The Washington herald., 1916-06-25

ization.
And scanning the smudged inner sheets
Leonard came across a headline which
caught and riveted his horrifed atten-
tion. The headline was:
MARTEL CONDEMNED TO DIE.
slayer of Elsie Drayton Sentenced to
Electric Chair
Followed a New York date line" and
the following abridged item:
Edwin A. Martel was yesterday SEN
tenced by Judge Hinkle to die in the
electric chair during the week Of March
80, for the murder of his sweetheart
Elsie Drayton, an artist.
Martel was engaged to be married tc
Miss Drayton. On the evening of De.
cember 81 he called on her, aIledgedly &c
say good-by before starting for Brazil on
the Leonard expedition. Mrs Wigs
janitress Of the studio building in which
Miss Drayton lived. heard the sounds OF
violent quarreling as she passed along the
nall outside Of the victims apartment
She heard Miss Drayton call out in
terror: Don't You're killing me" and
afterward heard her cry defiantly, Shoot
me! Go ahead and shoot me" Half an
hour later, Mrs. Wigs. in her own ROOM
heard piercing scream followed al
most at once by a pistol shot
Rushing out into the street to sum-
mon help, she returned presently with
fatrolman O'Brien, just as Martel, pis-
tol In hand, was making his escape. At
slight of the policeman. Martel ran back
into the room. O'Brien followed him and
after fierce struggle. succeeded in over
coming the murderer.
Martels defense. oddly enough, was
an alibL 1t is established that.the shoot
ing occurred precisely on the stroke OF
midnight. Martel admitted visiting Miss
Drayton on that evening, but declared
he left her apartment at ll:4O and did
not return until l2:l0 He said he spent the
intervening time at DorIey's restaurant
with John Leonard and that he was TAX
ing his leave OF Leonard as the clock
struck L.
Mr.. Leonard sailed for Barzil at two
in the morning. before Martel recovered
consciousness after his tussle with the
policeman. All efforts. by the prisoners
attorneys, TO locate Mr.. Leonard have
failed. as he is in the 'hinterland.
beyond the reach Of telegraph
1T is needless to say. no credence was
placed in Martels remarkable alibI: since
all evidence points to the fact that he
did not leave Miss Drayton's apartment
from the moment he first entered il.
until he attempted to escape after the
murder was committed. The revolver
Marters name carved on the butt
Great credit is due to District At
torney c. NJ. Halloran for his brilliant
handling of the case. and TO his pretty
secretary. Miss Margaret Graeme, for her
really noteworthy aid in building up the
impregnable structure OF evidence
against the accused"
John Leonard read the badly crumpled
article with eyes abulge. He looked
again at the date. then groaned aloud.
An hour later he was on his way 10 the
nearest town that had a telegraph Of
flee. and thence, post-haste, to the
coast. ''s
Margaret Graeme sat in the library
of her fathers house. A book lay on
her lap. But she was not reading.
The last few months had put prema-
ture lines into her face, and there was
a new look of melancholy-almost OF
terror-in her eyes.
And thus John Leonard, on his way
uptown from the ship. found her. She
rose to greet him as he entered the
room. But he paid no heed to her
timidIy outstretched hand or to her de-
precating smile of welcome. His firsI
curt words were:
layed sume how in Brazil. The operator
went on a spree, I suppose. I find IL
never reached the district attorney until
this morning I heard. by wireless. yes
terday. Of Edwin Marters execution
Don't" she shuddered. "Oh. let me
forget it,"
Forget it?" he said raspingly. For
get that you helped send an innocent
man to his death? You will be lucky II
ever you can forget ii. Or perhaps" he
sneered. independent womanhood and 8
public career take no account Of such
trifies as a judicial murder
Don't" she said again. imploringly
"Oh. John, do you suppose you can
make me feel worse than do? When he
was sentenced he turned toward me and
looked me full in the eyes. And his look
went through me like white-hot iron. Al
at once I knew, whatever the evidence
g gainst him. that Edwin Martel was IN.
nocent / went to the district attorney
l begged him-on my knees l begged him
to get Martel a reprieve until you could
be heard from. Mr.. Halloran just laugh
ed at my plea and said: 'Reprieve and
such legal delays are for rich men. Not
for poor guys who haven't cash or in
Huence II it wasn't for an occasiona
poor man caught in its meshes. the Law
would never have fair chance and Id
never make a record I resigned my
sNNAthal SAilp' NA1N veg AAAa4AASSs eAAN
came back home. But I can never undo
what have done"
Never" coldly assentcd Leonard
The law has been satisfied. And justiC,
has been cheated. II Edwin Martel haC
had money enough. he could have gotter
a delay until came home. AS he didn'
the law took its course. The law tina
you gave me up for. The law who's,
study you preferred to the honored posi-
ton OF wife and mother"
"Oh, John" she wept. II have sinned
have sinned horribly. But I've paid
I've paid. I've paid in tears, in anguish
In heartbreak! Is there no forgiveness
Can you never take me back and Civ,
me anotoher chance? I'll spend my Who'll,
life, trying to atone"
Like granite his face was set, as h,
gazed coldly down into her fmpIorin.
eyes. Then-between him and the woman
who so vainly entreated his forgiveness
and love-a shadow seemed to fit Tn,
shadow Of Edwin Martel And tn,
shadowy lips seemed, to Leonards ex
cited fancy. to murmur:
Forgive as you hope to be forgiven
If I can forgive her. cannot your"
Involuntarily, l-eonard's sternly foldet
arms opened, And the girl he loved crep
weeping into their tender shelter.
end Of Eighth Story.)
MICN lNn WICJCIIKJO