Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-01-28

to ask such questions as saw ct to
get at the facts concerning the de-
struction Of gun. Do | understand
you refuse to answer the first Ques-
tion?'
Mr.. Durant hesitated.
But this Is a private business mat
ter" he protested at last. Il see no
bearing in that question on the matter
in hand"
Bradley shrugged his shoulders.
I'm sorry" he said regretfully "a
ask 1t only for Mr.. Marsh's informa-
ton"
What has Marsh got to do with
what l pay for patents" exclaimed
Durant angrily.
Bradley. still unrufiled. turned to
Marsh with a smile.
Suppose you tell him. Marsh" he
suggested.
Nothing at oil, sir" the inventor
muttered hastily.
Pinckney would have broken in
again. but the detective stopped him
sharply with a gesture.
wait. Marsh. can you tell me
straight to my face that it would mean
nothing to you to know that Mr.. Du-
rant pays royalty for the Rhinestrom
gun of thousand dollars an inch?"
An expression Of amazement swept
over the face Of the badgered witness
"One thousand" he gasped: then he
stopped short. looking at Pinckney
venomOusly. The chief conspirator
caught the look and realized its dan
ger.
Marsh won't believe" he cried has
tily. But again Bradley cut in. step
ping between Pinckney and the wit
ness so that neither could see the
other.
Keep quiet. Mr.. Pinckney," he de-
manded sternly. II can prove what I
say. Now. Marsh. what do you say to
q royalty of thousand dollars an
inch?'
The little man was past the stage of
fear now. He saw the whole trick
He realized how he had been duped
He had only to tell the truth and ruin
both Pinckney and himself, but then
he hesitated. To tell the truth-what
would that mean? 1t would mean
state prison possibly and disgrace.
And Marsh was not big enough to take
n great revenge Finally he looked
down.
Nothing" he said at last
"Nothingw demanded Bradley.
Again Mr.. Durant interfered.
MIR. Bradley" he exclaimed sharp
ly, Il see no reason for your ques-
lions or your attitude. can't for the
life Of me see what you are getting
at"
Il can" supplemented Pinckney,
sneering. "lve had experience with
Mr.. Bradley's style Of bluff"
Bradley paid no attention to the gen.
eral manager. but turned. speaking to
Mr.. Durant. but looking Mt Marsh.
Il will explain. Mr.. Durant. Lieu
tenant Sommers Is an honest man. 1t
Is to him and the girl he loves that Mr..
Pinckney and your wife and l and a
score Of others owe our lives. Tomor-
row he is to answer in Washington for
an accident In which two men were
killed and others MANNED and crippled
for life. One man is totally blind" A
sharp intake Of breath and n gasp of
horror from Marsh made him pause.
then repeat over solemnly with EN-
phasis: "One forever and ever blind.
lad Of twenty. who must grope his
way through this world TO the end OF
his way" Marsh was shuddering now,
for the picture brought up to him that
other lad OF twenty. his own son. who
had died blind With memorable cool
ness Bradley continued:
Il know Lieutenant Sommers is
blamcless In this affair. and l am here
TO find some one to answer the cry of
justice which comes through the tears
and sobs Of the mothers, sisters and
sweethcarts of those boys. And I'll
find him. Mr.. Durant: I'll find him."
A pitiful picture was Marsh. half
stopped. half crouched. shuddering
with horror ut the thought OF what he
had helped to do. Frances saw and
completely misunderstood his attitude.
IlCi ~ % WIN VA Ss
She stepped over and put her hand
gently on the arm of the shuddering
man.
Mr. Bradley. l beg Of you not to
question Mr. Marsh any further" she
pleaded. Pm sure IL Mr.. Marsh knew
anything about the forging he would
tell YOU No one knows the horrors Of
that accident better than he. No one
could know. lie had n son who was
blinded IN an accident
Her voice grew very gentle Us She
continued: II was with him ut his
hoy's bedside when he died. ! know
the anguish that he felt then" She
let her arm slip gently around the old
mans shoulder. And know II there
was anything to tell he
She got no further. for. with shud-
dering cry Of terrible anguish. the
man drew away from her arm.
Don't" he moaned-"don't say any
more! can't stand 1t. I'm going to
strip my soul naked to God and end
this"
He stood up straight to face Brad
lev, no longer the frightened. shud-
dering coward, with a guilty secret.
! but a man who had done wrong and
knew 1t, a repentant sinner eager to
tell all. There was look not merely
| Of anguish, but almost Of exaltation. on
his face. Pinckney saw 1t and made
his last desperate appeal.