The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-10-28

II up"
Il don't need any papers to take
you," was the barked-out retort. Brof-
fin had more than once found himself
confronting similar dead walls, and he
knew the worth Of bold play.
ooh. yes, you do. You accuse me
Of a crime; did you see me commit
the crime?"
mo"
well, somebody did, suppose.
Bring on your witnesses. II anybody
can identify me as the man you are
after, I'll go with you-without the
requisition. That's fair, isn't it,"
81 know you're the man, and you
know 1t, too, d-n well!" snapped
Brofin. angered into bandying words
with his obstinate capture.
THAT is neither here nor there; l
am not affirming or denying. 1t is for
you to prove your case, if you can.
And, listen, Mr.. Broffin-perhaps 1t
will save your time and mine If l add
that l happen to know that you can't
prove your case"
why can't II"
Just because you can't" Griswold
went on argumentatively. Il know
the facts of this robbery you speak of;
a great many people know them. The
newspaper accounts said at the time
that there were three persons who
could certainly identify the ,robber-
the president, the paying teller, and a
young woman. 1t so happens that all
three of these people are at present in
Wahaska. At different times you have
appealed to each of them, and in each
instance you have been turned down.
Isn't that true?"
Broffin glanced up, scowling.
tits true enough that you-you and
the little black-eyed girl between you
have hoodooed the whole bunch!" he
rasped. But when get you into
court, you'll find that there are 9th
ers."
Griswold smiled good-naturedly.
THAT is bold, bad bluff, Mr.. Broffin,
and nobody knows 1t any better than
you do" he countered. "You haven't
leg to stand on. This is America,
and you can't arrest me without war
rant. And if you could, what would
you do with me without the support
of at least one of your three witnesses?
Nothing-nothing at all"
Brofin laid the pistol on the table,
and put the key of the safety box be-
side it. Then he sat in grim silence
for a full minute, toying idly with a
pair of handouts which he had taken
from his pocket.
"By the eternal grappIes!" he said,
at length, half to himself, "Tve a good
mind to do 1t anyway-and take the
chances"
AS quick as flash Griswold thrust
out his hands.
"Put them on!" he snapped. There
are hundred lawyers in New Orleans
who wouldn't ask for anything better
than the chance to defend meat your
expense!"
Broffin dropped the manacles into
his pocket and sat back in the swing
chair. you win," he said shortly;
and the battle was over.
For little time no word was spo.
ken. Griswold smoked on placidly,
seemingly forgetful of the detectives
presence. Yet he was the one who
was the first to break the strained
silence.
"You are a game fighter, Mr.. Brof
fin," he said. land I'm enough of a
scrapper myself to be sorry for you
Try one of these smokes-you'll find
them fairly good-and excuse me for q
few minutes. want to write let
ter which, If you are going down town
perhaps you'll be good enough to mail
for me-"
He pushed the open box of cigars
across to the detective, and dragged
the lounging chair around to the
stationery at hand, and he wrote rap
idly for a few minutes, covering three
pages of the manuscript sheets before
he stopped. When the letter was in
closed, addressed, and stamped. he
tossed it across to Broffin, face up
The detective saw the address, miss
Margery Grierson," and, putting the
letter into his pocket, got up to go.
"Just one minute more, if you
please" said Griswold, and, relighting
the cigar which had been suffered tc
go out, he went into the adjoining bed
room. When he came back, he had
put on light top coat and a soft hat
and was carrying small handbag.
I'm your man, Mr.. Broffin," he said
quietly. "IIl go with you-and plead
guilty as charged"
Wahaska, the village-conscious, had
its nine-days' wonder displayed for II
in inch-type headlines when the Daily
Wahaskan, rehearsing the story of the
New Orleans bank robbery, told of the
voluntary surrender Of the robber, anC
of his deportation to the southern city
to stand trial for his offense.
Some few there were who took ex
ceptions to Editor Randolph's editorial
in the same issue, commenting on the
surrender, and pleading for a suspen
sion of judgment on the ground that
much might still be hoped for from a
man who had retraced a broad steE
in the downward path by voluntarily
accepting the penalty. Those who OBJ
jected to the editorial were of the per
verse minority. The intimation was
made that the plea had been inspired
hint basing itself upon the fact that
Miss Grierson had been seen visiting
the office Of the Wahaskan after the de
parture of the detective, Matthew Brof
fin, with his prisoner.
The sensational incident, however
had been forgotten long before a Ger