The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1914-12-24
THE CONFESSION
BY MAY CUNNINGHAM COBB.


copyright. 1914. by w. g. Chapman)
1T will cast a gloom over our mar
mage, Ethel" said Harry Bentwich,
despondently. But that is part OF Z
lawyers fate, and we must take the
bad with the good"
And there is no longer any hope Of
saving the poor mani" inquired Ethel
sadly.
mot unless a miracle occurs" an
swered her lover. :
How dreadful" sighed Ethel.
Harry Bentwich and Ethel were to
be married two days later, and that
was the day fixed for Kemp's execu.
ton. Harry had fought with ali his
might TO save Kemp, but the circum.
stantial evidence was too strong. He
had been convicted. the court Of ap.
peals had sustained the verdict, and
Ghe governor had refused to inter.
vene.
Ethel had read the stories OF the
trial. She knew that Kemp and Good.
now were both longshoremen, men of
low character and evil reputation
among the comparatively decent class
OF the neighborhood in which they re-
sided. Yet that WAS no reason why
Kemp's life should be snuffed out for
Q crime he had not committed.
The marriage was to take place at
eight in the morning, and that was
the hour at which Kemp's life was
b be taken. This so wrought upon
the girl that she resolved to have an
evening wedding the day before.
Harry readily accepted the change of
plans, and, since the marriage was to
be strictly a private one. Ethel con-
eluded her morning work at the Set
Element on the day of her marriage.
Then she strolled along the region
Of the docks, where she was we'll
known and safe from molestation.
As she turned to ascend the street
leading to her residence, she per-
ceived q little crowd gathered at the
head of one of the wharves. Hurry
ing up, she found that an accident
had happened. A man had been
struck down by q load that fell from
. crane, and fearfully mangled. It
was evident that he had only a few
minutes to live. and, what made tho
scene worse, he was in great pain and
fully conscious. ..
Ethel, kneeling at bis side, attempt
Cd in vain to stanch the blood that
flowed from his crushed body. He
looked up at her. He seemed to rec
ognize her.
You're the Settlement lady, amt
you?" he gasped. you was going to
be married to Mr.. Bentwich?"
EYES," answered Ethel. "But you
must not talk. The doctor will be
here in few minutes and you must
keep quiet and not exert yourself"
Il will talk" the man burst out
with sudden vehemence. my names
Goodnow. Mean anything to ycu?"
he added savagely. Z
IT you are Goodnow you will tell
the truth about Kemp before you
de-" said Ethel quietly.
AYE, I'll tell you" answered the
man. II know I'm going to croak.
and don't want Kemp to be touched
of now that it won't do no good to
me. Kemp said he was with me all
the evening of the murder, but that's
n lie He wasn't"
HE wasn't?" cried Ethel In despair.
mo. But he thought he was" said
Goodnow. WED been having a few
glasses together, and Kemp fell asleep
In the chair. Then I put on his hat
and overcoat and went and done II
myself" .. AL
What did you dot" asked Ethel.
striving to retain her self-composure'
"Croaked him-the man what Kemp
- supposed to have croaked." grunt'
cd Goodnow savagely.
"You killed him7' ISL"
Eyes. He was trying to blackmail
the pair Of us about a Job We pulled
of in Philadelphia last year"
He groaned and tried to continue
but suddenly a fearful paroxysm Of
pain racked his body, and he drifted
into the last unconsciousness.
Ethel looked round her in . daze
trying to collect her thoughts. A by
stander touched her on the arm. She
looked up into the face of respect
able laboring man.
II heard every word he said, Miss,
said the fellow. "And we must gel
that confession before the governor al
once"
"Yes," exclaimed Ethel. eagerly.
you must come with me. There II
not q minute to lose"
Half an hour later they sat side by
side aboard the train bound for the
capital. And, just about tho time
when Ethel should have been with
Harry before tho minister. they were
being ushered into the governors Of
ice.
& He heard Ethel's evidence grave
y enough, and that of her oompan
Ion, but when they had finished speak
Ing there was . faint smile upon bill
ttAce.
~ 3. . F.. f..