The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-11-12

have been after him, and he's worried
despite appearances. He's working
at high pressure. Remember the last
words of Slivers OHagen? I'm go
Ing to make the boiler exploded"
shook my head hopelessly. OLA
gems words had been the foolish ra-
wing OF an old man. Mike Garven
Cant you realize that everything
depends on the next few minutes?"
he Kissed. 1.-THE explosion will have
to come with the suddenncss of
thunder-clap to move him, but 1t will
tear him to shreds. O'Hagen made
that prophecy legacy.
For Heavens sake take advantage
Of II! can't take chance that 1t
will last more than II minute, and in
that minute you've got to act! Lis
teri"
He explained a move was to make
when Garven left the witness-chair. !
nodded dumbly. 1t would be done;
but had no hope. when I say,
James Haviland. take the witness
stand!" he warned again.
~. Michael Garven!" he called, and
the excited talk died down as Garven
walked to the chair, took the oath,
and sat down. His blank gray eyes
looked over the crowd, rested on the
jury for moment, then turned their
unflinching gaze Of Jamison.
"Mr. Garven, you are the director
Of a gigantic swindling organization.
are you not?"
1t came like pistol-shot. Clasps
went up from all parts OF the hall.
II am a broker doing business on
Wall street." corrected Mike Garven,
without change of expression.
CLEAN to those stone eyes by such
methods? Thought bitterly of my
own childish attempts.
Did you not obtain the prisoners
Enger-prints on the brass bowl in
your office by q clever ruse?"
The room was still as death now.
saw the girl lean forward. her lips
parted. as she waited breathlessly for
the answer.
"As I have no counsel present who
can object to questions such as that.
will make the obvious denial" re-
piled Mike Garven in his cold, even
voice.
"Mr. Garven," went on Jamison re.
lentlessly. II happen to know that the
belief of my client-namely, that you
hired or forced tool to kill Slivers
O'Hagen, Is wrong. Lam correct?" =
started. He was tearing down my
one hope.
You are" the monotoned voice an
swered.
II am right, because any one who
looked at the case calmly would in
stantly see that it would be the height
Of folly for man 10 rid himself Of
one blackmailer in n way that would
give another man the same bold on
him"
! Strengthened in my chair. What
did he mean? What was coming?
michael Garven!' Jamison c,ar-
ion voice rang out you came to
Cranston in an automobile on the
night a the murder, passed the sta
ton unnoticed in the rain, stopped
your machine In small patch OF
trees few hundred yards down the
road. walked down the tracks and
waited for the train to come in, went
up the steps of a car on the side away
from the station and came down the
other to give the impression that you
were getting of, asked the three men
where O'Hagen lived, started to walk
TO the house, but got your car. muir
dered O'Hagen, placed the tray you
had wrapped in cotton batting on the
table, escaped in your automobile
more than hour before the least sus+
picion was aroused. and the rain de.
stroyed all tire tracks,"
Great Heavens! The possibility
staggered me. ! half rose In my chair
and Jamison pushed me back. That
was it! Why hadn't seen 1t before?
NO one out Mlke IdTNeu COulu nave
committed the murder!
THAT is lie," the steel-cold voice
of Mike Garven said. 1t was not even
an exclamation. II will Immediately
take steps to have you prosecuted for
it." he went on calmly. The eyes were
as always--they stared unwaveringly
at the lawyer by my side.
"'Scott. what control he has!
heard Jamison mutter as he wiped the
perspiration from his forehead.
My heart sank. He had pinned his
faith on that accusation. He had
meant it to bring about the thing
Slivers OHagen had said would come,
and he had failed utterly.
He rose from his chair. and I heard
the tense breaths of the listeners be-
ing released in great gasp. He
walked around the table with a pad
of white paper in his hand.
"Mr. Garven, l want you to make
a print of your thumb on this paper!"