Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1916-12-09

Rushing out into the street to sum-
mon help, she returned presently with
Patrolman OBrien. just as Martel. Dis
toll in hand. was making his escape.
At sight OF the policeman. Martei ran
back into the room O'Brien followed
him and, after fierce struggle. sue
ceeded in overcoming the murderer.
Martels defense. oddly enough, was
an alibL 1t Is established that the
shooting occurred precisely on the
stroke of midnight. Martel admitted
visiting Miss Drayton on that evening,
but declared he left her apartment at
lao and did not return 70 II until
l2:lO. He said he spent the interyen-
ing time at DOrley's restaurant with
John Leonard and that he was
taking his leave OF Leonard as the
clock struck twelve.
Mr.. Leonard sailed for Brazil at
two in the morning. before Martel re-
covered consciousness after his tussle
with the policeman All efforts. by
Leonard have failed. as he is I'm the
'hinterland. beyond the reach of tele-
graph
1t 1t needless to say. no credence
was placed IN Martels remarkable
abb; since all evidence points to the
fact that he did not leave Miss Dray-
ton apartment from the moment he
hrst entered il. until he attempted to
escape afer the murder was commit
ted. The revolver with which the vic
tim was killed. bore MarteTs name
carved on the butt
Great credit is due to District At
torney {. 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 evil
dence against the accused
John Leonard read the bady crum-
pied article with eyes abulge. lie
looked again at the date. then groaned
aloud An hour later he was on his
way to the nearest town that had 4
telegraph office and thence. post-haste.
to the coast
Margaret Graeme sat in the libarry
of her fathers house A book Law 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. She stared into
space as if trying TO fathom an un-
known depth.
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
timidly outstretched hand or to her de-
precating smile of welcome. His first
curt words were:
Il am too late My cablegram was
delayed somehow III Brazil. The op
orator went on a spree. | suppose.
find it never reached the district at
torney until this morning | heard
by wireless, yesterday, of Edwin Mar.
tells 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
if ever you can forget it. Or perhaps, -
he sneered, independent womanhood
and a public career take no account
of such trities as judicial murder"
Don't" she said again, imploring.
ly, 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. All at once knew,
whatever the evidence against him,
that Edwin Martel was innocent
went to the district attorney | begged
him-on my knees | begged him-to
get Martel reprieve until you could
be heard from. Mr. Halloran just
laughed at my plea and said: Re
prieve and such legal delays are for
rich men. Not for poor guys who
haven't cash or influence. If it wasn't
for an occasional poor man caught in
its meshes. the law would never have
a fair chance and Id never make a rec
ord?' | resigned my secretaryship.
that very minute. and came back home.
But | can never undo what | have
done"
Never" cOldly assented Leonard.
The law has been satisfied And JUS
tice has been cheated. IL Edwin Mar