Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-04

wanted, but compelled him to take it. And just as was hoping that l had prevailed with him the door of the bedroom opened and horrible drunken man staggered out.
 "'Well. vic.' he cried. So this is tn gal, is 1t? She's likely piece. I wouldn't give her up. Vic. no. not fer ten thousand
 "'Go back to bed, you drunken brute! cried Tremaine, and took him roughly by the arm.
 "But the other shook him of.
 "Don't lay your hands on me, Vic! he cried. Don't dare lay your hands on me!
 T saw very devil spring into Ire maine's face. He looked about him for some weapon and picked up a piece of pipe that lay beside the radiator. Thompson saw the action and lurched heavily toward him.
 "'Goin' t use that on me, vicY he asked. You'd better try it. And he made pass at Tremaine and tried to snatch the pipe away. You try 1t on, an I'll blow your game like did once before down at Sydney
 "He struck at Tremaine again, but the latter sprang away and in m in stant had brought the pipe down upon his head. Thompson fell like log; then that fendish look flashed into Tremaine'S face for a second time; he snatched out revolver; dimly un- derstood what was coming indeed. l had my own revolver in my hand, and l fired at him. but my shot went wild, while his''-
 She stopped and buried her face in her hands, overcome for the moment by the terrible spectacle her words had evoked.
 She controlled herself by an effort, took down her hands
 "He put his pistol away and stepped over very close to me.
 Miss Croydon,' he said rapidly, 1t will be we'll for you to say you did not know me. l have committed no crime; he was the aggressor; what I did was done in self defense. One thing more your sister has nothing to fear from me; shall never bother her again; l promise you that
 "He was gone in an instant, and then the janitor came and you and the detectives"
 Godfrey nodded thoughtfully.
 "That supplies the motive. Lester" he said. T have felt that my explana- tion of the crime was not quite ade- Quate. But it was not dnly desire for revenge that urged Tremaine on; 1t was also the knowledge that Thompson knew of his first marriage and threat ened with a word to wreck his plans a second time."
 "Yes." I agreed and sat silent, pom dering the story. peunpnip
 "Why did you take the clippings, Miss Croydon?" asked Godfrey after a moment.
 From what you read of them l suspected how vitally they concerned my sister That was a secret, I felt, which must be kept at any hazard. It was done without consideration, on the spur of the moment or should never have had the courage to do it at all."
 "And why did you hide them under the carpet?"
 She laughed outright. The load was lifted. She was fast becoming her usual self.
 q had a wild idea that you were go- ing to search me. l saw that loose place In the carpet the instant I arose with the clippings in my hand. Once had put them there I had no chance at all to get them again."
 Godfrey nodded.
 You tried to get them the day after the inquest, didn't you?"
 "Yes; but the janitor was so afraid of me that he wouldn't even let me go upstairs"
 And there weren't any papersT
 "No; that was a lie. I saw. I must invent one-that I must offer some ex- planation of my presence there."
 "Did Tremeine keep his promise?"
 Not to bother my sister? Yes: he it agnin only to assure me that the past was dead-that he would never revive it."
 But how could you admit his pres ence hereT
 How could we prevent it7 It was Mir. Delroy who brought him. We weren't strong enough to tell him the whole story"
 "You mean you told him part of it?"
 "There has been a virtual separation ever since Mir. Tremaine appeared"
 Godfrey paused renectiveiy.
 "why were you 80 agitated," he con tinued finally. "when you were asked to identify Jimmy the Dude at the in questT'
 Because I did identify him."
 "You didY'
 "Yes-as the man I had seen talking to the janitor in the lower hall Let me explain, Mir. Godfrey. When I was asked suddenly for description of the murderer. I was taken aback: I en- deavored to think. to collect myself- and remembered the man 1 had passed in the hall. Without stopping to consider-wishing only to disarm described him roughly as f ro-na-ntorpd him When \ wns con