Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-04

woman with Mr.. Howell. woman
who might have been Jennie Br.ce.
But IL It was. why did not Mr.. Howell
say so?
| Mr. LadIey claimed she was hiding
in revenge. But Jennie Brice was not
that sort of woman. There was some
thing big about her, something that Is
found often in large women-a lack of
spite. She was not petty or malicious.
Her faults. like her virtues. were for
all to see.
In spite of the failure to identify the
body Mr.. Lsdley was arrested that
| night, Tuesday. and this time il was
! for murder. l know now that the po-
lice were taking long chances. They
had no strong motive for the crime
As Mr.. Holcombe said. they had provo-1
cation. but not motive. which Is differ
ent. They had opportunity. and they
had lot of struggling links of cIews.
which In the total made a fair chain of
circumsta ntiaI evidence. But that was
all.
That Is the way the case stood on
Tuesday night. March 13
Mr.. Ladley was taken away at o
| O'Clock. He was perfectly cool. asked
me to help him pack a suit case and
whistled while it was being done. He
requested to be allowed to walk to the
jail and went quietly. with detective
on one side and. l think. sheriff's Of !
fcer on the other.
Just before he left he asked for 1
word or two with me, and when be |
paid his bill up to date and gave me an !
extra dollar for taking care of Peter | |
was almost overcome. He took the |
manuscript of his play with him. and |
l rememb Der his asking if he could have
any tipping done in the Jail. l had /
never seen man arrested for murder |
before, but l think he was proba bly,
the coolest suspect the officers had |
ever seen. They hardly knew what to
make Of it.
Mr.. Reynolds and 1 had a cup of tea
after all the excitement and were sit
ting at the dining room table drinking
1t when the bell rang 1t was Mr.. /
Howell. He hSif staggered into the
hall when I opened the door and was
for going into the parlor bedroom with
out a word. 4
him." said. thought his face cleared. Il
uc SdiO w ueEe.
To JAIL
He did not reply at once. He stood
there, tapping the palm of one hand
with the forefnger of the other He
was dirty and unshaven. His clothes
looked as il he had been sleeping in
them.
so they've got him. he muttered
finally, and turning. was about to go
out the front door without another
word. but 1 caught his arm.
You're sick. Mr. Howell" I said.
You'd better not go out just yet
"Oh. I'm all right" He shook his
handkerchief out and wiped his face.
saw that his hands were shaking.
Come back and have n cup Of tea
and slice Of homemade bread"
He hesitated and looked at his watch.
''Ili do it, Mrs. Pitman." be said. II
suppose I'd better throw a little fuel
into this engine of mine. It's been
going hard for several days"
He ate like wolf. 1 cut half a loaf
into slices for him. and he drank the
rest of the tea. Mr.. Reynolds creaked
up to bed and left him still eating.
and me still cutting and ST -eading.
Now that had a chance TO see him !
was shocked. The rims of his eyes Z
were red. his collar black and his hair (
hung over his forehead But when he
finally sat back and looked at me his
color was better.
$50 they've canned him." he said.
Time enough. too" said I.
He leaned forward and put both his 4
elbows on the table. Mrs. Pitman."
he said earnestly. II don't like him
any more than you do. But he never
killed that woman"
Somebody killed her."
How do you know? How do you
know she's dead?"
Well. I didn't of course-I only felt
t.
THE police haven't even proved
rhine. They can't hold a man for q
murder" &
Perhaps they can't. but they're do
ing it, / retorted. IF the woman's
alive she won't let him hang
I'm not so sure of that" he said
heavily and got up. He looked in the y
little mirror over the sideboard and X
brushed back his hair. Il look bad 8
he said. but I feel worse. q
Well, you've saved my life. Mrs. Pit s
nan. Thank you"
How is my-how is Miss Harvey!
asked. as we started out. He turned &
md smiled at me in his boyish way. s
The best ever he said. Il haven't e
zen her for days. and it seems like p
CENTURIES. She-she is the only girl i'll xs
he world for me. Mrs. Pitman. al Is
hough r. He stopped and drew n
ong breath. she is beautiful, isn't IL
he?" Be
Very beautiful l answered. Her 81
mother was always -
Her mother" He looked at me e
uriously. Re
Il knew her mother years ago" i E
aid. putting the best face ON my mis- *
axe that could. IS
Then I'll remember you TO her. If "
he ever allows me to see her again. N
ust now I'm persona non grata.' 81
IF you'll do the kindly thing. Mr.. ~
oil 10