Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-02-28
CHAPTER Xxx.
Tha Note. and . earoal

| Tho Notes and Bargain.
| went back slowly to where the
woman sat alone. She smiled rather
| oddly as l drew near, and pointed to
the chair Bronson had vacated.
"sit down. Mr.. Blakeley." she said.
81 am going to take few minutes of
your valuable time"
Certainly" ! sat down opposite
her and glanced at cuckoo clock on
the wall. Il am sorry, but have only
few minutes. If you" She laugh
ed little, not very pleasantly, and
opening small black fan covered
with spangles, waved it slowly.
"The fact u.s." she said, Il think W
are about to make bargain"
"a bargain?" asked incredulously.
''You have second advantage Of me.
fou know my name"lI paused sus-
gestively and she took the cue.
Il am Mrs. Conway" she said, and
dicked a crumb of the table with an
overmanicured finger.
| The name was scarcely surprise.
had already surmised that this
might be the woman whom rumor
! credited as being Bronson's common
law wife. Rumor, remembered, had
aid other things even less pleasant.
| aings which had been brought out at
ronson's arrest for forgery.
We met last under less fortunate
rcumstances." she was saying Il
ave been fit for nothing since that
rrible day. And you-you had a
oxen arm, think"
Il still have it" l said, with a lame
tempt at POPULARITY; "but to have
scaped at all was miracle. We have
.uch, indeed, to be thankful for"
Il suppose we have" she said care.
ssly, although sometimes, doubt
)" She was looking somberly to-
ard the door through which her late
'mpanion had made his exit.
You sent for me" said.
Yes, l sent for you" She reused
rself and sat erect 'Now, Mr..
+ lakeley, have you found those pa
rs?"
The papers? What papers?" par.
I'd. l needed time to think.
MI. bldhSISy, Sic Sdlu quietly,
link we can lay aside all subterfuge.
j the first place let me refresh your
ind about a few things. The Pitts
urg police are looking for the sur
'ivors of the car Ontario; there are
hree that l know of-yourself, the
Dung woman with whom you left
ne scene of the wreck, and myself.
The wreck, you will admit, was for
| unate one for you"
| l nodded without speaking.
| "At the time of the collision you
were in rather hole," she went on.
! cooking at me with disagreeable
mile. "You were, if l remember, &C.
cused of rather atrocious crime.
There was lot of corroborative evil
Idence, was there not? seem to re-
member dirk and the murdered
mans pocket-book in your possession,
and few other things that we're
well, rather unpleasant"
/ was thrown a bit off my guard.
You remember, Also" said quick
ly, that man disappeared from the
car, taking my clothes, papers and
everything"
81 remember that you said So" Her
tone was quietly insulting. and bit
my lip at having been caught. 1t was
no time to make defense.
"You have missed one calculation -
said coldly, land that is the dis
covery of the man who left the train. :"
you have found him." She bent
forward. and again I regretted my
hasty speech. II knew it.; said SOL
I'VE are going to find him." as.
serted, with q confidence l did not
feel. I'VE can produce at any time
proof that a man left the Filler few
miles beyond the wreck. And we can
find him, am positive"
But you have not found him YETI
She was clearly disappointed. We'll.
so be 1t. Now for our bargain You
will admit that am no fool"
made no such admission, and she
smiled mockingly.
"How fiattering you are!" she said.
VERY well Now for the premises.
You take to Pittsburg four notes held
BY the Mechanics national bank, to
have MI. Gilmore, who is Ill, declare
his Endorsement of them forged.
"On 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
singular, and the evidence-weu, al
most conclusive
was completely 1t 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.
am the only witness, and will be ST.
lent Do you understand? They will
call on their dogs"
My head was buzzing with the
strangeness Of the idea.
"But." said, striving to gain time.