The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-01-02
TIE TIE CONFESSION
BY MAY CUNNINGHAM COBB.
1copyright. 1914. by W. @. Chapman.)


despondentIy. But that is part of a
lawyers fate, and we must take the
bad with the good
And there is no longer any hope OF |
saving the poor mani" inquired Ethel
sadly.
Not unless miracle occurs. an
swered her lover
How dreadful sighed Ethel
Harry Bentwich and Ethel were to
be married two days later, and that
was the day fixed for Kemp's execu-
ton. Harry had fought with all his
might TO save Kemp, but the circum-
stantial evidence was too strong. He
had been convicted, the court of APP
peaIs had sustained the verdict, and
the governor had refused to inter
vene
Ethel had read the stories Of the
trial. She knew that Kemp and Good
now were both longshoremen, men OF
low character and evil reputation
among the comparatively decent class
OF the neighborhood in which they re-
sided. Yet that was no reason why
Kemp's life should be snuffed out for
q crime he had not committed.
The marriage was TO take place at
eight In the morning. and that was
the hour at which Kemp's life was
to be taken. This SO wrought upon
the girl that she resolved to have an
evening wedding the day before.
Harry readily accepted the change OF
plans, and, since the marriage was TO
! be strictly a private one, Ethel con-
cluded her morning work at the Set
| Element on the day of her marriage.
Then she etrolled along the region
OF the docks, where she was well
known and safe from molestation.
AS she turned to ascend the street
| leading to her residence, she per-
ceived little crowd gathered at the
head of one of the wharves. Hurry
ing up, she found that an accident
had happened A man had been
| struck down by load that fell from
a crane, and fearfully mangled. It
! was evident that he had only few
| minutes to live, and. what made the
scene worse, he was in great pain and
fully conscious.
Ethel, kneeling at his side, attempt
ed In vain to stanch the blood that
i flowed from his crushed body. He
looked up at her He seemed to rec
ognize her.
you're the Settlement lady. amt
your he gasped. You was going to
be married to Mr. Bentwich?"
Yes answered Ethel. But you
must not talk The doctor will be
here in a few minutes and you must
keep quiet and not exert yourself.
Il will talk, the man burst out
with sudden vehemence My names
Goodnow Mean anything to you?"
he added savagely.
IF you are Goodnow you will tell
the truth about Kemp before you
die" said Ethel quietly.
AYE, I'll tell you" answered the
man. II know I'm going to croak,
and I don't want Kemp to be touched
of now that it won't do no good to
me. Kemp said he was with me all
the evening of the murder. but that's
!, lie. He wasn't
He wasn't?" cried Ethel in despair
mo. But he thought he was said
Goodnow. Wed been having a few
glasses together, and Kemp fell ASLEEP
In the chair. Then / put on his hal
and overcoat and went and done Il
, myself
What did you do?'' asked Ethel
striving to retain her self-composure
"Croaked him-the man what KemI
is supposed to have croaked," grunt
; ed Goodnow savagely.
eYou killed him?'
Eyes. He was trying to blackmai
: the pair of US about a job We pulled
off in Philadelphia last year"
! He groaned and tried to continue
but suddenly a fearful paroxysm 0
2 pain racked his body. and he drifte'
l into the last Inconsistencies.
Ethel looked round her in a daze
7 trying to collect her thoughts. A by
: stander touched her on the arm. Sh
: looked up into the face of respect
able laboring man.
= II heard every word he said, Miss,
said the fellow And we must &c
thas confession before the governor q
!, once
3 yes. exclaimed Ethel. eagerly
You must come with me. There
: not minute to lose"
Half an hour later they sat side b
6 side aboard the train bound for tn
7. capital And. just about the tim
e when Ethel should have been wit
q Harry before the minister. they wer
= being ushered into the governors o
: flee
He heard Ethei's evidence grav'
e ~ enough, and that of her compal
3 ion, but when they had finished speal
ing there was faint smile upon h
= face
. Il shall grant a respite pending
= full examination of this matter"
y said. But now. let me ask you
question Did you not come here {
= a considerable personal sacrifice tn
: afternoon"
Yes. l was to have been ma
RED" answered Ethel But HarI
u will understand. Now may / ask 20
=