Gloucester County Democrat., 1908-02-27

property yuu OWN, duQ L tillilk 90.
These pieces I've mentioned are about
all you have not mortgaged. You
couldn't do that without exposure, and
you've kept a controlling interest in
the Tocsin clear, too-for the sake of
its influence, I suppose. Now, do you
want to hear any more, or will you
agree to meet me at Miss Tabor's this
eveningY'
Whatever the look Of hopefulness
had signified, it fed from Pixies face
during this speech, but he asked with
some show Of contempt, do you think
it Ikely?"
''yery WELL" said Joe, s'if you want
me to speak here" And he came a lit
tie closer to him. ''You bought a big
block of Granger Gas for Roger Ia
Dor" he began in a low voice. Before
his death you sold everything he had
except the old house, put it all into
cash for him and bought that stock.
You signed the check as his attorney
in fact, and 1t came back to you
through the Washington National,
where Norbert Flitcroft handled it. He
has good memory, and when he told
me what he knew had him to do some
tracing. Did little myself also.
Judge Pike, must tell you that you
stand in danger of the law. You were
the custodian OF that stock for Roger
Tabor. 1t was transferred in blank,
though I think you meant to be legal
at that time, and that was merely for
convenience in case Roger had wished
you to sell it for him. But just after
his death you found yourself saddled
with distillery stock, which was going
bad on your hands. Other speculations
of yours were failing at the same time
You had to have money. You filed
your report as administrator, crediting
Miss Tabor with your own stock which
you knew was going to the wall, and
transferred hers to yourself. Then you
sold it because you needed ready mon
ey. You used her fortune to save your
aelf, but you were horribly afraid! No
matter how rotten your transactions
had been, you had always kept inside
the law, and now that you had gone
outside of it you were frightened. You
didn't dare come fat out to Miss Tabor
with the statement that her fortune
had gone. 1t had been In your charge
all the time, and things might look
ugly. So you put 1t off, perhaps from
day to day. You didn't dare tell her
until you were forced to, and to avoid
the confession you sent her the income
which was rightfully hers. That was
your great weakness"
Joe had spoken with great rapidity.
though keeping his voice low, and he
lowered it again as he continued:
Judge Pike, what chance have you
to be believed in court when you swear
that you sent her $4,000 out of the
goodness of your heart? Do you think
she believed you? 1t was the very
proof to her that you had robbed her,
for she knew you! Do you want to
hear more now? Do you think this
is good place for it? Do you wish
me to go over the details Of each step
have taken against you to land you
at the bar where this poor fellow your
paper is bounding stands today!"
The Judge essayed to answer and
could not. He lifted his hand nncer-
tainly and dropped it, while thick
dew gathered on his temples. Inar-
ticulate sounds came from between his
teeth.
"You will Gomez, said Joe.
Martin Pike bent his head dazedly,
and at that the other turned quickly
from him and went away without look
ing back.
Ariel was in the studio half an hour
later, when Joe was announced by the
smiling Mr.. Warden. Ladew was with
her, though upon the point of taking
his leave, and Joe marked, with a
sinking heart, that the young minis
ter's cheeks were flushed and his eyes
very bright.
sTt was a magnificent thing you did,
Mr.. Louden," he said, offering his hand
heartily. II saw it, and it was even
finer in one way than 1t was plucky.
1t somehow Strengthened things out
with such perfect good nature. 1t
made those people feel that what they
were doing was ridiculous"
$50 it was" said Joe.
"Few under the circumstances could
have acted as il they thought so. And
I hope you'll let me call upon you, Mr..
Louden.'
81 hope you WILL" he answered and
then, when the minister had departed,
stood looking after him with sad eyes,
in which there dwelt obscure medita-
tions. Ladew's word of farewell had
covered deep look at Ariel, which
was not to be mistaken by Joseph
Louden for anything other than what
1t was. The clergyman's secret was
an open one, and Joe saw that he was
as frank and manly in love as in all
other things. s'He's good fellow" he
said at last, sighing-"a good man."
Ariel agreed. "And he said more to