The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1911-01-04


nounced his errand at once.
"A Pittsburs warrant" inquired.
unlocking my cigar drawer.
Yes. Allegheny county has as.
sumed Jurisdiction. the exact locality
where the crime was committed being
in doubt" He seemed to be the
spokesman. The other. shorter and
rotund. kept an amiable silence. We
hope you will see the wisdom Of waiv.
ing extradition." he went On. 1T will
save time"
I'll come. Of course" I agreed.
you to give me an hour here, gentle
men. think We can interest you.
Have . cigar?"
The lean man took . cigar: the TO
tund man took three. putting two In
his pocket.
How about the catch Of that door,"
he inquired iovially. ANY danger OF
it going OF again." Really. consider
ing the circumstances. they were re-
markably cheerful. Hotchkiss. how
ever. was not. He paced the door un-
easily. his hands under his coattails.
The arrival of Mcknight created a d.
version; he carried . long package
and . corkscrew, and shook hands
with the police and opened the bottle
with . single gesture.
Il always want something to cheer
on these occasions" he said. where's
the water. Blakeley: Everybody
ready" Then In French he toasted
the two detectives.
TO your eternal discontinue" he
said. bowling ceremoniously. May
you 80 home and never come back!
II you take Monsieur Blakelsy with
you. I hope you choke"
The lean man nodded gravely.
'Prosit." he said. But the fat one
leaned back and laughed eonsumedly.
Hotchkiss finished . mental synop-
sis Of his position. and put down his
glass. Gentlemen" he said pompous-
ly. within i've minutes the man you
want will be here. . murderer caught
in q net Of evidence 30 flne that .
mosquito could not get through"
The detectives glanced at each 9th
er solemnly. Had they not in their
possession q sealskin bag containing
wallet and a bit Of gold chain. which
by putting the crime on me. would
leave q gap big enough for Sullivan
himself to crawl through?
Why don't you say your little
speech before Johnson brings the 9TH
er man. Lawrencs?" Mcknight in
quired. They won't believe you. but
1t will help them to understand what
is coming"
You understand. o. course" the
lean man put in gravely. that what
you say may be used against you"
I'll take the risk" l answered i'm
patiently.
1t took some time to tell the story
CT my worse than useless trip TO Pitts.
burg. and its sequel. They listened
without interruption.
Mr.. Hotchkiss here" finished.
believes that the man Sullivan. whom
we are mOmentarily expecting, COM
mitted the crime. Mr.. Mcknight 10
inclined to implicate Mrs. Conway,
who stabbed Bronson and then her
self last night As for myself, l am
open to conviction"
Il hope not" said the stout detec-
tive quizzically. And then Alison was
My impulse to 60 out
and meet her was forestalled by the
detectives. who rose when l did Nc
knight. therefore. brought her in. and
I met her at the door.
Il have put you to great deal Of
trouble" said contritely. when saw
her glance around the room. Il wish !
| had not"
1T is only right that should come" |
she replied, locking up at me. Il am !
the unconscious cause of most of it, |
I am afraid. Mrs Dallas is going to |
" ait in the outer office"
presented Hotchkiss and the two |
who eyed her with inter |!
est. In her poise. her beauty, even in !
her gown. fancy she represented a /
new type to them. They remained !
standing until she sat down.
Il have brought the necklace" she |
jegan, holding ont white-wrapped |
box, las you asked me to-"
passed 1t. unopened. to the detec. |
tives. The necklace from which was |
broken the fragment you found in the
bag" explained. Miss
West found 1t on the floor of the car,
near lower ten"
(TO BE CONTINUED)