Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1905-09-15

Eyes. saw 1t. But IL hasn't proved
anything TO me but this: you're inno-
! cent. Nance, or you're crazy If it's
the first, I want to stand by you, little
girl. II it's the seDnd-good Godl
I've got to stand by you harder than
] ever"
Can you see me sitting there Mag.
in the bright, bare little room, with
its electric lights. still in my white
dress and big white hat my pretty
jacket fallen on the floor beside mel
! could feel the sharp blue eyes Of
that detective Morris feeding on my
miserable face. But could feel, too.
a warmth like wine poured into me
from that big fellows voice.
put my hand up to him and he
took 1t.
IF I'm innocent and can prove il
Fred 0bermuller, I'll get even with
you for-for this
DO you want to do something for
me now?"
do II"
well. II you want to help me, don't
sit there looking like the criminal
ghost of the girl ] know"
The blood rushed to my face. NAnce
0lden. sniveling coward. Me. show
ing the white feather-me, whimper-
ing like whipped puppy-me-Nance
0ldenl
lyon know" smiled up at him,
81 never did enjoy getting caught"
Hush! But that's better. q.
Tell me now"
A buzzer sounded. The blue-eyedi
detective got up and came over to me.
Chiefs ready" he said. This
way"
They stopped 0bermuller at the
door. But he pushed past them.
81 want to say just word to you, 1
chief" he said. you remember me.
I'm 0bermuller. Of the Vaudeville II
you'll send those fellows out and let
me speak to you Just a moment. I'll
leave you alone with Miss olden."
The chief nodded to the blue-eyed
detective. and he and the other fellow
went out and shut the door behind
them.
q want simply to call your atten-
ton TO the absurdity and unreason-
ableness of this thing" 0bermuller
said, leaning up against. the chiefs
desk, while he threw out bis left
hand with that big open gesture OF
his, and to ask you to bear in mind,
no matter what appearances may be.
that Miss 0lden is the most talented !
girl on the stage to-day; that in a
very short time she will be at the
top; that just now she is not suffer-
ing for lack Of money; that she's not
a high-roller but determined, hard
working little grind, and that if she
did feel like taking a plunge, she
knows that she could get all she wants
from me even" !
Even If you can't pay salaries
when they're due. Obermuller." The
chief grinned under his white. mus
tache.
Even though the Trust is pushing
me to the wall; going to such lengths
that they're liable criminally as well
as civilly, If | could only get my
hands on proof OF their rascality.
It's true | can't pay salaries always
chen they're due, but can still raise
a few hundred to help a friend. And
Miss 0lden is friend Of mine. Ifso
you can prove that she took this
money, you prove only that she's gone
mad, but you don't" .
"All right, 0bermuller You're not
the lawyer for the defense. Thatll
come later-if II does come. I'll be
glad to bear in mind all you've said,
and much that you haven't"
Thank you. Good night. :. :. I'll
wait for you, Nance, outside.
I'm going to ask you a lot of .ques-
tons, Miss 0lden, the old chief said.
when we were alone. sit here.
please. Morris tells me you've got
more nerve than any woman that's
ever come before NE. so 1 needn't
bother to reassure you. You don't
look like a girl that's easily fright
ened. | have heard how you danced
in the lobby Of the Manhattan, how
you guyed him at your fat. and were
getting lunch and having a regularI
picnic of time when"
When he found that purse" /
Exactly. Now, why did you do all
that?" =
Why? Because felt like it. l felt
gay and excited and % =
Not dreaming that that purse was
sure to be found?'
Not dreaming that there was such
purse in existence except from the
detectives say-so, and never fancying
Tor an instant that it would be found
in my fiat"
HIM" He looked at me from un-
DER his heavy, wrinkled old lids. "You
cont get nice eyes from looking on
the nasty things in this world. Mag"
aWhy,' ! cried, what kind Of a girl
could cut up like that when she was
on the very edge of discoveryys I. +
A very smart girl-an actress;
sooo one; clever thief who's used TO
DUN. Dlumne. of course" he added, softly.