
made for the use of Henry Sylvester,
one of the professors at Yale. I-lc
wanted it for demonstration purposes.
Mr. Maxim said the things have never
_ been put on the market, and that they
"Why not?" she'responded listlessly. | never will be. I got this man. Syl-
At this intolerable assertion as ho j rester," Cassidy went on, “on the
deemed lj -Edward Glider sat rigidly ^hppo.too, .He sn£s_tbathls houjip wa*
robbed' nliout eight weeks ago, ana
among other things the silencer was
stolen."
"Is there any chance that young Gil
der did shoot Griggs?" naked Domor-
f
You can search me!" tho Inspector
answered. "My men were just, outside
the door of tho room whore Eddlo
Griggs wus shot to dentil, and none of
’em heard a sound. It’s that infernal
Silencer tiling. Of course, I know that
all the gang was In the house.”
"Did .voli see them go In?”
"No, 1 didn’t, hut Griggs”—
“Griggs Is dead, Burke. You’re up
against It. You can’t prove that Gar
son or Chicago Bed or “Dacey over en
tered that house."
“Well, then, I'll charge young Glider
with murder arid call the Turner wo
man ns a Witness.”
Yon'otm’t question her on the wit
ness stand. The Uni’ doesn’t allow you
to make a wife testify against her hus
band? No, Burke, your only ifimnee of
gelling the nmrderpr of Griggs Is by
a confession.”
Then I’ll charge them both with
the murder.” the Inspector, growled
vindictively, "And, by —. they’ll
both go to trial unless somebody 'conics
through. If it’s my last act on eurih.
I’m going to get the limn who shot
Eddie Griggs."
Burke, a ftcr the lawyer had left him
watched the 'door expectantly for the
coming of Aggie r.ynch, whom Uo had
oiiflered brought before him. But
when at last Dan appeared and stood
aside to permit her passing Into the
offlee, the Inspector gasped at the un
expectedness of the vision. The nqxt
Instant tho inspector forgot Ills snr
prise In a sincere, almost ardent admi
ration.
The girl wtjs rather short, hut of a.
slender elegance of form that was rim
Ixhlng. Her costume-had 1 aliogt it an
Indubitable air. a finality of perfec
tion In Its kind. O11 another It .might
have appeared perhaps the merest tri
fle garish. Ilut that fault was made
Into a virtue by the correcting inno-
ence of the girl's face: It was a child
ish face, childish in the exquisite
smoothness of the soft, pink skin, child
ish In the wondering stare of the blue
eyes, now so widely opened.in dismay,
childish in the wistful drooping of the,
rosebud month.
“Now, then, m.v girl,” Burke said
roughly. "1 want to know"—
There came a change, wrought I11
the twinkling of im eye. Tho tiny,
trlml.v shod foot of the glt'l rose and
fell, in a wrathful stamp.
“What do you moan by this out
rage?"'she stormed. Her voice was
low mid rich, with a charming round
ness that seemed the very Imllipark of
gentility. "I demand my instant re
lease.”
“Wait n minute!" Burke remonstrat
ed. “Walt a minute!”
“You wait!" she cried '.violently.
"You just wait. I toll you. until my
piipn bonrs of this!"
“Who Is your papa?" •
“f shan't tell you." came the petu
lant retort from; the girl.' "Yo.u would
probably give my name to the report
ers. . If It ever got Into tlie newspa
pers my family would die of shame!”
“Now. t|ie easiest way out for- both
of us Is for you to tell me just who
you are. You see. young lady, you
were found in the house of u 'notorious
crook."
"How perfectly njisuvd! .1 was call
ing on Miss Mary Turner!"
"How did you come to meet her,any
how?”
I was introduced to Miss Turner
by Mr. Itichard Gilder. Perhaps you
have heard of his father, the owner of
the .'Emporium.”
'■Oh. yes! I've heard of his father and
of him too.
■ "Then you must see at once that'you
are entirely mistaken In this matter."
You’see. young lady, tho fact is that
even if. yon were introduced to Miss
’turner by young Mr. Gilder this same
Mary Turner herself is ait ex-convict,'
and she's just been arrested for mur
der.'’
“Murder!"..tbe girl gasped.
•’>’es. You. see. if there’s u mistake
about you you don’t want it to go any
further—iiot a mite further, that's sure.
So, yon see. now, that’s 1 one of the rea
sons why 1 must know just who you
are.” .'■'■:■!
You- should have told mb all about
this horrid thing in tho first place.!'
Now the girl's maimer wus transform
ed, She smtlcl wistfully on the in-,
spector and spoke with n simplicity
that wns peculiarly pptent In its effect
on_ the offlclul.
My name Is Helen Travers West,"
she announced.
“Not the daughter of the railway
president?” .
“Yes.” the girl admitted. “Oh. please
don't te!| any one," she liegged. pretti
ly. “Surely,-sir. you see now quite
plainly why It must never be known
by any one lii all the wide., wide world
that I have over hqbn brought to this
perfectly dreadful place—though you
have been quite nice’. Please let me
go . home." >. She plucked a minute
handkerchief from her hand bng, put
It to her. eyes and began to. sob quietly.
/The burly inspector of police was
moved to quick sympathy.
•‘That's all right, little Indy," he ex-
clnimed cheerfully. "Now, don’t you
be worried, not-a. little lilt. Take It
•from me. Miss West.. Just go ahead
and tell mg nil you know about' this
Turner woman. Did you see her yes
terday?"
The gliTS sobs erased. After a final
dab with the mlmiL- handkerchief she
leaned forward a little toward the lii
spector and proceeded to put a ques
tion to him with great eariiratness.
“Will you lot nu> go home ns soon as
I’Ve told you the teunty little I know?”
"Yes,” Burke agreed promptly.' >vlth
un encouraging smile! He added ns
one might to an alarmed- child. “No
one Is going to hurt you, young 1 U'tly”.
Well. then, you see. It was tins
way.” began the brisk explanation.
"Mr. Glider was calling on 'me olio
aftcrittibh. ami lie said to the ifttyi that
In' know a very elulrmlng young wom
an who"—
Here the Spool’ll cudcil Abruptly, arid
mice again tho handkerchief was
liumigllt Into play as the sobbing broke
fold It; with Increased violence. Pres
ently the.glri’s voire rose In a wall.
"(Hi. this Is dreadful--dreadful!" In
tHi* -liiittl word the wall broke to a
moan.
Burke I'elt himself vaguely guilty as
the cause of. such suitering on the part
of one so young, so fair, so ImioeoUt.
Blif his well meant attempt to. askuage
I lie stricken creature's woe was fnillu.
The sobbing conjlnned.
“I’m afraid!" the girl asserted dis
mally. ’Tin afraid you will—put me
in a cell!"
“Pooh!" Burke returned gallantly.
".Why, my dear ytiung lady, nobody
In the world could think of you and a
cell al the same UlinAno, Imloeil!”
“Oh. thank you!"
"Are you sure you’ve (old mo all yon
know about Hits woman?" '
“Oh. yes! Pve only seen her two or
throe times." game the ready response
"ObA please, commissioner! Won’t
you let me go homo?"
The use of a title higher than his
own flattered Hie inspector, and he was
moved to graclousnoss.
“Now, you see.” he said I11 his heavy
voice, yet very, kindly, "no one Ims hurl
you—not even a little lilt, after all
Now. you run ' right home to your
mot her!"
Tho girl sprang up Joyously’ and
started'toward the door, with a final
ravishing smile for the pleased official
at the' desk.
It was at this moment that Cassidy
entered from lliu opposite side of tile
olllee. As Ills eyes fell on the girl at
the dtuir across from him Ids stolid
faee lighted In a grin. And. in that
.same Instant of recognition between
tlie two the coloj- went out of the gjrl's
face. The little red' lips snapped to-
getlier 111 a line of supreme disgust
against this vicissitude of fate after
alt her iiiniieuverlngs In tlie face of the
enemy.
“Hello. Aggie.” the detective remark
ed. With a smirk, while the Inspector
start'd from one to the' other and his
Jaw dropped from the stark surprise.
The girl returned delihemtgiy to the
■elmir she had occupied. tlirougC the In
terview with the Inspector and drop
ped Into It weakly. It was after a
minute-of silence, in which-the two
men sat staring! that at* last she spulse
with'a savage wrath against the pit
into wliii-h she bail fallen after her
arduous efforts.- ' 1 ,
•Ain’t tKal the — cst luck!"
‘Cassidy, do you know this woman?"
risked Klil'ke. '
’’Sure 1 do!" entile the plndd answer.
"She’s little Aggie Lynch—con wom
an. from Buffalo—two years for black
triali—did, her. time at Bni'iising.”,
For a little time there was silence,
(lie while- Burke sat staring at the
gypsied face ot-tlie girl. Then he set
his features grimly. ■ rose from his
i.'hnir. arid walked to position directly
in the front ,of the girl, who still re
fused to look In his direction.
On-the level, now," the Inspector
demanded, "when did you see Mary
.Turnin' last?*’
•Early this, morning. We slept to
gether last night because 1 had the
willies. She blew the joint nliout half
past 10."
What's the use of your. lying to
me?"
So help me,” Aggie continued' with
the utmost solemnity, “Mary never
left the house nil night. I’d swear
Unit's the truth 011 a pile of Bibles a
mile high!” *
Have to he higher than that. Mary
Turner was arrested just after inld-
"How slimtld t ktiowT Wlmt do you
think I 11 m—a fortune teller?" I .
”N«w. Ag«]c Lynch, you listen to "Then, who did?’’. Burke demanded
me. Tell trie what you know, and I’ll uriurply. "Who did?”
see you make it clean getaway, and
II slip you a nice llljlo ptcco of mon
ey (00. Now, what da you say?”
1 say ymi'ro a great big stiff! Wlmt
do you think I am?" Aggie wheeled
on the detective. “Say, take mo out of
here. I’d rather bo In the cooler than
here with him!"
“On the level, whorl did you see Mary
Turner last?”
night. Young womun, you'd better tell
all you-know.”
“1 don't know a thing!" Aggie re
torted.
Burke drew'Hici pistol from Ills pock
et and ex..«iiiie;l;1t toward the girl.
"How long has she owned tills gun?"
he said lai'ciiteulngly.
"She'd! 'n't own It."
“Oh, then It's (la'i'Biurs!"
“I don't know whose it Is." ,-VggIe re
piled. ”1 never laid eyes .011 it tilt
now." .
"English Eddie was killed with this
gun last night. Now. who did it?
rquip gn^nsflfl, Wbe 4}d iti"—-
CHAPTER XVII.
The Trap. That Failed.
S the scornful maiden went out
of the door under the escort
of Cnsslily, Bnrko bowed’gal-
lantl.v to her lithe brick and
hlow t n'klSs from Ids thick finger tips
I11 mocking revnreuce for her as an
artist fa her way. Then when lie
learned'that Edward Glider Imd ar
rived lie ordered that the magnate and
the district attorney he nilmltted and
that the son also he sent up from his
cull. '
‘It’s n bad business, sir,” Burke said
with hearty sympathy to the shaken
father after the formal greetings that
followed the entrance of the two nice
‘It's e very laid business."
"What does he say?" Gilder ques
tinned.
"Nothing!" Buoke answered. "That
Is why 1 sent for you. 1 suppose Mr.
Demurest Ims made the situation plain
to you.”
"Yus. he has explained It to me. It’s
a-terrible position for my boy. Bill
you'll release him at once, won’t you?"
.“1 ’Can't." Burke replied reluctantly.
Imt bluntly. “You ought not to expect
It, Mr. Gilder.”
Inspector!'' the magnate 91'lcd TTri)-
kenly, "you—donitjiueaa"—
“I mean. Mr. Gilder, thnt you’ve got
to make him talk. That’s wliut I want
you to do for all our sukes. Will youY"
“I’ll do my best," the unhappy man
replied.
A minute later Dick, la charge of an
officer, was brought Into the room.
He was pnie. a little disheveled from
Ills hours In a cell. ,
The father went forward quickly
and caught Dick's hands in a mighty
grip.
'My hoy!" he ■ murmured huskily.
Then he made a great effort and con
trolled Ids emotion to some extent.
‘The! Inspector tells me," he went on.
'that you've refused to talk—to an
swer Ills questions.
“That wasn’t wise under the circmn
stances," the father remonstrated lair-
ricdly. "However, now. Demurest ipid
I are here to protect your Interests, so
that you can talk freely. Now. Dick
tell us! Who killed Hint nmn? We
must know. Tell me."
Demurest went n step toward the
young man. '“Dlek. I don't want to
frighten you, hut your position is renl-
ly dangerous. Your only clmnee is to
speak Willi perfect, frankness. I pledge
ytfa my word I'm telling the truth
Dick, my boy. 1 want you to forget
that I’m the district attorney and re
member only that I’m nil old friend
of yours and of your fafher's who Is
trying very hard to help you. Surely
you can trust me. Now, Dick, tell me:
Who shot Griggs?"
■T shot Griggs,’!, said tile ,voting man.
Demurest realized that Ills plea had
fn.'led, but he made nil effort to take
the admission at Its fuce value.
“Why?" he demanded.
"Because I thought he was a bur
glar."
“Oh, I see!” he said, I11 a tone of
conviction.' "Now. let’s go hack a lit
tle. Burke says you told him last
night that you hud persuuded your
wife to come over to the” house and
Join yon there. Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“Now,' tell me. Dick, just wlmt did
happen, won't you?"
There was no reply, nnil, after a
little Interval, the lawyer resumed his
questioning.
"Did this burglar come Into the
room ?’’
Dick nodded nn assent.
“And he attacked you?”
There came another nod of afflrma.
tion.
"And there was a struggle?"
"Yes."
"And you shot him?”
"Yes.”
"Then, where did you get the revol
ver?”
Dick started to answer without
thought:
"Why, I grabbed It’’— Ttien„tbo sig
nificance of this crashed- on bis con
sciousness. and be cheeked the words
trembling on his lips. "So," ho said
with swift hostility In Ills voice, "so,
you're trying to trap me, too! You!
And you talk of friendship. 1 want
,none'of such friendship.'!
Bnt Burke would .lie no longer re
strained.
“You don't want to take us for fools,
young map," be said, and Ills big tones
rumbled harshly through the room. "If
you shot Griggs In mistake for a bur
glar why did you try to hide the fact?
1Yhy did you protend to me that'you
and your wife were alone In tho room
when you hud that there with yon. eb?
Why didn’t yon call for help? Why
didn’t you call for the police as any
honest mail would ■ naturally under
such circumstances?’'
“We’re trying to save yon." (lie fa
ther Idea tied tremulously.
. Burke persisted In his vehement sys
tem of attack. Now, ho again brought
out the weapon that had done Eddie
Griggs to death.
“Where’d ypu get this gun?” he
shouted.
“I won’t talk any more,” Dick an
swered simply. “I must see my wife
first.” His voice became ntoro aggres
sive. "I wnnt to know wlmt you’ve
done to her."
“Did she kill Griggs?” Burke ques
tioned roughly.
Dick was startled out of bis calm.
“No/ no!” he erled. desperately,. . -
"I won’t say any more until I’vo
talked with a lawyer whom I can
trust.” Ho shot a Vindictive glauco
toward Demnrest
Tho father intervened with a piteous
eagerness.
"Dick, If you know who killed this
man yon must speak to protect your
self."
Tho faee of the youug man softened
as ho met his father’s beseeching eyes.
“I’m sorry, dad," he said, very gen
tly. "But I—well, I can’ll”
Again, Burkc lnterposed.
“I’m going to’ give him a little more
time to think- things over. Perhaps
ho’ll get to uflijjorstnnd tho Importance
of what we’ve been saying pretty
■don.” • .
Ho pressed tbo button on bis desk,
"Where’d you get this gun?"
and, as the doorumu appeared, address
ed that functionary.
"Dun, have one of the men take him
hack. Yon wait outside.”
Dick, however, did not move. His
volte cauie with u note of determina
tion.
“I want to know ubout my wife.
Where Is she?"
Burke disregarded tho question us
completely as If It hud not been uttef
ed and went on Rpeaklng to the dpor-
mnn. with a suggestion In bis wo;rds
that was effective. /
"Mu’s not to speak to any 01m; you
understand." Then he condescended
to give Ills attention to the prisoner.
"You’ll ktioiy all about your wife,
young man. when you mako' up your
mind to tell me tlie truth.’’ f
Dirk turned mid followed his custo
dian'out of the offlee tn silence.
As the doorumu reappeared Bnrko
gave his order, t’Dun, have-the Turner
woman brought up.” LA
Tim Inspector next enllpd'hls stenog
rapher and gave explicit directions.
At -the buck of the room; behind the
desk, were three large w ndows. which
opened on a corridor, ai d across this
stenographer
this corridor,
ndiijvs. Ove.r
were drnwuvs
wns n tier of cells. The
wits to take Ills seat Ip
Just outside One of the w
tlie windows the- shades ...
so that lie would remain Invisible to
any one within tho olheo while .vet
nusily a bio to overhaul every word
spoken in the room. I
When he hail completed his Instruc
tions to the stenographer Burke turned
to Glider and Demurest.'
"Now, thlB time," hoVsnid energetic
ally, "I’ll be tbc one to; do the talking.
And get this: Wlmtevpr yen' hear me
say don't you be surprised. Remem
ber, we’re dealing will crooks, and
when you’re dealing ri'lth crooks you
have to use crooked wA.vs. ,,:
Then the door opened, and Mary
Turner entered. She piild absolutely
no attention to tin; other two In tlie
room, but went straight to tho desk
and there halted, gnzing wlth’her soft
ly penetrant eyes of deepest violet into
tho fuce of the Inspector.
Under that Intent scrutiny Bnrko
felt a challenge and set himself to
mntoh craft with .craft. His large
voice was modulated to kindliness as
he spoke In a.casual nmnuer.
"I Just sent for you to tell you that
you’re free.” .
“Then, I pan go?"
“Sure, you can go."
Without nny delay, yet without any
haste, Mary glanced toward Gilder und
Demurest, who were wutchiug the
scene closely. Then, she went toward
tho outer door of the offlee.
Burke waited until she had nearly
reached tho door boforo lid shot Ills:
bolt
“Garson bns confessed!”
Mary turned and confronted the In
spector, anil answered without the
least trace of fear, but the firmness
of knowledge:
“Ob, no, Uo hasn't!”
“What’s tho reason bo hasn't?”
Burke roared out wratbfully.
“Because he didn’t do It”
“Well, ho says he did It!”,
Mary, In her turu, resorted to a bit
of finesse, In order to learn wbetber
or not Garson bad been arrested.
“But how could he have done It
when he went”— she began.
“Where did he go?” .
“You ought to know, since you have
arrested him, and he has confessed.”
Burke was frantic over being worst
ed tlius^ To guln a diversion, he re
verted to Ills fnmillar .bullying tactics.
“Who shot Griggs?” ho shouted.
“My husband shot n burglnr,” Mary
said languidly, “Wns his namoGriggs?"
“Oh. you know hotter than that,”
Burke declared, truculently. “You see,
we’ve traced tho Maxlrii silencer. Gil
son himself bought it up in, Hartford.’
For the first time, Mary was caught
off her guard.
“But he'.told me”— she began, then
checked, herself.
, . To B® Continued
vt
M
‘/is ’wi