Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-11-21
1cOntinued from Last Issue)
CHAPTER XVIII CONTINUED


Gloria moved away to a secluded
bench in powered nook. and ex-
quisite Grecian Enclosure more suited
to a courtship than to an in
QUESTION into a crime. Gloria motioned
the judge to sit down. She made sure
that nobody was within sight or hear
ing, then she threw off all pretense OF
respect for age and, seizing the old
man by the lapels of his coat. command
ed him:
Now you shall speak. You are going
to tell me why you let the murderer of
Dick Freneau go free. You are going
to tell me what you know about him.
l can only think of one reason. You
know that you had him put out of the
way. 1t was you and nobody else that
hired Trask, and that Is why you sent
him away when he happened to be
brought into your court"
Judge Freeman smiled drearily at the
accusation. He shook his head.
mo, Gloria, my child, you can't fasten
a murder on me, and once more advise
you 20 keep your pretty fingers out Of
the fire. If you don't you'll destroy
somebody who is very dear to you
Don't tell me any more lies, judge,
or you'll burn your ow-. fingers. You
don't know how much I have found out.
You'd better tell me what you know or
you'll destroy your own daughter, for
David will divorce her when he learns
how false she has been to him.
David knows! David knows" the
judge retorted. driven to bay by Gloria's
manner.
Gloria laughed at this. do you sup
pose that my brother would tolerate her
presence here at his side if he knew?
Look there they are together"
She pointed to a distant hilltop where
David stood with his arm about his
wife. The judge rose and glanced at the
couple, then sank back with a groan.
He has forgiven her. perhaps, because
he feels that that he has committed as
great a crime as hers"
Gloria was Infatuated at this attack on
her brother.
IT'S outrageous of you to try TO
besmirch the best 'man that lives. He
has been blind to your daughters
treachery, but that is his only fault"
HE has not been blind. He knew!"
the Judge insisted. Listen, Gloria. On
the night of the murder L met your
brother at a club. He was greatly ex-
cited. I said, What are you doing here?
You told me and you told Lois that you
were going south for a week David
was like a mailman. He said: Il only
pretended to CO. He took a letter from
his pocket and beat II with his hands.
I've had an anonymous letter sent to
me- he said and it's put me on my
guard If what il says is true, I've got
to kill a man. / tried to calm nim,
but club bore came up, and while he
held me David got away.
81 was frightened. I hurried from
the club 1 went to his house. He was
not there. The butler said that Lois
had left the house alone and walked to-
ward the drive. She had told me she
was going out of town. I had seen her
baggage leave the house. I walked over
TO the drive. ] found Freneau's car
With a smashed wheel The chauffeur
said that Freneau had left It and walked
north some time before. hurried on.
I'm front Of the monument ! stumbled
over Freneau's body. 1 knelt down. He
was dead. ] nearly lost my mind with
horror. Evidently David had followed
him I'D. had met him, and killed him,
leaving the body for the first policeman
to find.
Tt was late and cold and the drive
was deserted. AS n judge, 1 had seen
SO many families ruined by some mad
act, 1 could only think of one thing. the
legal rule that the corpus dilecti' the
body Of the dead man. must be produced
or its existence proved. The insane in
d
rid OF that body could save poor DAVID
! from going TO the chair, | could save
nv poor daughter from being disgraced
before the world. ] loved David ana
love Lois. Of course. They were my chill
/ 4ren. Neither OF them realized the hide
Gus consequences. Lois was my only
daughter. She was born with frivolous
/ soul. She couldn't help It. Her mother
+ died as your mother died, before she
could guide or control the young heart.
David is a splendid man: he loved LOIS
/ 10 distraction. He felt that his honor
could only be cleansed OF It's stain by
the blood of Freneau. He was the guilty
dog. He led my daughter astray. He
played with your trust. He was a
/ black-hearted-
stop" Gloria cried. It's cowardly
to Law all the blame on the one who
cannot defend himself either with lies
o. truth"
! Judge Freeman sighed and went
on: well, let the guilt lie where
he I.or6 will place il. All Know
was that I had heard your brother
threaten TO kill a man and that l found
the man dead a little later All my
honor and responsibility as judge wat
forgotten IN the first law of father
to protect his children from the world.