Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-02-04

going forward?"
mo. The two houses we're con-
nected by an awning"
What could the helmsman seer"
Nothing forward of the after
house,
The prosecution closed its case with
me. The defense, having virtually con-
Quoted its case by cross examination
OF the witnesses already called. con-
tented itself with producing u few
character witnesses. and rested"
Goldstein made an eloquent plea Of
no case" and asked the judge so to
instruct the jury.
This was refused. and the case went
to the jury on the seventh day-a sur
prisingly short trial. considering the
magnitude of the crimes.
The jury disagreed. But, while they
wrangled. McWhirter and l were al
ready on the right track. At the very
hour that the jurymen were being dis
charged and steps taken for Il retrial.
we had the murderer locked in my
room in a cheap lodging house off
Chestnut street
My situation was better than it had
been in the summer. l had my
strength again. although the long con-
inement had told on me. But my posi-
ton was %precarious enough. l had my
pay from the Ella, and nothing else.
And McWhirter, with a monthly stip-
end from his hospital Of $25. was not
much better off.
My first evening of freedom we spent
at the theater. We bought the best
seats in the house. and we dressed for
the occasion-being in the position Of
having nothing to wear between
shabby everyday wear and evening
clothes.
ut is by way Of celebration" Mac
said. as he put a dab of shoe backing
over a hole in his sock; you having
been restored to life. liberty and the
pursuit of happiness. That's the game.
Leslie-the pursuit of happiness"
"Happiness!' I said scornfully. DO
you call this happiness?"
We enjoyed the theater. after all,
with the pent up enthusiasm Of long
months OF work and strain. We
laughed at the pue1le fun, encored the
prettiest Of the girls, and staggered
in the lobby between acts with cigar
cites. There we ran across the one
man | knew in Philadelphia and had
supper after the play with three or
four fellows. who, IN hearing my
story, persisted in believing that | had
sailed on the Ella as a lark or to fol-
low a girl. My simple statement that
| had done it out OF necessity met
with roars Of laughter and finally |
let it go at that.
1t was after I when we got back
to the lodging house, being escorted
there in a racing car by a riotous
crowd that stood outside the door, as
fumbled for my key, and screeched
in unison: Leslie! Leslie. Leslie: Sick
EN-" before they drove away.
The light in the dingy lodging house
parlor was burning full. but the hall
was dark. | stopped inside and lighted
a cigarette.
Life, liberty and the pursuit Of hap
piness. Mac" | said. I've got the
first two. and the other can be had
for the pursuit"
Mac did not reply: he was staring
into the parlor. Elsa Lee was standing
by Il table looking at me.
She was very nervous and tried to
explain her presence in IL b~reath-with
the result that she broke down utterly
and had to stop. Mac. his jovial face
rather startled. was making for the
stairs; but | sternly brought him back
and presented him. Wherein. being
remark that he wonld nave to go and
put out the milk bottles: it was almost
morning.
She had beer waiting since 10
o'clock, she said. A taxicab. with he
maid. was at the door. They were
going back to New York in the morn
ing and things were terribly wrong.
There are detectives watching Mar
shall. We saw one today at the hotel
If the jury disagrees-and the lawyers
think they will-they will arrest him."
thought it probable. There was
nothing l could say.
II was to ask you to do something
she said. None Of us can, for we arc
being watched. | was probably fol
lowed here. The Ella is still in the
river. with only a Waterman on board
We want you to so there tonight if you
can"
ITO the Ella?"
She vas feeling in her pocketbook
and now she held out to me an envel
ope addressed in a sprawling hand tc
MI. Turner at his hotel.
Am l to open it,"
please"
unfolded q sheet Of ruled note pa.
per of the most ordinary variety. II
had been opened and laid fiat, and OF
it in black ink was a crude drawing OF
the deck of the Ella as one would looL
down on it from aloft. Here and there
were small crosses in red ink and over
lying it all from bow to stern a red ak
Around the border NOT written hu1