The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-07-12
CHAPTER XXXII.
A NEW WITNESS.

A NEW WITNESS.
n nee persuaded that Gladys con-
~ lecture and feminine intuitiOns
had a solid basis in facU, Graham, as
may be imagined, lost 10 time in hunt
ing up the legal evidence which would
support such contention.
MOrdaunt was sent Cor without delay,
and instructed to place a corps Of the
best obtainable detectives upon the
case, and sift out every phase OF It.
Graham himself, too relieved Of that
haunting dread which had cast us
SHADOW upon him, gave 10 the pronleIn
all the resources of his keen perception
and clear 5-dgment, and from MS cell
directed every step.
Warwick was Swallowed every mo-
ment Of the day and night, his past life
vas gone over as with a fine-tOOth comb,
and rigorous orders were issued that not
a second Of his time between the hours
of 5 and on the evening of the tragedy
must be left unaccounted for
Encouraged by early succession. II
was easily developed both that Hilda
had sent the telegram signed II. F.
Montgomery" and that Warwick had
been the smOOth-tougued rascal who
had hattered the girl into leaving home
and eloping with him to the city-Rob-
ert and Mordaunt began 10 congratulate
themselves and to regard the game as
already won.
But from this point the investigation
seemed TO strike a snag- The mere fact
cent communication between the two
might De Of value IN tending to prove
motive, but il was not enough. There
must be tangible evidence connecting
Warwick directly with the crime, and
that seemed not forthcoming.
Il was known, as already stated, that
HHda had sent the telegram received
by Warwick at his club. II was also
known that she had visited warwick
at his apartments on the afternoon of
Ell q q rrHaG
ing the tragedy, when she had told
Graham she wanted TO get OF.
But from the moment she had LETT
the mans room until ne mad been ad-
vised Of the murder by the detectives
searching at the club Tor Robert, W ar
wick's movements were apparently free
from suspicion. For almost every sec
ond of the period he had an unassallable
alibi
The cunning rogue" muttered Rob
ert. as he scratched his head and frOwn-
ed over the disCOuTagIng reports of his
sleuths HE has covered his tracks
well; but he is guilty. I am positive,
and we will trap him yet" And he
would send out word to his agents 70
redCuble their energies.
The more that was discovered, how
/ ever, the less did there appear any
basis for the hypothesis upon which
/ they were working. His record, for in
stance, they had expected TO find bad,
/ but, on the contrary, IL showed up dis
tiuctly to his credit.
/ After he went smash in Wall street
/ fl was. discovered he had gone West,
and, cutting loose from all his old hab-
its and associates. had made a fresh
start A spendthrift and dilettante on
/ Broadway, he had not Eeen ashamed
I TO don a flannel shirt and work with
/ his hands as q. common laOOrer IN the
mines
/ 1t was inevitable. though, that a man
/ with his keen business capabilities, and
/ lively ambition could not long remain
/ in a subordinate place, II he once de-
/ cided 10 run straight.
/ Gold mining. like everything else,
[ isn't a matter Of luck Opportunity
/ comes to the man that deserves 1t, and
so when his industry and understanding
/ Of his new vocation had made him
/ ready 10 receive his reward, fate by a
/ series Of happenings carried Warwick
I TO Goldhelds, New.
( That was in the days Of the first
/ strike at the famous camp, and being
early on the ground, he had q chance
I tC prc-empt some OF the most valuable
claims, work them to advantage and
/ finally 10 dispose Of them ~ a figure
T which placed him forever beyond the
To put # in a nutshell. Warwick had
I E0uarelv and honestly made his pile
I and had now returned 20 New York APP
parently 10 sit down and enjoy the fruits
+ Of his labors.
/ disappointed at such a revelation. Be
/ lieviug that Warwick was stil In the
/ class Of those who live by their wits
and Up 20 any shady trick 10 earn a
/ dollar, he had taken it for granted that
/ the fellow 3 flush condition as described
+ by Barry Newell was due simply 10 his
heiug in the pay Of COrletts opponents
! tn the u'ust.
He figured that WarvEck. doubtful
. Of his ability 10 bleed mis- uncle, had
+ deemed it prudent to sell himself TO the
Z other side, vet now. II the facts re-
/ ported by the detectives were to be
/ credited, the man was iu "a financial
/ position 10 scorn any such petty prac-
+ tees.
So opposed was this conclusion to all
/ Roberts preconCelyed theories that al
first he was tempted 10 doubt the story
. Of his agents, and believe they were
! either disloyal or imposed upon, bat the
/ report of WarWick's rise 10 fortune was
I not hard TO verify. and IN the end he
/ was forced to accept IL as the truth
3 For the moment he aid not know
I what 10 think he was all al sea Need
. Of money ne had Dut down as the mo.
[ tive for W1rwick's attempts to- black,
I mail Gladys into a marriage with hin.
/ need of money as the cause for the fell
{ lows refusal 10 testify an behalf of
/ Corlett Nov, IL seemed, however, thai
/ these calculations were considerably
I amiss
Evidently he had 10 revise his the
/ cries and ia the end he worked ont a
fairly satisfactory hypothesis with a
I spirit Of revenue against old man Cor
lett as the impellng purpose back OF
/ WarWick's behavior True 70 seem
ed a little far-fetched. and did not ex-
/ actlv square 1ith the facts al All
! points; but II was the best eXDlana