The Washington times., 1909-04-02

Wv with police headquarters
over the telephone he turned
10 Steve Clayton with a triumphant
smile
1T is as 1 thought he said Your
theory is all wrong Instead of clear
ing your client. as you suppose, this
boys story makes the case against him
blacker than before"
What do you mean?" gasped Clay
ton. My client Will have no difficulty
in proving an alibi now. He was not
in the office when the murder was COM
mitted- Hasn't this boy told us that
Frank harrington sent him TO police
headquarters? p
''Yes-Frank harrington sent him
there; but, as a matter of fact, head
quarters tells me that he never went
there. He disregarded his employers
instructions He was in love with that
girl, you see, and naturally he wasn't
going TO have her sent to prison if he
could help it. He wanted to save her;
SO instead OF notifying the police TO
arrest her he went back to the office
and shot her accuser dead"
"Pshaw! That's pretty far-fetched,"
exclaimed Clayton angrily. THE trou-
BILE with you. Peabody, is that you're
too stubborn 10 admit that you've made
a mistake That's the way with all
you policemen. You lock up an inno-
cent man. in the first place. because
YOU really believe him TO be guilty and
then afterward when you find out that
you're wrong. instead Of owning up to
your error like men and freeing your
unfortunate prisoner, you keep on stub
bornIy trying To find damaging evidence
against him. Ny client is innocent and
YOU know II. You can't have any doubt
OF il now"
But although he spoke thus conf
oently and with apparent heat, Steve
Clayton was b. no means so sure in
his own mind that the detectives
theory was not the correct one.
he realized the extent OF his friends
infatuation for this beautiful girl Of
the mysterious photograph, and from
what ne knew of Wilbur Leslie's na-
ture he believed that it was quite pos
sible that the impulsive young man
had shot down his employer in order
TO save the girl from being arrested
as thief.
Hes quite capable OF it," he told
himself appTehensively. Hes the sort
Of fellow who would commit murder
for the sake OF the girl he loved L
must have another talk with him and
satisfy myself that ne is really in
nOcent, although, of course, innocent
or guilty, 1 am going to do my best
TO get him out OF this scrape."
Suddenly a bright thought struck
him and his misgivings vanished. He
turned TO Detective Peabody with
genuine confidence this time
eff your theory is correct, how do
g..
EIrl2" he demanded. Where is she?
Why has she run away2 Isn't flight
generally an indication Of guilt?''
Generally; but not always" replied
the detective at may have been hor-
rCr. in her case-horror at seeing her
employer murdered by Leslie. Besides.
IL is too soon yet 20 say that she. has
IllE away II is quite easy 70 urder-
stand why she should have fed from
the office, but she may not be a fugi-
Eve. She'll probably show up before
many hours have passed"
"And IL she doesnt?" inquired Clay
ton eagerly
IF she doesn't Wen find her before
loEg." replied the detective confident
~ "Tve already instructed headquar-
ters 10 send out a general alarm for
her She can't escape our draRnet.
We've got 70 get her; for she'll be a
very important witness in our case
against Leslie.
And I don't mind admitting" he
added. that we may have cause 10
charge her with being an accessory to
the crime before We get through. I
feel confident that IL was that fellow
Leslie who actually did the shooting
bat it's quite possible that the woman
aided and abetted him Whether or
not such is the case Will develop later"
Have you been 10 ner home in
BROOKLYN" inquired Clayton. She may
have gone there, you know"
"One of our men has been there and
interviewed the parents. You don't
think that we'd overlook an important
detail Ike that. do you? She hasn't
been home yet. We've got the house
carefully covered. though. in the hope
that she'll turn up there later"
And have you questioned the en-
ployes OF this building?' inquired Clay
ton Il mean the elevator men and
the hall man. it is only reasonable 10
suppose that one of those fellows must
have seen her as she ran out. and. il
so, we may get some important infor-
nation regarding her disappearance.
The detective shook his head.
I've examined all those fellows. Of
course. Give me credit for possessing
some brains. will you, my boy? The