Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-21

cried excitedly. 'Why do you pretend
l know anything about that:'
Kayton, too. leaned forward until
there was scant eighteen inches be-
tween his calm, cold face and her trem-
bling, twitching mask.
Because, after Mr.. Argyle's fall" he
said swiftly. dragging off the table
cloth, you We're leaning forward-just
as you are now-holding on to the table
with both hands,
And, reaching over quickly, he tap
ped her wrists smartly and leaned
back.
Like one in the numb horror of
, nightmare, Nrs. Martin slowly pulled
herself TO her feet.
What" she whispered. Kayton cool
~ took some sheets of paper from the
top drawer of his desk and held them
out for her scrutiny.
''These are the finger prints you left
on the table that night" he said coolly.
''They coincide with the ones you left
here on my blotter." She dropneS
| heavily back into the chair with an
| inarticulate moan.
This" added Kayton slowly, with q
stern gaze, this is jury proof of com
| plicity."
The woman booked at him duly, stol'
idly, for all the suddenness of his at
tack.
you can't prove it, she cried hoarse
". Il had nothing to do with it--noth
ingw
ITO prove that" returned Kaytor
coldly. you will have to confess via;
did it,"
you can do what you likew she
broke out wildly. 81 don't care.
don't care! 1t doesn't matter!'
1T matters to an innocent girl"' de
clared Kayton sternly. "Your daugh
ter's life is ruined unless we can cleal
her from this charge"
The woman choEed, closed her eye.
and pressed her clinched hands agains
her bowed chin. For the first time
tears crept from under her eyelids.
"And yet,"-Kayton spoke with in
finitely gentle reproach-"you refus,
to do anything for her."
She started and threw out her hands
in gesture of entreaty and despair.
Il don't want her TO know me,
don't want to know herr she cried
I'm dead as far as she is concerned.
"If you go on the stand as the state
Witness" urged Kayton, "your pas
can be absolutely protected. You
daughter need never know any NOR
about you than she does today"
You don't need me to clear her,
she protested desperately. you know
she didn't do it. You know it wa
some one else. Why don't you fin,
him yourself-without me? Leave IN
alone! Leave me out Of it,"
Kayton's figure and his expression
relaxed. He nodded in the friendlies
fashion.
You needn't say any more, Mrs
Martini" he assured her quietly.
"What do you mean by that?" sh
demanded, with new dread.
"You have told me what l wante
to know" replied Kayton.
"How-what?'
"You have told me it was not D.
|
spoken question. You wouldn't ris
going to the electric chair TO protect
dead man?"
you can't frighten me. with that,
She whirled upon him furiously.
had nothing to do with it, and 70
= know it! You know who did it. 70
\. want me to make confession to han
him with, and 1 won't do it! 1 won
do it!'
o Kayton opened the door of an ant
u room as the telephone buzz sounde
L "Wait here little" he said gentl
e 81 may need you presently, even
e you are unwilling to help me-"
Manager Leischmann on the tel
}, phone announced some important a
rivals in the outer office-Mr. Hurle
l. Miss Mazuret and Bruce, Mrs. Wya
s and Miss Thompson. The last par
was the first received. and after ha
e by reunion and much excited explain
8 ton KaytOn bundled them into one