The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-12-31

Mr. LadIey claimed she was hidlhs
| in revenge. But Jennie Brice was ho'
that sort of woman. There was some
tblnp bip about her, something that IL
found often In large women-a iack VI
spite. She was not petty or malicious.
Her faults. like her virtues. were ior
| all to see.
In spite of the failure to identity the
body Mr.. Iadley was arrested tnn'
night, Tuesday. and this time II was
for murder. know now that the po-
lice were taking long chances. They
had no strong motive for the criuie'
AS MIR. Holcombe said, they had provo
cation. but not motive, which Is dlner-
ent. They had opportunity. and they
had a lot Of struggling links OF clews.
which In the total made fair cpa1h VI
clrcumstantial evidence. But that was
all.
That Is the way the case stood on
Tuesday night, March 10.
Mr.. Ladley was taken away at
o'clock. He was perfectly cool. asked
me to help him pack suit case ana
| whistled while 1t was being done. he
requested to be allowed to walk TO the
Jail and went quietly. with a detective
on one side and. think, sherins OF
fcer on the other.
Just before he left he asked for
word or two with me, and when ne
paid his bill up to date and give me an
extra dollar for taking care OF Peter l
was almost overcome. He took the
ma nuscript Of his play with him, ana
[ remember his asking II he could have
any tipping done in the jail. l had
never seen a man arrested for MURDER
before, but | think he was probably
the coolest suspect the officers had
ever seen. They hardly knew what to
make Of it.
Mr.. Reynolds and 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 half staggered into the
hall when | opened the door and was
for going into the parlor bedroom with.
out word.
-."Mr. LadIey's gone, If you want
Ndlu thOuSht MD 4oSC SiSAASN'
Gomez he said where"
''TO JAIL"
He did not reply at once. He stood
there, tapping the palm of one hand
with the forefinger of the other. He
was dirty and unshaven. His clothes
looked as If he had been sleeping in
them.
$50 they've got him." he muttered
finally, and turning, was about to go
out the front door without another
word, but l caught his arm.
you're sick, Mr. Howell" l 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 We're shaking.
"Come back and have a cup of tea
and slice of homemade bread"
He hesitated and looked at his watch.
"I'll do it. Mrs. Pitman," he said. Il
suppose I'd better throw little fuel
into this engine of mine. It's been
going hard for several days"
He ate like wolf. / cut half 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 spreading.
Now that had chance to see him l
was shocked The rims Of his eyes
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 l.
He leaned forward and put both his
elbows on the table. "Mrs. Pitman,"
he said earnestly, 81 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, l didn't, Of course-I only felt
'The police haven't even proved a
crime. They can't hold man for a
suppOsititious murder"
Perhaps they can't, but they're do.
ing it." l 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
little mirror over the sideboard and
brushed back his hair. II look bad
enough" he said, "but feel worse.
Well, you've saved my life, Mrs. Pit
man. Thank you"
How is my-hOw is Miss Haryey?'
l asked, as we started out He turned
and smiled at me in his boyish way.
The best ever!' he said. II haven't
seen her for days, and it seems like
centuries. She-she is the only girl in
the world for me, Mrs. Pitman. al.
though T. He stopped and drew a
long breath. "She is beautiful, isn't
she?'
"Very beautiful" 1 answered. "Her
mother was always
Her motherr' He looked at me
curiously.
Il knew her mother years ago." l
said, putting the best face on NV mis-.
take that could.
Then I'll remember you to her r.
she ever allows me to see her again.
Just now I'm persona non grata."
IF you'll do the kindly thing. Mr..
Howell" l said, you'll forget me TO
her."
He looked into my eyes and then
thrust out his hand.
All right" he said. "I'll not ask any
questions. l guess there are some curl.
Gus stores hidden in these old housesu
Peter hobbled to the front door with