Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-02-08

curt nod while she~Istood for a mo-
ment watching him with a pathetic
little claspfng Of her hands; then
turned and came hurriedIy into the
house. l intercepted her at the head
of the stairs and signalled for her to
come into my apartments She did
so, seating herself in a chair that I
drew for her. Well" I said inquir-
ingly. She shook her head.
Sympathetically l continued: ct
is really too bad and I don't under
stand it either. Nobody in the world
has more confidence in Bruce's hon
esty than | have, and if he would only
speak I would believe him against a
host of circumstances. But there are
certain things which he as man
should come forward and explain. He
did not produce the key and denied
ever having had it, while I know it
was in his possession yesterday. The
only thing we could get out of him
was his permission for US to go to an
uncomfortable place. Have you any
idea of how he became possessed of
the key to the house which I saw him
have yesterday"
Il have understanding that you are
right. We have been talking that same
matter over and he says he had no
key In his side coat pocket and never
carries one there. 1 know that never
gave him mine, and it's disappearance
at this time can be nothing more than
a strange coincidence. He also denies
that he ever at any time had posses
sion of my key, and I am satisfied that
he did not for the reason that if he
had I should have missed it. 1 don't
care a snap what anybody thinks or
says; I know Bruce is as puzzled over
your charge that he had it as you
seem to be over his denial" Her
mouth set defiantly and l knew she
would defend him to the last ditch
should I attack him, which, of course
had not the remotest idea of doing.
Instead, 1 became even more mollify.
ing, hoping to reason him out of his
stubbornness through argument ad.
vanced to her.
I know that his denial proves
nothing any more than does the fact
of his going broke on change, or his
making that silly remark that he was
going to get $4,000 some way. Meth.
er would his refusal to tell US where
he spent the night prejudice me, al
though it might seem somewhat sin
gular, and under the circumstances
be sufficient to arouse suspicion in
those who do not know him. But the
combination of all these things places
him in a position before LeDuc which
l regret to see him occupy. You and
1 have often discussed his outspoken.
/ ness. and you have said that he did
| not know that there was a back door
4 to anything. 1t is his present com
/ plete reversal Of form and his evident
I desire to cover up something that
/ ought to be revealed that puzzles me
/ Why don't he come out as he has al
ways done before and tell Us where
he was at the time this happened? II
/ for any reason he does not care to
4 tell you, he at least might confide in
/ me, knowing as he does that any
4 secret would be safe in my keeping
/ Then I could investigate his state
/ ment merely as a matter of form, and
/ having found it true l could satisfy
/ LeDuc or anybody else without going
/ into particulars. If on the other
/ hand there is any reason why he cont
/ care to take you or me into his con,
I hdence, he could at least talk to LIE