Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1910-11-25

telling you to your face that you are
an Internal scoundrel!"
give been told that before in my
business" retorted Hews, with cal
lous laugh. 1T don't hurt any. The
question is, Are you in on this deal?
There's others'n pay for the stuff If
you won't"
That's my business; there's no
need for you to know-leastways not
yet"
And her name?"
That's another secret" laughed
Hews, with a cunning wink.
Wen see about that" commented
Wilfrid significantly IF what you
say be true, l am probably her near
est relative. Besides, you idiot, don't
you suppose I can find out after what
you have told me already?"
Perhaps you cam" admitted HeWs,
but you're not going to be such a
ninny You're safe in possession; If
you do the right thing by me, the
things dead and buried SO far as I'm
concerned"
What is your price?' demanded
Wilfrid, apparently getting down to
business.
Roger Hews drew long breath and
moistened his lips nervously. 1t was
crucial moment.
Now you're talkin'," he began. Il
won't be too hard on you. All the
same, want fair rake-off. Suppose
we say $5,OO0,0Oo. Cash, mind! You'll
never miss it, and that'1l about set
me up for life"
And supposing that l close with
this very liberal offer of yours, what
assurance have | that in the near fu-
ture you will not be at my heels again
with similar demand? I've always
heard that the way of the transgres-
sor who pays hush-money is hard"
I'll put all the proofs in your hands
and you can destroy en- exclaimed
Hews eagerly. That five millions be-
gan to take tangible shape.
What is the nature of these So
called proofs?" inquired Stennis.
Roger considered a moment, then:
Mostly doeuments-copies of mar
riage and death certificates, and affi-
davits of various persons bearin on
the case. Of course, my story comes
in an makes the hull thing plain; but
l shall be mum If you come to terms
Il see," said Stennis, appearing to
! fall in with Rogers proposition. But
suppose you 60 a little further and
outline the situation for me, Mr.. Hews.
You need not mention names or dates
unless you choose. | may as well tell
you plainly | am not going into this
thing with my eyes shut. must know
, how the case stands"
well, giess that's only fair
Here's the story in NUTSHELL Nearly
! 30 years ago. when y'r uncle was a
man of 45, he married a girl much
! younger'n himself. BY all can make
i; out she had a pretty face an devil
of temper When they'd been mar
ried a month they quarreled, he quit
her, and enlisted. The wife thought
he'd deserted her. SO, havin' to shift
for herself, she left the place where
she was known, went to another towI
some miles away, dropped her married
! Name, feSOOneu nST iudluen udme
and passed herself off as a wilder. Il
due course a daughter was born, ant
about the same time the news conn
to her that she really was a widow
Andy Meleen being reported as killed
in battle. So bein'. as she supposed
legally free, she married again, ant
died year later, second infant, als'
a girl, dyin' with her. Your uncle
heard of this latter event and though
it was his child that died. But thi
wasn't so. The Meleen girl thriye'
and grew up under the care of he
stepfather, who never knew that hi
marriage to her mother was illegal
Andy bein' alive all the time"
During this interesting recital som
things became clear to Stennis.
Presumably you found out all thi
when, as you told me, you were sen
east after my uncle's death"
Some of it-not ALL" admitte
: Hews with cheerful candor
why did .nG& you acquaint the Law
yers with the true state of affairs?"
well. you see" replied Hews, wit