The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-04-01

bars. This IS bad business. So Frank
Darlington is dead. eh?"
''Yes-shot through the heart" replied
Wilbur.
And they accuse you Of doing it? Of
course. you are innocent" went on
Clayton. anNiOusiT-
"Of course ! am. What = fool Ques-
ton. Steve, Do you take me for an
assassin"
"No, Of course not. But why do they
accuse you?"
Because they found revolver in
my pocket
"Your revolver you mean-the one
you bought the other day."
''No. Not that one. I happened TO
leave that home this morning. 1t was
another revolver, Steve"
Another one, eh? Where did you
get ftp
From Frank Barrington's desk af-
ter the murder had been committed.
I picked it up and put it in my pocket
That's why I'm here now"
But why the dickens did you put
that revolver in your pocket. old fell
low?" Clayton demanded anxiously.
''Er-I can't tell you that, Steve"
Cant tell me? Why the deuce can't
you tell me? You must know why you
did it
Yes, OF course L know. but can't
tell anybody-not even you, Steve"
But YOU must tell me-you idiot
You've got to tell me everything. I'm
your lawyer, and you must not keep
anything from me. old man. Come,
hurry up and tell me why you pocket
ed that gun?"
I'm sorry. Steve: but there are rea-
sons why can't. I've got 10 keep that
a secret-even from you
But how can I defend YOU success
| fully unless you take me fully into your
! confidence protested Clayton, impa-
tiently. Don't be a fool. Wilbur. Do
you want to go TO the electric chair out
| Of sheer obstinacy?"
Pooh! I'm not afraid of that. They
can't send an innocent man to tire
chair. They NAV hold me for a time,
| but they'll have to let me go sooner
or later. They haven't got enough evil
dence against me TO make this thing
serious, as far as 1 am concerned"
Don't be too sure Of that, old man.
The police are generally very success
fui in putting up evidence-even against
an innocent man. You'd better not
I
Wilbur shrugged his shoulders.
Il rely upon your legal ability TO get
me safely out OF this, Steve" he said
You've got 10 do the best you can. old
fellow. even If I can't take you fully
| into my confidence
/ But why can't you take me fully
into your conhdence?' protested Clay
ton, impatiently. "Ah. think L IN
/ derstand- It's that COMPOUNDED girl
She has got s6mething TO do with this
murder. You are keeping mum 10
/ shield her"
'Hush!" whispered Wilbur, fearfully.
Don't talk so loud. Steve. Somebody
I viii overhear you. You're quite
wrong, though. The girl has nothing
/ to do with this case at ALL
oh. yes. she has. You can't fool me
as easily as that, my quixotic friend.
II is for her sake that you won't tell
me why you put the gun in your pocket.
1 Where is she now, Wilbur"
| 81 don't know
! Where was she when the murder
WIS committed?'' demanded Clayton
eagerly
Il don't know" was the surly re-
/ Spouse.
We'll where were you. then? Con-
found your stubbornness, Aren't YOU
/ going 20 answer any questions at aII2
! Where were you when Frank Barring
| ton was shot dead? Were in the Of
! flee at the time? ,"
NO. was not. was out"
Where did you goo"
ION an errand."
What was the erran6?'
/ I'm sorry. Steve, but I can't tell you
that, either
Clayton gave vent to a grosn Of de-
spsir.
Say, of all the thick-headed. obsti-
nate, unreasonable fools that ever came
( over the pike, you're about the very
! limit he declared, disgustedly. It's
no use wasting any more time with
YOU now. Perhaps after you've spent
the night in this cell you'n come 70 your
| senses. I'll be in the magistrate's
court in the morning to represent you.
although it's mighty little TIL be able 20
do for you, when you won't tell me a
blessed thing. I'm going now. Good
| by"
so long, Steve. Don't go away
mad old fellow. I don't want to quar-
rel with you. I'm Iretched enough. as
il is
! Leslie put his hand through the bars
and Steve Clayton gTipped It heartily.
so long you old idiot" he said
I huskily ~ won't be mad with you,
although you richly deserve it. / know
what's the matter with you. You're de-
/ liberately getting yourself into this
mess for the sake Of your mysterious
/ lady OF the photograph. There couIdn' I
be any other reason why you pocketed
that revolver. You're risking your own
life 10 save her; but ] won't let you do
IL, old pal-not for a hundred girls"
When he reached the front room OF
the station house Clayton turned to the
lieutenant behind the desk.
Say, old man do me q favor" he
said. Il want 20 see the gun which
was taken from my client
After some hesitation the policeman
( opened a drawer OF his desk and handed
Clayton the weapon.
1T amt quite regular to do it," ne
said But ! guess there won't be any
great harm done in letting you take a
peep at ii.
Clayton eagerly examined the dainty
little pearl handled revolver.
so this is the gun you took from