Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-12-23

DIT OF circumstantial evidence was
overwhelmingly against her I deter
mined TO conceal her tn I could dis
cover at least proofs or her innocence
sufficient 20 prevent her from the
ignominy OF an arrest. Since you have
discovered the fact there Is no help
Tor It. You must aid me 10 keep the
secret"
"Only upon one condition. Kingman.
/ must know an the facts"
And. II I tell you everything. will
you give me your word OF honor not
20 use it against her or hers2" asked
Thomas with peculiar emphasis on the
second pronoun
But isn't that rather broad?" Iamm
hesitated
Thomas compressed hts lips tightly
This girl has confessed everything
70 me Lamm; and i'm return 7 have
given her my word to do everything in
my power to protect her family from
disgrace. There's no way out of 10.
You must promise me-"
What DO you mean ." demanded
Lamm. sternly "D0 YOU mean II I
find that the murderer OF Paul North
is in her family I am TO keep it TO
myself2'
Decidedly not" said Thomas. But
you must have proof not appearances.
ooh. certainly said Tamm ct agree
to that Hang the appearances in a
case. They are seldom right / use
appearances only Co enable me TO get
at the facts. But once get at the
facts. Thomas. understand me it Will
make no difference whose family Il is
in"
VERY well" said Thomas. eve I'M
derstand each other. Give rae your
hand on e."
The two men shook hands over the
compact and SAT- down close together
beside the detectives desk.
"In the first place" began Thomas.
''it was Stella North who threw the
pistol into the water at Swampsrott
on Sunday night and then led from
her home"
Il had guessed as much when I
learned that North's shooter had been
found"
lat that time 7 hadn't the faintest
idea who the fugitive was. and when
7 recognized her on the Connecticut
roadside I was nearly as much aston
ished as she was frightened. The arst
thing I thought was that she must be
guilty All her actions-the headIong.
precip.tate flight. her terror az my ap-
pearance-al seemed 90 wear the look
OF criminality. She had tainted dead
away. but she soon began 20 come 90
herself again. Thereupon I tied my
horse 20 tree and drew her into the
woods, ont OF sight or passers. She
was so weak and emotional 7 believed
her ripe for a confession. Lamm. I
fully expected at that moment 20 Do
rewarded FOR my efforts by a tremen-
dOus discovery. But 7 tell YOU. as (
looked az the poor thlng-hardly
woman yet-lyigg there on the leaves
pale. speechiess. frightened nearly out
OF her senses. ] never felt so sorry for
anybody In my life"
Il know the feeling" said Lamm
eve had 81 myself But 90 on"
"Wen. when She came 20 began 70
talk 10 her. OF course there was
scene. She broke down completely.
and az her first words I understood
what ought To- have had sense enough
20 have known from the frst-that her
terror was not on her own account
oh, don't let them arrest beri' SIC
kept saying. Don't. 7 beg OF youl
She's crazy She must be- She never
could have done it In her senses!'"
"Oh. ho," exclaimed the detective.
"Sister Marion, eh?"
Come I said. tell me the whole
story; it's the quickest way out OF 1t
And / give you my word OF honor I'll
do what ! can 20 help you But il
was a long time before I was able TO
bring her 20 the point OF trusting me
I don't know how it was, exactly. but
she gradually"
"Pshaw," said Lamm. Don't en-
barrass yourself skip IT, know
what happened as well as you do. She
was In deep distress. You were IN
earnest She trusted you. Good. What
was her story?"
"She didn't tell me the whole story
at that time" said Thomas. Il stopped
her when / knew the essential facts.
for realized her danger and inciden-
tally my own. / impressed upon her
TIE AtNtSSltg Oh ohcl lux me implicitly.
I told her there was but one way to
save either herself or her sister. or
both Of them. from the ignominy OF
immediate arrest and all the attendant
scandal Frightened TO death, almost.
and shaking like a leaf. she acQuiesced.
slowed her as comfortably as I could
IN the bottom Of the carriage. and COW
cred her with a rug. Overcome with
exhaustion. she. I believe. actually
slept all the way 10 Vernon. Outside
the town ! awoke her. made her get
out, and told her 10 follow me at a dis
lance, and 10 board the train that
took, but by no means 20 speak 10 me.
She was yelled and had enough money
TO purchase her ticket"
Capital You are a shrewd one
Kingman. These precautions would
never have occurred 70 another man"
"Ah! ! knew, you see, that the
whole police force must be on her track
by this time As soon as she Was
missed from Swampscott, knew they
would he In ful1 chase and che A., -