Mexico Missouri message., 1912-09-12

ton family. They insisted that the
facts were clear and that ! had only
to bridge certain gaps. | told them
that worked along my own lines or
not at all"
And you have given up the case?"
she cried despairingly.
Not at all. have retained myself
to prove the Arntons the fools that
they are. am working for Ham
| BraNmar now-and for Justice
BraXmars words brought comfort,
and comfort was sadly needed, for as
the days progressed the web seemed
to draw more tightly around her
| brother. The Arntons arranged with
a Chicago detective agency to send
half dozen men to work on the
case
BraXmar had dropped out Of sight
after that first day. lie had warned
Helen that he would not remain in
town, but that she need not feel any
uneasiness on that account
Once or twice letter. mailed in the
railway post, assured her Of prog
ress. and she took heart of grace,
though the detectives were building
up MACS of evidence that seemed
destined to crush Findlay beneath its
weight
Finally the case was practically.
concluded, and the Arntons were In,
sisting upon an immediate trial, but,
to this Findlay's lawyer would not
| consent
When Tomlin suddenly disap-
peared without a word to anyone the
last vestige of hope seemed to go.
Then, one evening, the operator at
the postoflice telegraph station let out
a whoop that startled the little com
pany waiting for the distribution OF
the night mail.
They've caught the man who killed
Cas- Arnton." he shouted. This is
a telegram to his sister Listen: Am
coming east with Tomlin and the
slayer of Caspian Arnton.' It's sign
ed by that fellow from New York who
was here the day after the murder"
IT'S a bluff" declared one of the
local solons. They've got Cas- Arm
toms killer locked up in the Jail now"
1t was the second day following that
Braxmar and Tomlin stepped from
the train and were driven to the hotel.
There were just the two of them, and
Remsen thrilled with the report that
1t was Tomlin who had done the
murder
Later on, after the prosecuting of.
ticers had left the conference, it be-
came known that the person who had
fired the shot had been killed in the
wreck which had delayed the others,
but had made a deposition that en-
tirely exonerated Findlay.
1T is very simple matter" ex.
planned Braxmar, when he and Helen
were alone. There was just one clue
that was not being worked on. That
was the man who was trying to enter
the box car. 1t was a train of empties
being rushed west He could have
no incentive to force the door except
that he wanted to get away quickly
and unobtrusively."
But they all thought Tomlins story
was an untruth," she said. That was
why they did not follow 1t up
And why did. It's always the OBJ
scure clue that pays best. l found
that many of the railroad men haC
guns like your brother The hard
ware store sold about three dozen
Now Arnton had a bullet in his spine
No one seemed to see another bullet
in a nearby tree. II 1t was YOU
brothers shot, how was 1t that there
was but one chamber discharged
when two shots had been fired?"
Now. your brother was not the only
one who had a reason to take Arm
tons life, as you told me on the train
: there was that affair of the ellis girl
1t was ellis who crept into the cal
station again, satisfied that he haC
scared the man away"
"And to think that you did all thii
for John" she said softly.
81 told you was working for Han
Braxmar," he corrected. Il wa
angry when they insisted that
should work on the clues read,
provided. | wanted to show then
that / was right
But l can never repay you for you
kindness" she persisted.
|
I might be two sides to that question
+ but he only smiled
In the morning" he said, the
u will call the case and make a motto
!. to dismiss. Your brother will be fire
u by noon. VIII you remain here?"
i Il think we shall" she said quietl!
i Il should like to keep in touch wit
:, my unofficial client" he laughed
little awkwardly.
/ Her grave eyes read his secret bl
3 respected his reserve, though roe
IL flush told Braxmar that he migl
o hope.
n But to think 1t was John ellis VIII
fired the shot" she unused. He a
3 ways seemed such a patient, ploddin
4 sort of fellow"
n II didn't say it was Gillis," he co
d rected. 1T was the girl. / knew tn;
& before we ever reached town"
4 yet you went after her father"
81.