The Washington times., 1909-04-04


You We no reason to worry
I'm not worrying about myself
groaned Wilbur, without looking mp. Il
don't care what happens to me I'm
worrying about-about somebody else
Laura Hamilton. you mean. of
course" said Clayton. gently.
Leslie made no answer.
You think that she shot Frank Bar
rington. eh, Wilbur"
Still no answer from the miserable
figure sitting on the cot
Come. Old man, you might as well
/ be frank with me now urged Clayton.
1t is useless to try to keep the truth
from me any longer, for 1 have dis
covered a whole lot OF things since
was here here. Despite your determina-
tion to tell me nothing, I have man
! aged to get mold o; evidence which
/ proves that you are innocent, and tnat
that girl committed the murder
Il know, too that that pearl-handled
/ revolver belonged TO Laura Hamil-
! ton-that cher fatne~ gave It 20 her
| for a birthday present. And I know
/ just what happened in the office of
| harrington & Sons preceding the mur-
! der. I know that Frank Darlington ac-
4 cused the girl OF robbing the safe and
| sent you out tc get the police in order
| to have her arrested
| Wilbur Leslie jumped TO his feet and
( rushed to the bars which separated him
] from his friend
Good heavens. Steve. how did YOU
learn all this?' he cried hosrsely.
! Clayton laughed grimly.
/ Il have been busy since ] left YOU.
! assure you that have not let any grass
I Il
| and-a whole lot more. besides. / have
! learned some facts that will surprise
! you greatly. l guess. when ! tell YOU
( about them later.
Have you got positive proof that she
| shot Frank Darlington" cried Wilbur.
his anxiety getting the better of his
! caution.
Clayton hesitated.
I Wen. perhaps ] can't truthfulIy say
that ! have positive proof of that" he
replied. but I have managed to build
/ up pretty strong case of circumstan-
tial evidence against her-evidence so
| strong that I don't think I shall have
any trouble in persuading the authori-
ties to release you and lock her I'd in
/ your place"
Instead OF being alarmed by these
words the prisoner heaved a sigh of re-
lief
Il thought from what you said, Steve.
that you had really got proof I am
glad to see that you are only guessing
and. Of course. you are guessing wrong. %
oh, no, I'm not Tetorted the lawyer
confidently. It's more than a guess on
my part, Wilbur. On the evidence that
1 have discovered l feel positive that
any jury would find her guilty-even
I oh l. L. -
deEce."
Well. YOU are wrong. Steve. She IS
, not guilty She did not shoot Frank
Darlington. Since you are determined
TO accuse her. ] might as we'll confess
the truth. l shot him"
What gasped Clayton. aghast at
this unexpected disclosure. Good Cod
| Wilbur. what are YOU sayir Z? You
, don't mean that, old men. You can't
mean it"
Yes. / do mean it retorted the
; other, his face white as chalk but his
voice quite firm. II am guilty Of the
crime with which they charge me.
murdered Frank Ba Bar-ingtOn He ac-
2 oused the girl / love OF being q thief.
and that is why killed him"
Clayton stood there too stunned 70
say anything for a few seconds. Then.
suddenly his features relaxed and he
2 laughed.
! say. old fellow, you're all right" nc
{ said admiringly. You're the pluckiest
- most devoted lovesick idiot the world
ever saw, and your loyalty and self
sacrifice do you credit. But I'm on tc
r your game You're not telling tn,
D truth. You did not kill Frank Barring.
f ton. You only say that you did II
] order 70 save the girl
e. THAT is not so. I am telling you The
truth declared Wilbur doggedly.
= Il don't believe Il. You foolish feI-
a low. II YOU persist in saying thai
thcv will send you TO the electric chair
j Don't he an idiot, Wilbur
leslie shrugged his shoulders.
e "Have they found her yet?" he inquir.
t ed anxiously
L NO, not yet; Lut we arc hound t,
e find her before long. We are going Z,
e get her and save you. despite yourself
d You must not find her, Steve" de-
= cla-ed Wilbur earnestly.
'OH the contrary ] must-anI will
= az sure as my name rs Steve Clayton
'I say that you must not find her.
= persisted the ether, with even NOR,
u emphasis in his tone you must no
even look for her. Steve"
p, Don't be a chump. Wilbur. How cas
hope 10 get You out Of this troubl,
y except by producing the girI-the rea
, murderer Of Frank Darlington? p"
II say again that YOU must not at
= tempt to find her declared Wilbur
- IF YOU do you will not be getting IN,
ont OF this trouble. You VIII be maxim.
. things much worse for me, IN fact
- for l ann deterrniuCd TO take the onI,
step that is possible to save her"
What do you mean?'' demande,
Clayton anNiOusly-
con The day that she is caught T an
. going 10 hand the authorities "a writer
= confession. admitting that kiUe,
) Frank harrington and explaining why
= shot him
You are not going . do anything o
q the kind, retorted CLAYTON ancrilv. d"
. won't permit it, BE reasonable. WI
.t bur II YOU don't care about YOUR owl
L life. think Of your poor mother
d : he prisoner groaned.
IS Il am sOTIy for my mother he sti,
r. sadly, very sorry: but nevertheless
2. shall sign that confession II I.aur
l. Hamilton is found "