Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-02-25

| because he QlunC 90 IL.
| well. he says he did it,"
Mary. in her turn. resorted to a bit
| Of f1nesse, In order to learn whether
or not Carson had been arrested.
But how could he have done it,
when he vent she began.
where did he go?''
You ought to know. since you have
arrested him. and be has confessed"
Burke was frantic over being worst
ed thus. To gain diversion. he re-
verified to his familiar bullying tactics.
"Who shot Griggs?' he shouted.
MY husband shot a burglar" Mary
said languidly. WAS his name Griggs?"
"Oh. you know better than that"
Burke declared. truculently. you see,
we've traced the Maxim silencer. Gar
son himself bought it up in Hartford"
For the first time, Mary was caught
of her guard.
But he told me- she began, then
| checked herself.
"What did he tell you?" Burke ques-
| toned.
He told me that he had never seen
| one. Surely, If he had had anything
| Of the sort. he would have shown it
to me-"
Burke pressed the button on the
desk. and. when the doorman appeared,
ordered that the prisoner be returned
to her cell.
II suppose" Mary said. that it's
useless for me to claim my constitu-
tional rights. and demand to see
lawyer"
EYES," Burke agreed, you've guessed
it right, the first time"
Cassidy came hurrying in with grin
Of satisfaction on his stolid face.
Say, chief" the detective said with
animation. we've got Carson"
Burke asked Glider and the district
attorney to withdraw. while be should
have a private conversation with the
prisoner.
"Now." he said when they~wer alone
together. I'm going to be your friend"
Are your Mary's tone was non
committal.
"Yes," Burke declared. heartily.
And l mean it! Give up the truth
about young Glider. know he shot
Griggs, Of course. But I'm not taking
any stock in that burglar story-not
little bit! No court would either.
What was really back Of the killing?
Was he jealous Of Griggs? Well. that's
what he might do then. He's always
been a worthless young cub. A rotten
deal like this would be about bis gait,
l guess. Tell me. now, why did he
shoot Eddie Griggs?"
There was coarseness a-plenty in the
inspectors pretense. but it possessed
solitary fundamental virtue: it play
ed on the heart Of the woman whom he
questioned. aroused it to wrath in de-
tense Of her mate. In a second. all
poise fed from this girl whose soul
was poisoning in the blest realization
that man loved her purely. unselfsh-
haste
He didn't kill him! He didn't kill
him.! she fairly Kissed. why. he's
the most wonderful man in the world.
You shan't hurt him! Nobody shall
hurt him! III fight to the end of my
life for Dick Gilder!'
Burke was beaming joyously.
well. that's just what l thought"
he said, with SNUG content. And now.
then. who did shoot Griggs? We've
got every one of the gang. They're
all crooks. See here" he went on,
with sudden change to the respectful
in his manner, why don't you start
fresh? I'll give you every chance in
the world. I'm dead on the level with
you this time
By now Mary had herself we'll in
hand again vastly ashamed of the
short period of self betrayal caused by
the officials artifce against her heart.
AS she listened to the inspectors as
surances, the hooking expression of
her face was not encouraging to that
astute individual. but he persevered
manfully.
"Just you watt" be went on cheer
fully" land III prove to you that I'm
on the level about this. that I'm really
your friend. There was a letter came
for you to your apartment My men
brought it down to me. I've read it.
Here it Is. I'll read it to your
He picked up an envelope. which had
been lying on the desk, and drew out
the single sheet Of paper it contained.
Mary watched him. wondering much
more than her expression revealed over
this new development Then, as she
listened, quick interest touched her
features to new life.
This was the letter:
I can't 60 without telling you how sor-
ry am. There won't never be a time
that won't remember 1t was me got you
sent up: that you did time in my place.
amt going to forgive myself ever. and l
swear I'm going straight always. Your
true friend. HELEN NORRIS.
For once, Burke showed a certain
delicacy. When he had finished the
reading, he said nothing for a long
minute.
Mary's eyes were luminous in TIN
Joy Of the realization that for her, after
all, rehabilitation might be In a mea-
sure possible, though nothing could
ever repay the degradation of years
infinitely worse than lost.
Burke's harsh voice, cadenced to q
singular sympathy. broke in on her
reverie of pleasure and Of pain.
'You knew this?' be inquired.
Eyes, two days ago."
"Did you tell old Gilder?" he asked.
Mary shook her head in negation.
what would be the use?" she re-
| minded him. ri had no proof. No