Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-01-29

I 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 well for you to say You did not
know me. I have committed no crime;
he was the aggressor; what did was
done In self defense. One thing more
your sister has nothing to fear from
me; l shall never bother her again; /
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. II have felt that my explana-
ton Of the crime was not quite ade-
quate. But 1t was not only desire for
revenge that urged Tremaine on; 1t
was also the knowledge that Thompson
knew of his first marriage and threat
ened with Il word to wreck his plans
a second time"
EYES," agreed and sat silent, pom
dering the story.
"Why did you take the clippings,
Miss Croydon?" asked Godfrey after
moment.
From what you read Of them !
suspected how vitality they concerned
my sister. That was secret, | felt.
which must be kept at any hazard. 1t
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.
"I had wild idea that you were go
ing to search me. saw that loose
place In the carpet the instant l arose
with the clippings In my hand. Once
had put them there 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 30 afraid OF
me that he wouldn't even let me 60
upstairs"
"And there weren't any papersT
mo; that was a lie. l saw l must
invent one-that must offer some ex-
PLANTATION of my presence there"
"Did Tremaine keep his promise"
"Not to bother my sister? Yes; he
mentioned 1t again only to assure me
that the past was dead-that he would
never revive 1t"
But how could you admit his pres
ence here"
"How could we prevent it? 1t was
Mr.. 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 Mr.. Tremaine appeared"
Godfrey paused refeetively.
"Why were you so agitated," he con-
tinued finally, when you were asked
to identify Jimmy the Dude at the IN
quest?"
Because did identify him."
"You did,"
"Yes-as the man had seen talking
to the janitor In the lower hall. Let
me explain, Mr.. Godfrey. When l was
asked suddenly for description OF the
murderer l vas taken aback; en-
deavored to think. to collect myself
and I remembered the man l had
passed in the hall. Without stopping
to consider-wishing only to disarm
suspicIon-I described him roughly as
remembered him. When l was con-
fronted with him at the inquest next
day, instantly realized what had
done-I had implicated an Innocent
man-and It turned me little faint for
| q moment"
Had you ever met him"
"Met him?" she repeated In surprise.
"Why. no."
"But he seemed to know you"
"Oh"-and she laughed agaln-"l had
a letter from him next day, q letter
filed with gratitude, touching even. Ii
seems that my sister and had helped
bis famlly-a mother and sister-with'
out knowing 1t while he was away
AT Sing Sing. He's the most expert
burglar in New York. but he's got his
good points too. Witness his taking
Thompson home that night"
"Yes; he wanted to do anything be
could to help me. I intend to look W
Jimmy"
"Do. II you can reform him the
| New York police force will be mighty
grateful"
'T'm going to try" she said. Ana
rather cnvied Jimmy.
Godfrey leaned back In his chair
with a sigh of satisfaction.
81 think that clears up that afrail
pretty WELL" he said. "and that bring
us to the second and more serious one
And first, Miss Croydon. want to ash
you II you think 1t was just the righ
thing to let them march Jack Drys
dale Off to prison when a single wort
from you might have saved him|