Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-12

Bakeley's berth, as he contends, took his
clothes and forged notes, and left the train
before the wreck"
Yes"
THE notes then?"
II gave them to Bronson yesterday. Much
good they did hm!" bitterly. We were all
silent for a moment The two detectives
were adjusting themselves with difficulty
to a new point of view; Sullivan was look
ing dejectedly at the floor. his hands
hanging loose between his knees 1 was
watching Alison; from where 1 stood, be-
hind her, could almost touch the soft
hair behind her ear
II have no intention of pressing any
charge against you" I said with forced
clvility, for my hands were itching to get
at him, III you will give us a clear ac-
count Of what happened on the Ontario
that night"
Sullivan raised his handsome, haggard
head and looked around at me- 1--WE seen
you before, haven't I?'' he asked. Weren't
you an unlimited guest at the Laurels a
few days-or nights-ago? The cat, you
remember, and the rug that siipped?"
Il remember" 1 said shortly. He glanced
from me to Alison and quickly away.
THE truth can't hurt me-" he said, but
it's devillsh unpleasant. Alison. you know
all this You would better so out"
His use of her name crazed me. stepped
In front of her and stood over him. You
will not bring Miss West into the converse
tion," 1 threatened, and she will stay If
she wishes"
"oh, very WE'LL" he said with assumed
Indifference.
Hotchklss just then escaped from Richey'
grasp and crossed the room.
Did you ever wear glassesT' he asked
eagerly
Never" Sullivan glanced with some con-
tempt at mine.
I'd better begin by going back a little, -
he went on sullenly. II suppose you know
was married TO Ida Harrington about
five years ago. She was a good girl, and
l thought a lot of her. But her father OPP
posed the marriage-hed never liked me
and he refused to make any sort OF settle
ment.
Il had thought. Of course, that there
would be money, and it was a bad day
when found out I'd made a mistake. MY
sister was wild with disappointment. We
were pretty hard up, my sister and l."
l was watching Alison. Her hands were
tightly clasped in her lap, and she was
staring out of the-window at the cherries
roof below. She had set her lips a little
but that was all.
you understand, of course, that I'm not
defending myself" went on the suller
voice. The day came when old Harring-
ton put us both out of the house at the
point of a revolver, and | threatened
suppose you know that, tool threatened
TO kill him.
MY sister and l had hard times after
that We lived on the continent for d
while. / was at Monte Carlo and she wai
p in Italy. She met a young lady there, tht
granddaughter Of steel manufacturer
and an heiress, and she sent for me- Wher
! got to Rome the girl was gone. Las
winter l was all in-social secretary TO a.
/ Englishman. wholesale grocer with d
new title, but we had row and l came
home. | went out to the Heaton boys
ranch in Wyoming and met Bronson there
; He lent me money, and I've been doing hi
dirty work ever since"
sullivan got up then and walked SLOWLY
forward and back as he talked his eye'
Z on the faded patterns OF the office rug.
III you want to live in hell" he SAID
7 savagely put yourself in another mans
power Bronson got into trouble, forging
John Gilmore's name TO those notes. and II
some way he learned that a man wal
: bringing the papers back to Washington
/ on the Fiicr. He even learned the numbe
r OF his berth and the night before In
wreck, just as I was boarding the train
got a telegram"
Hotchkiss stepped forward once more i'm
e portanty.
Which read, 1 think: Man with paper
IN lower ten, car seven. Get them"
h sullivan looked al the little man Will
20 sulky blue eyes
= 1t was something Ike that, anyhow