Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-03-18
THE BEAT Of THE YEAR
By Robert Livingston Bssehsr.
Copyright. 1909. by the Pearson Pub
fishing Cs.)
Continued From Yesterday
Copyright. 1909. by the Pearson Pub
Continued From Yesterday

AlCu up oOAuc Sdlt Dldit hHtlt III
could come for me tomorrow morning
after he'd put on his citizens clothes
Then we we're to start off for my bank
together so l could draw $4,000 in
cash for him and $4,000 for myself
with which to get away on.
"Of course. | didn't know which was
the right bank to go to, and it wouldn't
have done me any good IL | had. I'd
have started off for some big bank and
then I'd have had a chance, either on
the way there or inside. TO give the cop
the slip. 1t would have been a good
chance. too. I've learned a few dodg-
ing tricks these last few months"
Bruce looked up from his writing.
There's one thing, Joyce" said he,
that ! want especially to find out. |
can't quite understand II. II threw us
off on the wrong track. | mean II
made us think from the first that that
body was yours. How did 1t come 10
be wearing that undershirt? 1t wasn't
his, was it,"
The man in the chair laughed.
No. II wasn't" he said. at was
mine" He laughed again.
so It fooled you, did it?" he went
on. I'D forgotten about that shirt
and I've been wondering all the time
why you felt so sure I was Greening.
l couldn't make IL out. though that's
just what | planned to have happen
before | changed my mind.
You see, my first idea was to put
my shirt on him. Then If the body
was ever found, it would be wearing a
shirt marked with my name John
Joyce Then. as | would be missing.
It would be taken for granted by our
clever police that the body was mine
Then. too. If my connection with
Greening had been discovered. IL might
be supposed that he had killed me and
was hiding That would explain his
disappearance. too.
But. after I'd put the shirt on him.
| saw the great flaw in all that So
cut of the marking tape and must have
let 1t fall on the floor"
That seems all right to me-" OBJ
served the Managing Editor. What
was the flaw in it,"
The man in the chair laughed very
bitterly.
What have done all this for?"
he exclaimed. hoarsely. Why have |
spent night after night chasing a devil
through the streets? Why have I
risked my life in his hands? Why
have put myself in line for the chair?
Why? Can't you see why? For her
For her. To save her. To get her
back. too, il could, but first to save
her from him. And you ask me why
cut off that tape Why. it's as plain
as day why did it. Can't you see
it?"
He paused and swallowed hard.
Why" he went on again. cant
you see that II I'd left that name on.
I'd have had TO disappear? Suppose I
didn't; suppose | kept on working az
the factory and the body was found
with a shirt on IL with my name on
1t; the body couldn't be mine. could
II? And then, too. I'd be suspected
right away Of having had something
TO do with It,
So, you see, IL I'd left that tape
on, I'd have had to disappear and what
would that have meant? Why, that
I'd have had to lose her-and after
saving her from him. too
The speaker wet his lips once more.
Then he looked across the room at
Bruce.
There's one thing" said he.
" which has been puzzling me, too.
I've been turning the whole thing over
and over in my mind and round and
round and | can't make it out What
put you on my track"
OF the seven men in the room three
knew. OF the four who did not know
II was doubtful which awaited the an
swer with the most unconcealed eager
ness-the man in the chair or the vete-
ran reporter leaning against the wall
near the door-Joyce or Connors.
Bruce turned in his chair and looked
at Connors with curious smile.
You can guess, can't you?" he said
mo" said the " star man." grufiy.
q can't. admit I'm up a tree-for
once. | don't suppose II was anything
| overlooked, was it?"
I'm afraid you did overlook IT," re-
piled Bruce. al showed 1t to you. but
you couldn't see anything in it. Here
it is"
He held out his hand, palm upward.
lone of the buttons on that shirt"
said Bruce. quietly.
The older man leaning against the
wall and the younger man sitting help
less In the chair across the room
looked at the button and said nothing.
." I took this over to a button house
on Broadway" continued Bruce, and
they referred me to the Long Island
City factory which uses them. There
found photograph and in it Nc
Ginnis picked out the man who hired
that rig from him last night"
The Managing Editor began drum
ming noiselessly on his desk again.
Then he turned towards Bruce.
my son." said he, this is a hell
know of. You've done us proud"
The older man stopped and the
mans face grew red.
Have you been making notes Of
this mans story?" the Night Editor
went on.
Yes" said Bruce. gathering up the
papers on the desk before him. I've
taken IL down in shorthand | can
dictate to Brown in the City Room.
He's a fast typewriter He'll have II
done in twenty minutes"
Ito BE- e0ssisEsd)