The Washington times., 1909-02-13

No. That was her decision at the
end of her summary.
There were two days left. The tramp
had been an eyewitness and knew who
was guilty, or. at least, could identify
his man.
Could she make him talk? If only
Tom hadn't seen her go into the jail
She would have had a good chance then
But now she felt sure that the tramp
was fixed so that he would not tell
his story before the governor.
There was one last resourCe-GeOrge
How she wished that she knew just
what part he had played in the whole
business. Evidently he had a very
strong reason for keeping silent His
uneasy manner and his sudden disap-
pearance proved absolutely that he had
some knowledge OF the crime and that
Tom and Barlow were afraid of his di-
vulgiug it,
Bcss made one more attempt on the
tramp, but il was an utter failure. one
or the guards was nearby all the time
and the tramp assured her that she
could neither urge nor buy him to tell
what he had seen.
Bess knew from his shifty manner
that this was final de was afraid.
and he was not going 10 get his neck
I'm trouble 10 help So aebody else or
make O. few dollars.
She went to Gordon at once and told
him that she thought their evidence
was rather weak The ul2G encourag ed
/ her. but Bess' spirits had taken 2 t1lro-
/ BILE, and now she held O. desperate view
| of the whole situation
There's only one thing TO do when
we find out the date of inns execu-
ton" she declared.
whats that?" asked Cotton.
81 must find George and make him
tell me all ne knows
/ 'If hc refuses2"
Then Wen have to trust to Iucl- and
what evidence we have" -eplied the
eirl
| She went home at once. put II, .
"retehed night and aw0lze i'm the morn
/ ing with even less faith than she had
/ before.
| 1T was strange that no news had been
/ learned from the jail EVERYBODY in
! town seemed TO think that Jfm-s SEN
| tence would be carried out earlier than
/ the set date. in view of his es,aDe. and
! it was on that Bess was waiting She
/ would not leave town with thar roirt
/ unsettled
/ 1t was 10 o'clock THURSDAY r-orni7r
/ Boss hardly realized that the davs bgd
/ slipped 10y so fast. His sentence wound
0e carried out in five DAYS ANYWAY
/ even IT the time was not shortened
/ This waiting got on her nerves ana
Yet she could do nothing until the CIV
/ act date was settled.
! An hour later the LAWYER called ~,
/ Bess and told her that as had baaD
/ expected, Jim's execution would take
/ place earlier than the scheduled time.
! .WhenE' she cried over the phone
/ saturday morning at 10 o'clock"
/ Good heavens exclaimed Bess
/ THAT gives as only two daysr'
Not even that" the lawyer correct
ed her. You have just thirty-seven
hours TO get the pardon
y Bess dropped the receiver The blow
/ had come too suddenly She had been
/ waiting tc learn this news, and now #
/ had been broken 20 her with such a
I shock that she almost tainted.
What could she dO2 Dewitt was the
/ State capitol. The governor had his
Offices there. She would have 10 get
her evidence together and find some
/ thing further whereby TO convince him
/ before the next dav
She must act at once. There was not
/ a minute 10 lose. Not a second even.
She hesitsted but AN instant
There was only one possibility. Com
I WINGED now that her evidence would
not be strong enough 10 make the
/ governor grant a pardon, Bess knew
that she would have to- md out where
her brother was, get 10 him at once
and save the day by making him con