Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-02-05
A Mystery
Romance
%!%
Copyright. 1909. by Dodd.
Mead z Co.
588888S8&588 8&
CHAPTER VII

on the morning after ChalloDe r.
arrest the prosecutor was sitting in
his private ohice in the courthouse
when MiXley and McGrRth entered.
You've done as 1 instructed?
You've got Challoner outsider" the
prosecutor asked.
The men replied in the affirm alive.
Bring him in" commanded Muir
gatroyd.
They returned with the prisoner.
Challoner looked better than he had
the night before
Il sent for you" said the prosecu-
tor, because Of what YOU said last
night ] am not sure that you
meant all you said"
Challoner laughed loudly.
"Of course I remember it." ne
said presently. and, pointing with n
steady forehnger 20 a weapon on the
prosecutors desk, Il shot him with
that gun there"
Most decidedly, then" continued
the prosecutor. you 90 not recall
that ] told YOU that anything you
might say would
Dner broke in. But what's the use
Il heard all you said" the prisoner
broke in. But what's the use? II had
10 come. , WIS ErTTTng r1red OF hiding
and never having a wink OF sleep. Be
sides. I knew that Pcmmican. Cradle
oaugh's man, saw the whole affair
There was no escape.
Murg0royd's face expressed ap-
prevail OF this point OF view. HIS
voice, however. was noncommlttal
when he observed:
"Pemmican saw Il all. thenT
Certainly he did" Chauoner volun-
teered.
When the prosecutor spoke again be
did so without looking UP from sew
eral documents ne was scanning.
4 haven't examined Pcmmican-my
men have. though" be said. I've got
him under lock and key. and hcE
have 20 stay there until
Challoner moistened his lips.
"Untn my trial. suppose" he inter
posed Poor devil, That's hard
linesr'
The prosecutor ignored the com
ment but he reminded the prisoner
again that be must Doe careful not 20
say anything that could be used
against him. concluding with:
You came here from the JAN quite
Willingly this morningg
Don't you think we can cut all that
sort OF thing out Mr.. Prosecutor n
little scornfully.
Before answering Murgatroyd shot
glance at his men as n 20 sharpen
their attention.
'VeryN we'll then" he said finally.
II you're quite willing / should like
70 know the exact details As I un-
derstand a. both Hargraves and YOU
were fatally infatuated with an nc
tress at the Frivollty- quarreled over
her. Is that rightly"
surely there is no necessity OF
bringing any other names into this"
Challoner answered holly. and then.
little by little calming down. he re
counted graphically the incidents OF
that memorable night
A most unusual performance on the
part Of the prosecutor cut him short
All the time ChallOner had been laying
bare the facts MUrgauoyd had been
toying with pigskin wallet on which
appeared In gold the Initials "R. II
and just when his prisoner was on the
point OF ending his story he tossed IL
over 20 him. demanding:
DO you recognize that?'' The prose
cutor desired II possible TO add rob
berry 10 the motive In the case.
Know it, the prisoner replied glib |
ly. Il should think I did. IL was Har-
graves. When saw IL last there was
$4,000 IN it," Turning II inside out
he asked In an offhand manner:
Where's the money gomez"
Murgatroyd's eyes searched the face
or the man before him.
You took it," he asserted cOldly.
Chalioner strove TO clear away his
muddled recollections.
i took it2 Decidedly mott" ne ex-
claimed Indignantly. But the mans
dipsomaniacal doubts and fears tinged !
the tone OF his voice and lessened the |
impressiveness OF his denial. though he |
added: "Why. your witness, Pemmf- |
can. can tell you that He saw the
whole thing"
MurgatrOyd asked Of Chailoner
NACthCA II WIS not TACT LnaI De bad
tried TO borrow money all over town.
The Yes" he elected was muftered
Angrily.
But didn't touch that" ChaIloner
resumed. the beads OF perspiration
standing out on his brow. IF l did
take the money. what In the world
have l done with e.? Tell me that. But
look here. Murgatroyd: lets get down
to business and have this over with.
told you that / waited for Hargraves
FOR two nights. We had a game In
Room A. There was a compact. Har-
graves won out Hang him. he al
ways won out! We had a row then
and there. pulled that gun and ared
at him point blank"
And them
Il killed him. and would do IL over
again, l assure you. don't remember
any more. but Pemmican was there.
You've got his story. He knows all
about IT"
His story" observed Murgatroyd,
laying forefnger on the edge Of the
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