The Raymer enterprise., 1911-04-20


who-who inserted this-this notice?"
She fumbled In her gold.mesh hand,
bag with nerveless fingers, producing
a much-creased fragment OF nswspa.
| per.
"Mr. Atwater" bowed. BE seated,
Mrs. Marott." he commanded gently.
you see recognize your identity"
in Gods name who are you? What
do you want with me? But-but-'
She sank into the seat. shaking with
terror. Valentine was too merciful to
prolong her agony; as much In pity
as from a sense Of duty he held be.
fore her gaze the head Of the fateful
filigree hatpin, saying gravely:
do you recognize this bauble. Mrs.
Marott?"
The woman gave one afrightened
glance, then shrank back whispering
in horror-stricken tones: Where did
you find 1t? searched" Then, sud.
denly realizing that out of her own
mouth she had perhaps condemned
herself, she clapped gloved hand to
her lips and almost collapsed In her
chair. a sickly pallor whitening her
still beautiful cheeks.
Valentine considerably waited be.
fore pressing home the inevitable and
fateful query:
Why did you do It: Tell me-
must have the truth, Mrs. Marott. be.
fore you or leave this room"
She started to her feet. her eyes
cleaning with almost insane passion.
her gloved hands clenching and un-
clenching until the delicate kid threat.
ened to burst
why did I do IT," she almost
screamed Because that monster
made my life a hell! Because he
threatened to ruin me socially! Be.
cause he had me In his power He
was a fiend incarnate, and the world
Is we'll rid Of such carrion!" A min.
utes pause and the sorely-racked vic
lin OF mans cupidity went on more
calmly: Like fool, wanted more
money than my husband could give
me. owed for losses at bridge, to
my dressmakers, and for foolish eX.
travagances. A woman friend told me
that Caleb Winnett lent freely to so.
ciety women, so | went to him. At
first he asked no security-simply my
promise to pay-notes. he called them, 1
Instead Of winning at cards, | lost
more-then borrowed again. Whet'
ever received my monthly allowance
1t all went to satisfy that-that Shy
lock! In all, paid back the original
loans twice over. yet | never could
get out of his clutches. Finally he
became ugly, demanded security, so I
gave him my jewels. But he was in
satiable, the wretch! literally
stripped myself of valuables. | was
forced to lie to my husband in the at
Tempt to explain matters until my life
became living torment. Still he de-
manded payment, and declared he'd
wait no longer, but would apply to
Mr.. Marott That-that night went
to make last appeal. Then the nend
incarnate insulted me. and In frenzy
Of anger didn't really realize what
| was DOING snatched a long pin
from my hat and-struck the mon
ster, When realized what | had
done, when | saw him huddled limp
and lifeless in his chair, i ran from
the house. Now you have the truth.
the whole truth. so help me God, Do
what you will with me-"
AS Inspector Finney Valentine list
ened to this bald and tragic recital
which his own genius had elected.
and which cleared up the mystery OF
the fligree hatpln 1t was borne upon
him that this woman-respected. hon.
ored, loyed-had been more slnned
against than SHINING. Retributlon had
overtaken Caleb Winnett, and doubt.
less many another unfortunate was
now liberated from his tolls. No jU'
would ever convict her.
The great detective sat in silence,
his heart wrung responsively to the
racking sobs of the woman before him.
Surely this was time, he thought,
when justice should be tempered with
mercy. There came to his mind the
words Of another: Hath any man con,
demned thee? Neither do condemn
thee. Go In peace"
Rising slowly to his feet, Inspector
Valentine broke silence. Mrs. Ma
rott," he said. graveiy, you have al
ready borne enough. What has trans
nired here today Is as though It had
never been. l wish you good after
noon and as much happiness as the
future can bring"
The woman rose likewise, looked at
him a moment with swimming eyes,
then bowed her head and went her
way.