The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-08-20
would the police accept the story Of
,uicide1 There wers signs OF Z .strug-

: - Z a.
would the police accept the story Of
yuicide1 There were signs Of strug-
gle. At that instant some one entered
the house, came stumbling up the
stairs. It was the-Frisco Pet. D.
"Joe hurried you out toward rear
exit, but not before" leaning slightly
toward Lord Ronsdale, ian impression
Of your face, pale. drawn, had vaguely
stamped itself on the befuddled brain"
bitterly, ,'of the fool brute. You lost
no time in making your escape. Little
was said between you and Joe, but he
proved amenable to your suggestion.
The way out Of the difficulty was
found. He hated the Pet, who had
once or twice handled him roughly for
abusing this poor creature. You gave
Joe money to have the landlady's tes-
timony agree with his. She never got
that money" meaningly. ''but gave the
desired evidence. Joe had found out
something"
The speaker stopped. There re-
NAMED a crucial test. II Lord Rons-
dale had the paper what John Steele
was about to say would cause him no
surprise. He would be prepared for it.
The words fell sharply,
':The landlady's son, Tom Rogers,
was at the time in the house, in hiding
from the police. He was concealed
above in a small room or garnet.
Through stovepipe opening, dfsused,
he looked down into the sitting room
below and heard, saw all!''
The effect was instantaneous, mag
1cal. Lord Ronsdale sprang to his feet.
John Steele looked at him, at the wav-
ering face, the uncertain eyes. No
doubt existed now in his mind. Gillett
had not secured the paper or he would
have given it to his patron when they
were alone. That fact was patent
The document was gone irretrievably.
There could be no hope Of recovering
it. The bitter knowledge tn at it had
really once existed would not serve
John Steele long. But with seeming
resolution he went on: II had the
story from his own lips" deliberately,
put In the form Of an affidavit, duly
signed and witnessed"
This is subterfuge."
ut is true"
"Where-is the paper? You did not
have 1t at Strathorn. II you had you
would have taken advantage Of it,
John Steele looked at the drawer.
The affidavit was not there, but some
thing else was.
Lord Ronsdale sank back into his
chair. |'You have, out Of fancy, con-
structed a libelous theory, one that
you would, be laughed at for advanc-
ing. A cock and bull story about pa
per that doesn't exist, that never ex-
1sted." A sound at the door caused
him to turn sharply. Mr.. Gillett came
in.
-sWel1?"
IT have here paper that one Of our
men has just turned over to me-"
John Steele started, but neither Of the
others noticed He found It at the
last place we were. Evidently it had
been dropped by the fellow who was
there ana who fed at our coming: As
he spoke he stepped nearer the desk,
in his hand paper:
''What is it?'' Lord Ronsdale de.
manded testify.
Mr.. Gillett did not at once answer.
He: looked at John Steele. The, latter
stood like a statue. Only. his eyes were
turned toward the nobleman, to the
thin aristocratic hand yet resting on
the edge Of the drawer.
III your lordship will glance at it?
said MIR. Gillett, pronering the sheet.
The nobleman did SO. His face
changed. His eyes seemed unable to
leave the paper. Suddenly he gave q
smothered explanation, tore the sheet
once and started up, took a step to.
ward the fire.
"Stop" The voice was John Steele's.
He stood now next to the partly open.
ed drawer, in his hand that which had
been concealed there-somethingbr bright,
shining. Lord Ronsdale. wheeled, look.
ed at the weapon and into the eyes be-
hind 1t. ''Place those two bits of pa
per thereon the edge Of the desk!"