The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-07-18

You are Mr.. Atwater--tho mEn
who-who inserted this-this nOtfcer
She fumbled In her gold.mesh hand
bag with nerveless fingers. producing
much-creased fragment Of nOvsp0.
per.
mr. Atwater" bowed. BE seated
Mrs. Marott," he commanded gently
You see recognize your identity"
TN 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 It? ] searched" Then, sud.
denly realizing that out of her own
mouth she had perhaps condemned
herself. she clapped a gloved hand to
her lips and almost collapsed in her
chair, sickly pallor whitening her
still beautiful cheeks.
Valentine considerably waited be.
fore pressing home the inevitable and
fRteful query:
why did you do 1t? Tell mel
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 I'm,
clenching until the delicate kid threat,
ened to burst.
why did l 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 hrs power! He
was fiend incarnate, and the worli
Is we'll rid of such carrioni" A min.
ute's pause and the sorely-racked vic
tim of mans cupidity went on more
calmly: Like a fool, wanted more
money than my husband could give
me. I 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
first he asked no security-simply my
promise to pay-notes, he called them
Instead of winning at cards, lost
more-then borrowed again. When
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, 30
gave him my jewels. But he was in.
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 a living torment! Still he de- |
payment, and declared he'd |
wait no longer, but would apply to |
Mr.. Marott. That-that night | went |
to make a last appeal. Then the fiend
insulted me, and in a frenzy
Of anger-I didn't really realize what
was doing-I snatchhd a long pin |
rom my hat and-strcck the mon.
;ter! When / realized what / had
lone, when l saw him huddled linz
md lifeless In his chair, ran frop,
he house. Now you have the truth,
he whole truth, so help me God! Dc
What you will with mel"
AS Inspector Finney Valentine list
,ned to this bald and tragic recital
which his own genius had ELECTED.
md which cleared up the mystery OF
he flligree hatpin, 1t was borne upon
lin that this woTnan--respected, hon
red, loved-had been more sinned
gainst than SHINING. Retribution had
Caleb Winnett, and doubt.
ess many another unfortunate was
low liberated from his tolls. No Jury
would ever convict her.
The great detective sat in silence.
lis heart wrung responsibility to the
acking sobs of the woman before him.
Surely this was a time, he thought,
vhen justice should be tempered with
mercy There came to his mind the
words of another: Hath any man con
emned thee? Neither do condemn
hee. Go In peace"
Rising slowly to his feet, Inspector
Valentine broke silence. Mrs. Ma
ott," he said. graveiy, you have al
eady borne enough. What has trans
fred here today is as though It had
ever been. l wish you good after
Don and as much happiness as the
uture can bring"
The woman rose likewise, looked at
i'm moment with swimming eyes,
hen bowed her head and went her i
ray. 3
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