Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-01
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Notes and a Bargain,

The Notes and Bargain.
] went back slowly to where the woman
sat alone She smiled rather oddly as 1
drew near and pointed to the chair Bron-
son had vacated.
"Sit down. Mr.. Blakeley." she said II
am going to take few minutes of your
valuable time
Certainly" l sat down opposite her
and glanced at a cuckoo clock on the
wall Il am sorry. but / have only a
few minutes. If you She laughed a
little, not very pleasantly, and opening a
small black fan covered with spangles.
waved it slowly.
THE fact is" she said. Il think we are
about to make a bargain
"A bargain?'' l asked. incredulously.
You have second advantage of me.
You know my name"-I paused. sug-
gestively, and she took the cue.
II am Mrs. Conway" She said. and
f1icked cru1ib off the table with an
aforementioned finger.
The name was scarcely a surprise.
had already surmiSed that this might be
the woman whom rumor credited as be-
ing Bronson's common-law wife. Rumor
l remembered, had said other things even
less pleasant, things which had been
brought out at Bronson's arrest for
forgery.
I'VE met last under less fortunate cir
cumstances. she was saying. Il have
been fit for nothing since that terrible
day. And you-you had broken arm.
think"
IT still have it, 1 said with a lame
attempt at POPULARITY; but to have es-
capped at all was a miracle. We have
much. indeed. to be thankful for
Il suppose we have" she said. care
lessly. although sometimes 1 doubt it,
She was looking somberly toward the
door through which her late companion
had made his exit.
You sent for me- l said.
Yes. sent for YOU She reused her
self and sat erect. Now. Mr. Blakeley
have you found those papers?"
1.-The papers? What papers," 1 par
ried. l needed time to think.
Mr.. Blakeley," she said. quietly. 81
think We, can lay aside all Subterfuge
In the first place. let me refresh your
mind about few things. The Pittsbure
police are looking for the survivors OF
know of-yourself. the young woman with
whom you left the scene of the wreck
and myself. The wreck. you will admit
was a fortunate one for YOU"
I nodded without speaking.
lat the time of the collision you were
in rather hole she went on. looking
at me with a disagreeable smile. You
were, il l remember, accused of rather
atrocious crime. There was lot Of cor
roborative evidence. was there not?
seem to remember a dirk and the muir
dered mans pocketbOOk in your posses
sion, and a few other things that were
well, rather unpleasant"
1 was thrown bit off my guard.
'You remember. Also L said. quickly
that a man disappeared from the car
taking my clothes, papers and every
thing"
II remember that you said So" Her
tone was quietly insulting and l bit my
time to make a defense.
You have missed one calculation"
said. coldly. and that is the discovery
of the man who left the train"
You have found him. She bent for,
speech. II knew 1T: said So
I'VE are going to find him. 1 asserted,
with a confidence l did not feel. I'VE
can produce at any time proof that a
man left the fiier a few miles beyond the
wreck. And we can find him, 1 am posi-
tive"
But you have not found him yet?'
She was clearly disappointed. We'll. SC
be it. Now for our bargain. You will
admit that 1 am no fool
1 made no such admission and she
smiled mockingly.
How flattering you are" she said
Every 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 1ndorse-
ment Of them forged.
ION the journey back to Pittsburg two
things happen to you-you lose your CLOTH
ing, your valise and your papers, lnclud-
ing the notes. and you are accused OF
cumstances were most singular. and the
evidence.well. almost conclusive"
! was completely at her mercy. but
gnawed my lip with irritation.
Now for the bargain" She leaned
over and lowered her voice. "A fair ex-
change. you know. The minute you put
those four notes in my hand-that minute
the blow to my head has caused COM
plete forgetfulness as to the events OF
that awful morning. I am the only wit
derstand? They will call off their dogs.
My head was buzzing with the strange
ness of the idea.
But 1 said. striving to gain time. Il
haven't the notes. l 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. IF you don't get them
soon Bronson will have them. They
have been offered to him already, but at
a prohibitive price"
But 1 said. bewildered. what is
your object in coming to me? If Bronson
will get them anyhow
face was not particularly pleasant to
look at.
You are Dense" she said. insolently.
Il want those papers-for myself. not for
Andy Bronson
Then the idea is.'' / said, ignoring her
tone, that you think you have me in a
hole and that If / find those papers and
give them to you you will let me out.
AS l understand it. our friend Bronson,
under those circumstances, will also be
in hole"
She nodded.
THE notes would be of no use to you
for a limited length of time." l went on.
watching her narrowly. IF they are not
turned over to the states attorney within
a reasonable time there will have to be a
nolle proS-that is, the case will simply
be dropped for lack of evidence"
"a week would answer. / think" she
said, slowly. You will do it, them"
I laughed, although l was not especially
cheerful.
mo. I'll not do it. 1 expect to come
across the notes any time now, and l
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 noisy grating sound that
turned many eyes toward us.
You're more of a fool than l thought
you she sneered, and left me at the
table.