The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-12-02

"a CACNI. 4owe "As
Blakeley. have you found those pa
pers?"
"The papers? What papers!" 1 par
ried. ! needed time to think.
Mr.. ~Blakeley," she said quietly, II
think we a lay aside all subterfuge.
In the first place let me refresh your
mind about a few things. The Pitts
burg police are looking for the sur
vivors of the a Ontario; there are
three that l know o~f-yourself, the
young woman with whom you left
the scene Of the wreck, and myself.
The wreck, o will admit, was q for
tunate n 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 d~isagreeable
smile. You were, If l remember. &C.
cused Of q rather atrocious crime.
There was a lot of co~rroborative evil
dence, was there not? l 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"
l was thrown a bit of my guard.
You remember, Also" / said quick.
ly, that man disappeared from the
car, taking my clothes, papers and
everything"
Il remember that you said So" Her
tone was quietly insulting, and I bit
my lip at having been caught. It was
no time to make a defense.
you have missed one calculation"
| said coldly, and that is the dis
covery of the man who left the train"
you have found him?" She bent
forward. and again 1 regretted my
hasty speech. Il knew it; / said So"
I'VE are going to find him. l as
serted, with a confidence | did not
feel. "We IA produce at any time
proof that a man left the Filler a few
miles beyond the wreck. And we can
find him, l am positive"
But you have not found him YETI"
She was clearly disappointed. We'll.
so be it. Now for our bargain. You
will admit that l am no fool"
made no such admission, and she
smiled mockingly.
How f1attering you are!" she said.
Very well. Now for the premises.
You take to Pittsburg four notes held
by the Mechanics national bank, to
have Mr.. Gilmore, who is i'll, declare
his Endorsement of them forged.
ION the journey back to Pittsburg
two things happen to you: You lose
your clothing, your valise and your
papers, including the notes, and you
are accused of murder. In fact, Mr..
Blakeley. the circumstances were most
most conclusive"
was completely at her mercy, but
gnawed my lip with irritation.
Nov for the bargain" She leaned
over and lowered her voice. "A fair
exchange, you know. The minute you
put those four notes in my hand
that minute the blow to my head has
caused complete forgetfulness as to
the events of that awful morning. l
am the only witness, and I will be ST.
lent. Do you understand? They will
call off their dogs"
My head was buzzing with the
strangeness of the idea.
But" l said, striving to gain time.
Il haven't the notes. I can't give you
what l haven't got"
you have had the case continued"
she said sharply. you expect to find
them. Another thing" she added
slowly, watching my face, eff you don't
get them soon, Bronson will have
them. They have been offered to him
already, but at a prohibitive price"
But" l said, bewildered, what is
your object in coming to me? II
Bronson will get them anyhow"
She shut her fan with a click and
her face was not particularly pleasant
to look at.
"You are Dense" she said insolent-
ly. Il want those papers-for myself.
not for Andy Bronson"
Then the idea is" l said, ignoring
her tone, that you think you have
me In a hole. and that if I find those
papers and give them to you you will
let me out. AS l understand 1t, our
friend Bronson, under those circum.
stances, will also be in a hole"
She nodded.
'~rhe notes would be Of 10 use to
you for a limited length of time" I
went on. watching her narrowly. III
they are not turned over to the states
attorney within a reasonable time there
will have to be a nolle pros-that IL,
the ease will simply be dropped for
lack of evidence"
"A week would answer. / think"
she said slowly. "You will do it, then"
laughed. although I was not espe-
cially cheerful.
mo, I'll not do 1t. expect to
come across the notes any time now.
and I expect just as certainly to turn
them over to the states attorney
when l get them"
She got up suddenly, pushing her
chair back with a noisy grating sound