Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-26
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81 RED MOUSE !
A Mystery
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Romance
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CHAPTER XVII.
Copyright. 1909. by Dodd. 7
Mead e Co.

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CHAPTER XVII.
IN the prosecutors office. to which
they had access at all hours OF
L the day, were Mixley and Nc
u Grath.
"How's the joint ballot!'' called Mix
ley from across the room.
McGrath tossed paper to Mixley.
In huge letters appeared one word,
Deadlock
Mixley smiled. "Murgatroyd's hold
'em, but that's all he's DOM But
What OF that? He's got nothin' to
hold 'em on. Why. everybody knows
that he hasn't any money. It's my
opinion that the job goes to Thorne"
How can it be helpedy reasoned
McGrath. Look at them brewers
putting up maybe a quarter OF mil
lion to help Thorne out. say, what
do you think the votes of the wise
assemblymen were quoted aty'
II wish | was an assemblyman,' y
sighed Mixley.
and rising market growing stronger
A every minute" answered McGrath.
'And them brewers III pay it too. One
= fellow wanted fifty thousand, an he'll
get it. see if he don't"
Il wish was an assembIyman," re-
peated Mixley wistfully.
You'd vote for Murgatroyd!' yelled
( Mn(Irorh
You wouldn't want cent"
But amt an assemblyman," he an
|, swered, and in the next breath he add
u ed, There's somebody at that there
door," .
McGrath opened it, and Challoner,
Mrs. Challoner and Shirley Bloodgood
entered.
Shirley stepped forward and said:
I'VE want to see the prosecutor"
Hes out" called Mixley.
"We'll watt" chorused the visitors.
Meanwhile Mixley and McGrath
were still holding their desultory con.
versation upon the situation Of the
z day.
"They said" Mtxley remarked to the
other, that the chief was politically
dead after he had blackjacked the or
ganization. Maybe he was-maybe he
is. but he fights all right"
y 'He certainly cleaned things up
admitted McGrath, feeling Of his BIZ
ceps. I'VE helped him. eh?"
'He didn't do a thing to Cradle
paugh's," mused Mixley.
.or to the machine" smiled Nc
I Grath.
.'well. anyhow" said Mixley, ''if he
hasn't got the machine and the brew
ers and the $4,000 assemblymen back
Of him he's got the people, all right.
They know he's honest"
"If he only had half a million"
The other snorted.
'It's well he hasn't-well he never
had. - he had half million he
wouldn't be running for United States
senator! just like as not he'd be play
ing golf or running devil wagon"
The three visitors had been listeners
to this conversation in silence, but
Shirley could contain herself no longer
and. turning to her companions, she
said sneeringly:
Nothing but his honesty to back
him! Why, lynching's too good for
him!"
And, as though her utterance Of the
phrase were the prosecutors cue, Muir
gatrOyd sauntered into the room. He
looked as fresh and unconcerned as
though he did not know that blood
less battle was being fought for him
down at the state capitol-a close bat
tie at that
Challoner started nervously. "Billy,
p
want to see me!' he Inquired suave,
~.
YES" faltered Challoner. "alone,
please"
Murgauoyd took from his drawer q
bundle Of papers and handed it to
Mixley, saying:
Look up that excise violation right
away. And. McGrath.' he continued,
''there are three witnesses in the Tan
nenbaum case that we've got to have,
Find them by 2 O'clock. You may
CO."
Challoner advanced quickly toward
the desk.
Prosecutor Murgatroyd," he began,
gulping. its up to you to clear me OF
that Hargraves affair. Pm not the
murderer of Hargravesy
Miriam and Shirley had risen.
Murgatroyd returned calmly:
II know it,
You know itv' gasped the three Wis.
it0rs, and the next moment the women
were grouped around the prosecutors
desk.
Yes" Murgatroyd unused, 'I have
known It for almost five years. You
must have known it too"
Not until few hours ago." Challo-
ner quickly Informed him.
You don't say So" was Murga.
troyd's answer. and presently he add,
ed, though perhaps it is not so very
surprising"
Challoner's eyes narrowed. Sudden.
" he said:
Somebody killed Hargraves. Who
Hid it7"
The prosecutor looked at the man in
credulously.
do you mean to tell me that, though
you know now that you didn't kill
Hargraves, that you don't know who
lid kill him?"
N ssI'm here To find ont