Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-08-26
CHAPTER Ky.

now on srimy floor and wall
4 ri@doNS OF TWO men, one seat
- at tie table the other hot
far from II. Before John Steele lay
paper AID INK. procured from some
niche
Where were You Oh the night this
woman. Amy Gerard, wos found
dead:"
i nomantary expression Of surprise.
OF alarm. crossed the bruised and bat
+ared face II was succeeded by an
angry suspicion that elowed from the
evil eyes. You .e not trying to fix
thai jb on
You? No"
Then VIVA. did you follow him here
f3r-to pump me: The Yankee that
got transported Is
las alive as when he stepped before
you IN the ring!"
"Allve:' The fellow stared. He
looked at Steele closer Blame II
there isn't something about you that
puzzles me-" he said.
II represent him-the Yankee"
"Well. he got good one. You know
how to use your fists, mister"
Better than this Frisco Pet did
once. eh, TOMB" The man frowned.
"But to return to the subject in hand.
That question you seemed afraid to
answer Just now was superfuous. l
know where you were the night the
woman was shot
John Steele leaned forward and said
something softly.
How'd you find that out% asked
the man.
1.-THE Frisco Pet knew where you
were all the time. but did not speak
because he did not wish to get you
into trouble, also because he did not
know then what he long afterward
learned indirectly-that you could have
cleared himr'
Indirectly? I? What do you
Through your once having dropped
few words. Wine in. wits out"
The fellow edged his chair closer.
Keep where you are" John Steele's
hand touched the revolver now on the
table before him. Even as he did SO
the room seemed to sway. and it was
only by strong effort Of will he kept
his attention on the matter In hand
and fought down the dizziness. "And
let's get through with this. l don't
care to waste much more Of my time
on you"
You're sure nothing will happen to
me if''- The man watched him closer
This paper need never be made
public. but it might be useful in GER
tain contingencies"
Sand what am to get II do what
you
You shall have funds to take you
out Of the country; the alternative"
he bent forward, "about fifteen years
If the traps
The fellow pondered. At last he
answered. For a few minutes then
John Steele wrote. looking up between
words. His head bent now closer to
the paper. then drew back from 1t. rs
II through slight uncertainty of VI
sion or because of the dim igat. The
fellows eyes. watching him. lowered.
You know-none better-that on
that particular night some one else.
some one besides the Frisco Pet. en-
tered your mothers house,"
Oaths mingled with low filchers'
slang. but the reply was forthcoming.
Other questions. too. were answered
tentatively. sometimes at length. With
repulsive fullness OF detail.
You can state Of your own knowl
edge what happened next?" John
Steele spoke sharply. The fellows red
brows suddenly lifted. =
"Oh. yes" he replied readily.
John Steele's ipanner became short
er. His questions were put fast. He
forced quick replies. He not only
seemed striving to get through his
task as soon as possible. but always to
hold the others attention. to permit
his brain no chance to wander from
the subject to any other. But the fel-
low seemed now to have become as
tractable as before he had been sullen.
stubborn: gave his version in his own
vernacular. always kecnly attentive.
observant of the others every motion
His strength had apparently returned.
He seemed little the worse for his late
encounter. At length came an inter
val. Just for an instant John Steele's
eyes shut. The fingers that had held
the pen closed on the edge of the ia
BILE. A quick passing expression Of
ferocity lowered at the corners Of the
observers thick lips. He got up. At
the same time John Steele rose and
stepped abruptly back.
You know how to write your
name?" His voice was firm, unwaver-
ing. The revolver had disappeared
from the table and lay now in his
pocket.
"All right. gov'ner.' The other
bargain is n bargain, and I'll take your
word for it." leaning over ard labori-
ously tracing a few letters OH the pa
per. you'll do your part. You'll find
me square and aboveboard. although
you did use me little rough. There;
here's your affadavy."
John Steele moved back to a corner
of the room and pulled a wire. In
some faraway place a bell rang faint
~. "Are"-he spoke a woman's name,
obviously sobriquet, "and her daugh-
ter still here?"
"How?"
"Never mind; answer
'Yes; they're here, gov'ner. You'll
want them for witnesses, suppose"
Not long after, the paper. duly wit
messed. lay on the table. The land
lady and her daughter had gone. John
Steele only waited for the ink to dry.
He had no blotter or sand. The fluid
was old. thick. The principal sigma
ture In its big strokes, with here and
there sputter, would be unintelligible
II the paper were folded now. So he
fingered. Both men were silent. A