Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-03-19
THE JUST AND THE UNJUST
BY VAUGHAN KESTER
Copyright, 1912, The Bobbs Merrill Company

BILE futility. What was the use of
struggling?
you can do as you blame please
in this. matter. Marsh, said the
gambler at length. II haven't meant
to offend or insult you, but IL you
want to see it 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
Langham' in a whisper.
Draw up chair and sit down,
Marsh, and We'll thrash this thing
out If 1t takes all night. Here, have
a cigari" for Langham had drawn
forward a chair. With trembling fin
gers he took the cigar the gambler
handed him. Now light up" said
Gilmore. He watched Langham strike
q match, watched his shaking hands
as he brought its flame to the cigars
end. That's better" he said as the
first puff of smoke left Langham's
colorless lips. 80 you think you
want to know what | mean, en-? Well,
I'm going TO take you into my con
fidence. Marsh. and just remember
you can't possibly reach the poker
without having me on top of you
before you get to it! You were pretty
sober for you the afternoon Of the
murder, not more than half shot,
we'll say, but later on when you
hunted me up at the Mcbride house,
you were as drunk as you will ever
be, and slobbering all sorts of fool
ishness!"
He puffed his cigar in silence for a
moment Langham's had gone out
and he was nervously chewing the
end of it.
what did l say?" he asked at
length.
ooh. all sorts Of damn nonsense.
You're smart enough sober, but get
drunk and you amt fit, to be at
Target"
what did I say?" repeated Lang
ham.
Better let me forget that" re-
joined Gilmore significantly And
look here, Marsh, l was sweating
blood Saturday when they had Nelson
on the stand, but it's clear he had
no suspicion that my rooms were
occupied on the night of the murder.
You were blue about the gills while
Monkey was questioning him, and
don't wonder; as I tell you, WASH
comfortable myself for l knew well
enough how that bit of burnt bond
got into the ash barrel
"Hushi For Gods sake whis-
pered Langham in uncomfortable ter
ror.
Gilmore laughed
"My lord, man. you got to keel
your nerve. Look here, Mount Hope
amt going to talk of anything but
the Mcbride murder; you are going tc
hear it from morning to night, ano
that's one of the reasons you got tc
keep sober. You've done your best Sc
far to queer yourself, and unless you
listen to reason you may do it yet
81 don't know what you mean
said Langham.
Don't you, Marsh? Well, got jus
one more surprise for you, but IL
keep it to myself a while longer be
fore spring it on you.'
He was thinking of Joe Montgom
ery's story; if Langham did not Prov
readily tractable, that should be tn
| final weapon Win which ne Wour
beat him into submission. Present..
he said:
rive all along had my own theor,
about old man McBride's murder, ant
now I'm going 20 see what you thinl
of 1t, Marsh"
! An icy hand seemed to be clutchini
I.angham's heart. Gilmores crue
smiling eyes noted his suffering. III
laughed.
"Of course, | don't think Nortl
killed Mcbride, not for one minute,
don't: in fact, it's a dead moral Ger
tainty he didn't!'' He leaned forwar
in his chair and looked into his com
panions eyes. For an instant Lang
ham met his glance without fiinchin
and then his eyes shifted and sough
the floor "I'll bet" said Gilmore
cool voice, "I'll bet you what you Xix
could put my hand on the man VIII
did the murderl" and as he spoke h
reached out and by an apparently &C
cidental gesture, rested his hand o
lLangham' shoulder. you wouidn'
like to risk any money on that httl