Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-11-04

For Heavens sake let me tell yc
the story!" I cried. and the tear
to my eyes as touched his sleeve In
pleading.
His experience had taught him TO
read men, and he saw everything in
my manner that changed the eXpres-
sion of his face and in his voice as he
said, very quietly. Go on"
He sat down on the edge OF the cot
where could whisper the whole hor-
rible story. AS ] went on my voice
trembled with passion when spoke
of the man hated; it was husky with
despair when mentioned the girl
loved; 1t was dead with hopelessness
when told what had done. forced
myself to tell all-everything.
II apologize" he said earnestly
when 1 had finished. He thrust out
his hand. II misjudged YOU"
you'll take my case?" / said JOY
fully. Somehow he had put new.
strength into me: rev hope ran with
the blood from my heart.
Glauly.
IL want you to hire private cctcc-
tives," l continued eagerly. "a hun
dred, If necessary. to trace every MOVE
Mike Garven made on the day OF the
murder" His viriln presence had sent
the see-saw end of hope bounding up
ward again.
"That would cost small fortune"
he said seriously.
IL have it." assured him.
He glanced at me curiously. but he
only said: at is more than likely
that the police have taken steps to tie
UP every cent you might have"
couldn't resist smiling wanly.
II am sitting on a hundred and
sixty thousand dollars" said.
He ha probably heard many aston.
ishing ltements unmoved, but he
jumped at that one. "Where?" he
gasped.
looked up and saw the guard, with
detective, standing about twenty
feet away where they could see, but
could not hear.
Under the Mattress" whispered.
"Great Scott" he calculated, almost
admiringly. you've got through the
search with that"
described the vest that had made
It possible.
at is ten times as much as we
need" he mused. Then: do you
realize that, even though this murder
charge is dismissed, there Will be
others? Your confession has made
possible dozen indictments for old
swindles."
'I1l welcome the years in jail"
said bitterly. "They will be brighten
ed by the knowledge that the man
responsible has received his dues"
Revenge is your only motive?" be
asked keenly.
didn't look at him. "Yes" said
huskily. He knew I lied. and in my
heart l knew it, too. though 1 had
tried dozen times before to convince
myself that it was the truth.
wanted to prove to the girl whose
father I had been forced to rob that
the man she betrayed was not a muir
derer. Why? Heaven knows! 1 can
only offer the excuse have given SO
many times before-I am human.
II was several minutes before he
spoke again, he unloosened a flood
of questions. They covered every
thing: many details had almost for
gotten in the maze of big things. ]
fro, II
ing the reason. / was putting myself
wholly in his hands.
II think I'll telegraph to Richmond
and get squad of detectives busy on
his past record down there" he said
finally.
"Dut that Is time wasted" / put IN.
"Slivers O'Hagen was the only man
who knew anything about that. The
murder must have been committed
twenty years ago"
Just about twenty years." he said
slowly, and there seemed to be curl
Gus light in his eyes. II have funny
hunch," he admitted. ut concerns
the prophecy Slivers O'Hagen made
and Virginia"
l shook my head hopelessly. but con-
tented myself with: "How are you
going to get this money!"
"Just give it to me and take a re-
ceipt."
pointed TO the watching detective,
and he smiled.
II hardly think We'll have any diff
flculty in proving that 1t is no part of
the two hundred thousand and fifty
thousand" he declared. "And, while
the police could tie up every cent
you might have in hanks, they won't
have nerve enough TO take an attempt
to get It from your counsel"
smiled almost joyously. Get upi"
commanded.
He stood up and watched as lift
ed the mattress and pulled out the
thick wad of bills. The curse of
amazement from the watching detec-
tive came to me plainly. just as did
his running feet,