Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-19

In another moment she stood before him.
and, though the cigar was burning we'll
enough, he made it the excuse to strike
another match, in the brief flare of which
he got glimpse of pair of flashing eyes,
set in a face wnereon grief and resolution
fought for the mastery.
You're Mr.. Jaffray, amt you?" she be-
gan.
down. Miss Godfrey"
She dropped into a chair as il thankful
for the permission. Il reckon you know
what I've come for; l heard you-all had
taken Lafe Anderson for rohbing the mail,
and"
Pardon me. Miss Godfrey" interrupted
the inspector; how did you find that QUIZ
Bad news don't wait for an OK team.
heard about it, and I've come twenty-three
| miles on that hawss to keep you-all from
carrying an innocent man to jail. Lafe
new did take anything that didn't belong
to him. Mr.. Jaffray."
The inspector smoked in silence for full
minute. "Supposing were to tell you that
he has confessed
1T don't make any difference; he amt
the thief"
"Then why should he say he was?"
"Cayn't you see? He just told YOU a
heap of lies to cover up the real one
"And who is the real one Miss Godfrey"
II am"
1t was we'll for the girls peace of mind
that she could rot see the ineffaceable
smile that stole over the face of the in
levity in his voice when he said: Tell me
all about it, Miss Wille.'
She held out her nand and dropped a
ring into his palm. That's John Cornys,"
she said II took 1t out of the mail myself
And I've taken other thinSs-letters with
money in Them
What did you do with the money!"
IL gave it to LATE to keep for me-"
"And what did he do with .t?"
Il don't know; new asked him
Ibid he know where you got it?''
The questions followed each other too
rapidly, and the girl caught her breath and
fought for consistency. Beng naturally
truthful she hedgad in the wrong place.
''He-he sort of suspected it. reckon
Being an honest fellow himself, l Won
der he didn't try to stop you.
You wouldn't say that If you knew.
You see, Lafe and me-that is-well he
thinks mighty sight of me, Mr.. .Iaffray."
That's so; I'd lost sight of that for the
moment" said the inspector gravely; then
he sprung an innocent little trap that mad
been gradually taking shape in his mind
Now, that clears UP some things
couldn't quite understand. l wonder what
LATE did with the money
/ The girl was too new to the business of
cquivocation and she promptly betrayed
herself. He put it under the hearth stone
at Ma'am Wikesons, she began and
then she saw the trap.
"Ah, see," said the inspector; "of course,
this is merely supposition on your part.
sir ce he never spoke to you about hiding
darkness 1t was transparency clear now,
all save one particular detail; how did it
happen that the girl knew Andersons con-
fession word for word?
Jaffray was puzzled for a moment and
then there flashed across the field of recol-
lection the rustling in the laurel bush and
the picture of bare-lesged boy galloping
no1 Inward on Anderson's horse. Having
thus solved the puzzle, he asked quietly
What is it you want me to do, Miss God
frey?"
ut seems to me like there amt but one
thing to do. LATE han't done anything,
and-and l have. Caynt you-all just turn
him loose and take me instead?'
The Inspector fought a good fight for
self-control and lost it. by God, young
woman, he isn't worth it, he burst OUT
but she put her hand on his arm and
straightway forgot her part.
"Oh, yes indeed he is, Mr.. .Iafray; you
don't know LATE, and you new can Know
how much II love him! Cayn't you take
me?'
NO" said the inspector roughly. driven
to the last resort OF the sorely tempted;
you go back home and I'll see what can
be done toward getting him off easy-no
don't say anything more; you don't know
what you ask"
Before he could stretch out his hard to
prevent her, she went on her knees beside
his chair.
Il do know" she said piteously land it's
such little, little thng-just to let me go
in his place. What do you care as long as
you get somebody to own up to everything
you ask"
Get up Miss Godfrey" he said sternly
II repeat, you don't know what you ask
The law is not to be set aside or tempered
| with simply because its workings happen
| to hurt some of u.s.
"Oh, no, it isn't that she went on, I'M
mindful of his command. Il don't mind
the hurt only for Lafe's sake. It'll kill
him, Mr.. Jsffray, it'll spoil his whole life
and reckon the law don't mean to be that
| hard. Oh, please, take me and let him go,
| won't you?"
mo, tell you once for all. Now get up
| and go home before I get angry and say
things I'll be sorry for