Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-10-11

ner eyes met the prisoner 3, she nalf
started from her chair. her face like
astonished to perceive the fascinated
gaze he bent upon Miss Croydon. What
was the connection between them?
Where could they possibly have
met? Was Jimmy guilty, after allf
Certainly Simmonds had no longer any
doubt of it, to judge by his beatific ex-
preston of countenance.
1t was over In an instant-Miss Croy-
don gripped bach her self-control and
the prisoner managed TO remove his
eyes from her; blu Goldberg had per-
ceived their agitation, and the gaze he
bent upon the witness grew ~perceptibly
more stern.
Miss Croydon" he began. you have
described the guilty man as short n
heavy-set with a dark mustache turn
ing up at the ends. Look at the pris-
oner before you-is he the mani"
He is not" replied the witness In a
firm voice and without an ~instant's
hesitation.
Jimmy was again watching her with
expressive eyes.
You are sure?"
Perfectly sure; there is little or nm
resemblance"
You do not know the prisoner"
mo, sir; l have never before seen
him"
He was talking with the ~janitor last
night when o entered the Marathon"
II had on a heavy veil at the time
and could not see distinctly"
The answers came promptly calmly.
Goldberg hesitated end glanced at Sim
monds' crestfallen face. Was he jus
titled in pushing her further? He
glanced at her again from under
half-closed lashes, and her imperious
beauty did It's work.
That is ALL" he said abruptly. You
may go, Miss Croydon"
Godfrey watched her as she lowered
her veil, rose, stepped down, and took
Drysdale's arm. She had carried Ii off
well, exceedingly well. Her attitude
had been so frank 30 candid, so openly
sincere that he himself was almost con-
WINGED by II. But for that instant's
agitation when she first perceived the
prisoner, he would a been quite con-
vinced. She had told her story and
answered Goldbergs questions with
clear cheek and steady eye-with a di-
rectness which had plainly carried
great weight with the jury. Wonder
fui was the adjective which Godfrey
used in describing her to himself.
But what had that instant's agitation
meant? Was Jimmy really guilty?
Was she trying to shield him, out OF
gratitude, perhaps, for defending her?
Had Jimmy risen to that height of
%chivalry? See with what a fascinated
gaze he was watching her now!
She passed from sight, the door
closed, and he leaned back in his chair
to hear Jimmy tell a smooth story OF
his doings the night before, Magraw
and half a dozen others confirmed the
tale; it was a really good alibi: care
fully arranged; there was nothing to
disprove ii, and at the end, the jury,
without retiring, handed In the usual
verdict of death at the hands Of a per-
son unknown.
When II, was over. Simmonds crooked
at Godfrey an inviting finger, and to-
gether they went down to the detec-
tive's private office.
sit down." said Simmonds; II want
to talk to you. We're up against a
tough proposition"
Godfrey sat down and looked at him.
Yes, we are" he agreed.
What do you think of it?"
I'm more inclined to think Jimmy
guilty than l was last night"
You saw, then, that she was try
ing to protect him 2" asked Simmonds
eagerly.
Il saw there was some understand
ing between them. Don't let your
theory OF Jimmy's guilt carry you
away. Besides, there's a good deal to
say on the other side. There wasn't
enough finish about il TO look like
Jimmy. He'd think a long time be-
fore he killed a man with a third per-
son looking on"
But IL it was self-defense?
Godfrey raised his eyebrows ex-
pressively.
II thin she was drawing the long
bow myself" agreed Simmonds, quick
ly; and there can be only one reason
for it-she's trying to protect Jimmy,
or whoever 1t was killed Thompson. 1t
was Jimmy, l tell you-he was Jealous
of her,
"Oh. nonsense!" interrupted Godfrey
impatiently. "A love affair between
those two! You've been reading French
S~immonds!'
Maybe / have: but I've run across
stranger things than that right here
In New York. This is a bad snarl, any
way you look at 1t. Here's a point,
now-how could Thompson, who was
dead drunk at Z o'clock, be wide awake
at 8? How could he have heard Miss
Croydon's knock ?"
Maybe 1t wasn't Thompson who OBJ
ened the door"
But Miss Corydon entered without
hesitation. The nan who opened the
door must We been the one she ex-
pected to see. You'll remember, she
asked for Thompson"
Well, whoever Ii was" Godfrey
4 catf ~ Vaot y IAC
couldn't have beaten the elevator up
NO" admitted Simmonds helplessly,
The couldn't. But let me point out one
thing-whoever got into Thompson's
rooms had his key. There was nobody
there when Higgins put Thompson to
bed; Higgins locked the loo when he
came out; Thompson's windows were
all locked On the inside and the transom
was bolted. Now IL Jimmy didn't have
the key. who did,"
II don't know" said Godfrey. but
We'll never arrive anywhere IL we keep
tangling ourselves up this way. Who
Is Thompson? The first thing we've got
to do is to establish his identity. Then.
maybe. we can make a guess at the
rest Of the story"
"Of course; l saw that at once. But
a queer thing Is that we can't find out
thing about Thompson. Last night
was the first time he'd even been seen
at Magraw's-nobody there'd ever seen
him before. He spent three or four dol
lars treating the crowd. Then he got
noisy and Magraw was going to cali
the police. but Jimmy spoke up and
said he'd look after him. His story was
straight that far"
Have you m through Thompson's
belongings"
Here they are" and Simmonds
brought out a canvas bag and opened