The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1910-10-28

THE papers? what papers! i par
ried. I needed time to think.
MIR. Blakeley," she said quietly. \
| think we can lay aside all subterfuge.
In the first place let me refresh your
mind about a few things. The Pitts
4 burg police are looking for the sur
vivors of the car Ontario; there are
three that | know of-yourself, the
young woman with whom you lett
the scene of the wreck, and myself.
The wreck, you will admit, was a for
tunate one for you"
| nodded without speaking.
AT the time of the collision you
were in rather a hole" she went on,
looking at me with a disagreeable
smile. you were, if / remember, ac-
cused of a rather atrocious crime.
There was a lot of corroborative evil
dence, was there not? | seem to re-
member a dirk and the murdered
mans pocket.book in your possession.
and a few other things that we're
well, rather unpleasant
| was thrown a bit off my guard.
you remember, also" | said quick
ly, that a man disappeared from the
car, taking my clothes, papers and
l everything"
| II remember that you said So" Her
e tone was quietly insulting, and ] bit
my lip at having been caught. 1t was
S no time to make a defense.
> You have missed one calculation,
said coldly, land that is the dis
covery of the man who left the train.
|, You nave found him? She benz
e forward, and again ] regretted my
d hasty speech. Il kne it; said So
I'VE are going to find him." as
serted, with a confidence | did not
,, feel. I'VE can produce at any time
proof that a man left the Filler a few
miles beyond the wreck. II we can
find him, | am positive"
It But you have not found him yet?
She was clearly disappointed. We'll
so be it. Now for our bargain. You
1T will admit that I am no fool
IT, made no such admission, and she
smiled mockingly.
"tiow Hattering you are." she said.
Very well. Now for the premises.
You take to Pittsburg four notes held
by the Mechanics national bank. to
nc have MIR. Gilmore. who is i'll, declare
er his Endorsement OF them forged.
to ION the journey back to Pittsburg
two things happen to you: You lose
id, your clothing, your valise and your
of papers, including the notes, and you
are accused of murder. In fact, Mr.
Blakeley. the circumstances were most
a singular, and the ev~idence-weil' al
most conclusive"
was completely at her mercy, bu'
| gnawed my lip with irritation.
Now for the bargain" She leaned
over and lowered her voice. "A fai
M exchange, you know. The minute yo'
nut those four notes in my hand
that minute the blow to my head ha
caused complete forgetfulness as I
lin the events of that awful morning.
am the only witness, n | will be S
lent. Do you understand They wi
n. call off their dogs"
Nh NV head was buzzing with IN
~strangeness of the idea.
But" I said, striving TO gain tmt
Il haven't the notes. | cant give yo
what l haven't got"
you have had the case continued
she said sharply. You expect to mn
them. Another thing she adde
slowly, watching my face, "if you dor
~ oct them soon, Bronson will haN
them. They awe been offered to hi
Y already. but at a prohibitive price
.But." I said, b%ewildered, what
your object in coming to me?
bronson will get them anyhow
She shut her fan with a click al
her face was not particularly pieasa
to look at.
.You are Dense she said insolel
w II want those papers-for myse
not for Andy Bronson
Then the idea is" | said. ignori
her tone, that you think you ma
me in a hole. and that If | find the
papcrs and give them to you you W
let me out. AS ] understand 1t, G
friend Bronson, under those circu
stances. will also be in a hole.
She nodded.
.The notes would be OF no use
Won for a limited length OF time,
went on, watching her narrowly.
they are not turned over to the stat
to attorney within a reasonable time IN
wiu'haye to be a nolle pros-tnat
zhe case will simply be dropped
80. lack OF evidence"
on "A week Would ans"el' ! ~
only she said slowly. you VIII az :, -
augh- laughed. although i was ho' %
, and cially cheerful,
vered NO. I'll not do it. ] expect
come across the notes any time I
TX we and I expect just as certainly 70 J
them over to the states attof
ously. when ! get them.
'f me. She got up suddenly pusnile
/ sug chair back with a NOISY sra.ins ~
that turned many eyes toward US
/ anal .N-nu,rn more OF a loo tha