The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-01-29
q q THEJUST
$50 1y Vaughan kesfer
-The Prodieal Judge
~ c.~va1A. TAs sIsrmC -as.aS

CHAPTER XIV.
fcontlnued.l

room. Pride and self-respect would
have taken him from the place but
hate and fear kept him there.
Gilmore threw himself down In
chair before tho fire and lit cigar.
In spite OF himself, Langham watched
him. fascinated. -lThere was such con-
scious power and mastery in every
thing the gambler did, that he felt the
various purposes that were infuenc-
ing him collapse with miserable fulfil
ity. What was the use OF struggling
you can do as you blame please In
this natter. Marsh" said the gambler
at length. IL haven't-meant TO offend
you or Insult you, but II you want TO
see Il that way-all right, 1t suits me.
You needn't look about you, for you
won't find any sledges here; you ought
TO know that
what do you mean" asked Lang
ham In a whisper.
Draw up chair and sit down,
Marsh, and wen thrash this thing out
II Il takes all night Here. have a
cigar" for Langham had drawn for
ward q chair. With trembling fingers
he took the cigar the gambler handed
him. Now light UP, said Gilmore
He watched Langham strike match
watched his shaking hands as ne
brought its fame 10 the cigars END
That's better" he said as the first
puff OF smoke left Langham's color
less lips. so you think you want
TO know what | mean, Ell? Well, IN
going to take you into my confidence,
Marsh. and Just remember you can't
possibly reach the poker without hay-
ing me on top of you before you get
to IL. You were pretty sober for you
the afternoon OF the murder, not more
than half shot. well say, but later on
when YOU hunted me up at the Nc
Bride house, you were as drunk as you
viii ever me, and soldering all sorts
OF foolishness!"
He pulled his cigar in silence for
moment. Langharf's had gone out
and he was nervously chewing the end
OF 1t.
what did say" he asked at
length. $50 -
eOh-an sorts OF fool nonsense.
You're smart enough sober, but get
you drunk and you amt At to be at
large"
what did say?" repeated Lang,
ham.
"Better lie. me forget that" re.
Joined Gilmore significantly. Ana
look here. Marsh, l. was sweating
blood Saturday when they had Nelson
on the stand, but IFS clear he had no
suspicion that my rooms were occu-
pied on the night of the murder You
were blue about the gills while Mox-
low was questioning him, and don
wonder; as y. feIl you. ] wasnt com,
Portable myself ,~fof 4 knew well
enough how that bit Of burnt bond got
into the ash barfel-"
''Hush t~vFor Gods sake whis
pered Langham In uncomfortable ter
ror. x-S-----s-,.--t-.~---
Gilmore laughed.
'.My lord. man. you got to keep your
nerve! Look here, Mount Hope ain
going to talk OF anything but the Nc
Bride murder; you are going 10 hear
II from morning to night, and that''
one Of the reasons you got TO keeI
sober. You've done your best so IA
to queer yourself, and unless you lis
ten to reason you may do II yet.
al don't know what you mean
said Langham.
Don't you, Marsh? Well, ! got JUS
one more surprise In store for you
but I'll keep. II to myself while
longer before / spring 1t on you"
He was thinking OF Joe Montgom
ery's story; If Langham did not prove
tractable, that should be the final
weapon with which he would beat him
into submission. Presently he said:
'Tve all along had my own theory
about old man McBride's murder. and
now I'm going to see what you think
OF It, Marsh"
An icy hand seemed to be clutching
Langham's heart. Gilmore's cruel
smiling eyes noted his suffering. He
laughed.
''Of course, ! don't think North
killed Mcbride, not for dne minute
don't; in fact, it's dead moral GER
tainty he didn't" He leaned forward
in his chair and looked into his com
panlon's eyes, For an instant Lang
ham met his glance without flinching
and then his eyes shifted and sought
the floor :. TIL bet" said Gilmore's
cool voice,~''T1 bet you what you like
could put my hand on the man who
did the MURDER" and as he spoke he
reached out and by an apparently ac-
! cidental gesture. rested his hand on
Langham's shoulder. you wouldn't
like to risk any money on that little
bet Ell, Marsh en-ffe sank back m
his chair and applied himself to his
cigar In silence. but his eyes never
left Langham's face.
Presently he took the cigar from be-
tween hts-etreRg even teeth "Now,
I'm going 20 give you my theory he
said. Il want TO see what you think
OF it--but remember always, believe
In letting well enough alone They
got North Gagged In one OF those nice
new cells fuwn at~the- Jan and thae
suits me all right! My theory is that
the man who killed Mcbride was
needing money mighty badly and he
went TO Mcbride as a sort OF a last
chance He found the old fellow
alone In the ofice--understand he
didn't go there with any fixed pur-
pose OF killing him, his ideas had not
carried him that far-he was willing
TO borrow the money II the old man
would lend II to him. He probably
needed quite sum. say two or three
Thousand dollars. and the need was
urgent. you must keep that In mind
and tnen you'll see perfectly how Il
All happened. Possibly my man was
OF the sort who don't fancy disagree
able Interviews and had put OF goin,
TO the store until the last moment
but once he had settled that point wit
himself he was determined h
wouldn't come away without IN
money. The old fellow. however. too