The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-02-25

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had killed her father; nobody would
be likely to believe the truth.
DO you believe me nowT He
looked around at us defiantly. Il am
telling the absolute truth, and not one
OF you believes ne!
After a bit the man In lower nine
got up and walked along the aisle to-
ward the smoking cc-'nartment I
heard him go. AID. leaning iiom my
berth, watched kia. out OF sie't
1T was then / got the idea Of
changing berths with him, getting his
clothes, and leaving the train. ] give
you my word I had 20 idea of TIM ow-
ing suspicion on him."
Alison looked scornfully incredu-
lous. but felt that the man was tell
ing the truth.
Il changed the numbers of the
beiths. and 1t worked WELL / got into
the other mans berth, and he came
back to mine. The rest was easy.
dressed in his Enthusiastically, ttey
htted-and jumped the train not far
from Baltimore, just before the
wreck"
There is something else you must
clear up" said. why did you thy to
telephone me from NJ, and why
did you change your mind about the
message?"
He looked astounded.
You knew l was at Nh" he
hammered
yes, we traced you. What about
| the messenger"
Well, it was this way; of course,
| did not know your name, Mr.. Blake
ley. The telegram said: Man with
| papers in lower ten, car seven and
after I had made what 1 considered
my escape, began to think had left
lie man in my berth in bad way.
HE would probably be accused Of
The crime. So, although when the
wreck occurred l supposed everyone
connected with the affair had been
killed, there was a chance that you
had survived. I've not been Of much
account, but l didn't want a man to
swing because l left him In my place.
Besides, began to have a theory of
my own.
CAS- we entered the car q tall, dark
woman passed us, with a glass of wa
ter in her hand, and vaguely remem
bered her. She was amazingly like
Blanche Conway.
IF she, too, thought the man with
the notes was in lower ten, 1t ex
planned a lot, including that piece Of
| q NJ
Blanche Conway, capable of any
thing"
Then why did you countermant
that messenger" 1 asked curiously.
when l got to the Carter house
aud got to bed had sprained IN!
ankle in the jump went through
the alligator bag I had taken from
lower nine. When found your name
sent the first message. Then, sool
seemed too good to be true, and wa
crazy for fear the message had gone
eat first I was going to send then
to Bronson; then began to see wha
the possession of the notes meant t
me. 1t meant power over Bronson
money, influence, everything He wa
a devil, that man."
well, he's at home now" said NJ,
Knight, and we were glad to laug
and relieve the tension
Alison put her hand over her eye.
as if to shut out the sight of the ma
she had SO nearly married, and l fu
lively touched ole of the soft littl
curls that nestled at the back of he
neck
When I was able to walk" went O
the suIlen voice, II came at once I
Washington. tried to sell the note
: to Bronson, but he was almost at tn
. end of his rope. Not even my thres
to send them back to you, Mr.. Blak
, ley, could make him meet my igur
I He didn't have the money"
[ Mcknight was triumphant.
Z4xNpAtlemen will see rel
~ IhGoey 49, ~ -. Ne
O1D<11 Nl116o - noecp y 11Dooz
fegsl 80 4 6nooou6s =. IS
Yes" - -
, The detective with the small pacI
, age carefully rolled of the rubbe
band, and unwrapped it. I held m
r breath as he took out, first, the Russi
leather wallet.
These things, Mr.. Blakeley, W
, found in the sealskin bag Mr.. Sulliva
! says he left you. This wallet, Mr.. Su
livan-is this the one you found on tn
floor of the carr"
Sullivan opened it, and, glancing {
the name inside, Simon Harrington
nodded affirmatively
, And this went on the detective
! this is a piece of gold cha;n?"
1T seems to be-" said Sullivan, r,
coiling at the blood-stained end.
: This, believe, is the dagger" H
: held It up, and Alison gave fair
cry of establishment and dismay. Su
r livan's face grew CHASTITY, and he So
, down weakly on the nearest chair.
The detective looked at him shrewt
/ ly, then at Alison's agitated face.
Where have you seen this dagge