Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-01-29
uYou don't know"

was nirkcr of smile on her face as
she added:
Then the newspapers were wrong
when They said Il was a certaiptyr'
Murgatrovd held up his hand and
went or 20 explain;
"whnt tell you IS confidential. You
understand
Eyes. YES" she said impatientiy
"But tell me ahout 1.-THE real facts
that is. n You can"
There's No reason why I shouldn't.
I suppose" said the prosecutor Of the
pleas "The real facts as we have
them-as we have them. mind are
simple. ChallOner quarreled with Colo
mel Hargraves."
"what aboutT' asked Shirley impul-
Eively.
Murgatroyd flushed.
THAT makes no difference" he an
swored. with some confusion. 1.-THE
point Is that they We're enemies. II
was a quarrel In which the passions OF
each were reused to the utmost. To
make a long story short. Colonel Har-
graves won $4,000 az Gravesend. The
men met I'm Cradlebaugh's. Another
quarrel followed.
what does that proven
Nothing. only n man named PEN
mican Of CradlebauCh's witnessed both
quarrels. and Challoner has run way"
But" persisted Shirley. "that evil
fence"-
zone moment, please" went on the
prosecutor calmly. "Hargraves had
the $4,000 In cash with him. and
surely you don't think Lawrence
would stealT' she commented.
Prosecutor Murgatroyd answered
slowly:
Frankly speaking, I do. believe
that Challoner would do anything"
ITS impossiblel why. the Challo-
ncrs have any amount of money!
MurgarOyd shrugged his shoulders.
"Challoner's wife has. but
IT'S the same thing" Shirley pro-
tested. "and she just adores him-you
do not know how much she adores
him Bulyw
but how about himT"
The girl shock her head and answer
ed somewhat sadly:
Il know. she's blind to every
thing"
Once more she placed her hand i'm
pulsively ON Murgatroyds arm.
"Oh. it's perfectly dreadful, the
whole thingr'
Unwittingiy Murgatroyd changed his
mood 60 meet hers.
You were n friend OF his. weren't
you?"
Yes. before he married. when he
WAS poor and decent like the rest OF
us-yos, I was n friend OF his"
Shirley Bloodgood drew her brows
together.
Indeed. You must have been a
good friend 70 let him take his down
ward course"
For an instant this imputation seem
cd TO rest heavily on Murgatroyd's
shoulders. but he cast it from him
quickly with a sigh and answered:
"a mans best friends are ike a
mans good wifc-they do not desert
him, whatever happens; he deserts
them. And So it was with Challouor."
And So at the last he has no
friendsy
But" he protested. Il am wasting
time. i-oh. pardon me-" he quickly
corrected. flushing with emharrass-
ment. Il did not mean my time exact
ly; but frankly. I must see Mrs. Chal-
loner."
Miriam Challoncr is an. much too IN
TO see any one. She gave orders
Excuse me. but Mrs Chanouer is
not too ill." persisted Murgatroyd. ito
walk from room 70 room. My men
have seen her through the windows. /
must see her"
Shirley made movement to go.
"Oh. I can't tell herr she cried. I'm
ring for Stevens" She rang. ste
vens." she said as he came into the
room. win you tell your mlstress-oh.
I can't can'tr' she faltered.
The scrvaut left the room. Shirley
sank into n chair and half covered her
face with her hands
Il don't believe never Will believe
that Lawrence did these things"
There was a pause After moment
MurgatrOyd remarked half aloud:
There is but one way to reform n
man like that
The prosecutor did not finish. for
standing in the doorway was Miriam
Challoner. pale as ghost, a look OF
Interrogation In her eyes
Mrs. Challoner bowed and smiled
family
Il believe / have met Mr.. Murga-
trOyd before" she said with a grace
peculiarly her own.
Murgatroyd returned her greeting
with:
Il need not assure you, Mrs. Chal-
Toner, that this is a very painful du-
ty."
Murgatroyd bowed and, placing a
chair for Mrs. Chanoner, begged her
10 be seated
Mrs. Challoner," he began In a
voice that was even more gentle than
at any time before. believe me that
I've no desire to give you trouble IN
necessarily"
please don't apologize" Mrs. Chal-
Toner repeated. holding fast to Shirley.
as though she pinned her faith to that
young woman.