Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-31
CHAPTER XIV.


81 don't quite understand" ventured the
puzzled lawyer.
Neither do L." said Caleb. Tell me your
story as brief as YOU can
Your son reached town a little after 8
o'clock this evening"" answered Wendell
1t seems he went directly to a res,au-
rant in the theater district of Broadway,
a place frequented by men of a certain
class aud by the women they take there.
1t was early, but on account of the election
night fun to come later many people were
already dining. Gerald afterward told me
he went there in the hope of catching a
glimpse of his former wife. He her
there With her was man she had known
before she met your son. a boOkmaker
named STANCE, whom Gerald or Geralds
money, had originally won her from and
for whom he always il appears. retained
some jealousy. Gerald walked straight up
10 the table where they sat. drew a revolver
and fired four times point blank in STANCES
face Ane one of the shots By itself would
have been fatal. Then he tossed the re-
voIver to waiter and spent the time until
the police arrived in trying to console the
MontmorenCy woman and to quiet her
Mysteries. They took him to the Tenderioin
station and he got the police to telephone
for me l found him in a state of semi
collapse. A police surgeon was working
over him. Heart failure brought on by
eXcitment. His heart was already in a de-
from an overdose of morphine. The poor
boy apparently was in the habit of taking
1t, for they found a case with a hypodermic
syringe and tablets in his pocket. and one
OF his arms"
50 that was the third thing beside booze
and cigarettes? l knew there was some
thing.
1t was Caleb's first interruption. During
the recital of his sons crime he had stood
motionless expressionless. Not until this
trivial detail was reached had he spoken.
and even now his voice was emotionless
as was his face. The inscrutable Spartan
quiet that had so often left lis business and
political opponents in the dark now
upon him. Wendell saw and wondered.
Mistaking the others mental attitude for
the first daze of horror. he resumed:
He came around in a few minutes
did what | could for him. Then l tried to
reach you by longdlstance telephone. but
the wires were down all through the state.
l had no better fortune in telegraphing
So caught the $40 train and came straight
here. l thought you ought to be told at
once. that"
Quite so. Thank YOU. 1t was very white
I'm sorry l brisk with you awhile
ago
The lawyer stared Conover was talking
as though mere financial matter were in
volved Still supposing his client suffering
from shock that duIed his sensibilites
Wendell continued:
Morphine and jealousy combining to
cause temporary insanity That must be
our line Of defense. You agree with me. of
course?
Suit yourself. I'll stand by whatever
you suggest"
The LAWYER drew out his watch
Twelve forty-five." he said. The New
York express passes through Granite at
100. Wen have plenty of time to catch
IL. If YOU will get ready at once Wen
start We can discuss details during the
trip
WEE echoed Caleb What dye
mean? I'm not going to New York with
you"
Not goingo But"
why should /? The boys all right. He'll
have To stay in Jail till his trial OF course
But thatll do him good. and may break up
the dope habit What good could l do him?
You can draw on me. of course, for all the
cash you'll need and"
Mr.. Conover!" exclaimed Wendell shak-
ing his inert host by the shoulder to rouse
him from his apparent stupor. you don't
realize! Gerald is in cell on murder
charge. Tomorrow he will be sent to the
Tombs-our city priSon-to remain until his
case comes up. Then he will be tried for
his life and"
II know all about the course of such
things. You don't need to tell me-
But this is a life-and death matter,''
Well. if / can keep cool over it, l pre-
sumo you can, can't you? It's very kind of
you TO explain all this to me, but amt nee
essary. / understand everything you've
told me. and understand lot you've over
looked. For instance. the pictures thatll be
In all tomorrowS evening papers of my
boy on his way to the Tombs. handcuffed
TO plain-clothes man, and pictures of
that chorus woman of his in all sorts of
poses and pictures of the stricken father
mother. heartbroke at her sons crime
And my daughter and her-the Prince
q Antri. And my house and a diagram of
the restaurant where the shooting was done