The Bossier banner., 1917-09-13
did he tell you what his business
was with your uncle?"

"But-but Pollard wasn't here!' he
gasped. I'VE know where he says he
was"
But surely the girl-central-wil re-
member what happened"
Perhaps she will, and yet
was interrupted by the sudden en-
trance of the officer whom l had sent |
to search the grounds. A small corner |
of my mind had been wondering for
some time what had become Of my
man, but ! had not dreamed that. he
would appear with prisoner, far less
that that prisoner would be woman.
"Robert!' she.cried. "How dreadfulr
"Where did you get herr" asked
Deylin in a guarded tone.
"She was outside there. chased her
clear to Willow street. Pretty near
home she was when caught her"
.YOu know who she is, then?'' ~
'Sure. Shes Celia Burton, the girl
that's made the trouble between Bob
Clinton and his uncle.'
l asked him what Miss Burton had
said In explanation of her presence.
and Devlin answered that she told him
that she had come to see Clinton.
''He was to have met her this eve-
ming, an he didn't said Devlin, ''an'
along about II o'clock she got to Won
derin' why, SO she come over an whis-
tied under his window, an he looked out
an said he'd be with her in minute
This extremely unconventional behav-
ior was quite CHARACTERISTIC of Miss
Burton. She was clerk in a candy
store and had been written up II. the
local papers as the prettiest girl IN
town. Such fame as that must neces-
sarily have prejudiced her in the eyes
of rigid aristocrat like Frederic Clin-
ton. Indeed, it was for a love affair
with girl OF very similar antecedents
| that Clinton had disinherited and ban
| ished his only son.
Miss Burton repeated to me the story
she had told Devlin, and she made no
| excuses.
II wanted to see him. she said, as
if that were quite sufficient.
On his part, Robert said that he had
spent the evening in Greensboro, about
| twenty miles from Bradbury, and had
returned by the last train. but lie re
| fused to tell me what errand had call
ed him there. Pollard would not dis
close the nature Of his business with
Mr.. Clinton. pleading professional priv
ilcge
On the morrow, however. there came
startling revelation. The cashier o1
the First National bank told me tha
Pollard had obtained during the las
few days over ssO,0N%h cash from
Mr.. Clinton's account and had ais,
visited the safe deposit vaults will
Mr.. Clinton. presumably to get securi
ties.
This disclosure seemed to justify M
in questioning Pollard more sharply
To my surprise. he threw aside hi
! reticence completely.
my business with MIR. Clinton" b
said, has related to settlement wit
his son.
Il thought he was dead" said I.
"He is not dead." replied the Law
yer. "HiS father has seen him sewers
times Of late. Mr.. Clinton desired t
keep this matter from the knowledg
of the nephew. Robert. and therefor
the son, Edward Clinton. has been Ii,
ing In Greensboro.
..Greensfordy' said l. "Did Robel
20 to see him last eyening?"
"IIc did. They were together up
the time that Robert took the last trai
| home"
"Tllen Edward. the son. has an all
in Roberts testimony"
"He has" replied the lawyer.
have talked with Robert today abo,
IT,
did Robert fear that the son wou
be restored to favor and he himself ca
adriit? y
II think SC"
81 have always understood that NJ
Clinton had made Robert his sole he
by will"
"That was true, but 1t Is not trl
now" answered Pollard. 'There is !
| will,-aMr. Clinton destroyed 1t thr
| days ago, intending to draw anOthe
| The son Is the natural heir. Robe
! gets nothing, but" he added signi
cantly, Robert does not yet know
this. Neither, does Celia Rurton.s
DO you mean to intimate that o.
of them killed him -
"Who else could it have been?'' sa
he. who had q m0tive?"
"But Edwards safety depends
= Roberts evidence
(Which have induced him to put
= the form of an affidavit" said the la
he yer grimly.
"Yon don't believe that Robert kill
him. said I. ''yet this is not woman
:, crime
No. ut is not an ordinary womal
/ crime." he rojoined.
NJ When / left Pollard the case look
no extremely bad from the point Of vi
bo of a chief of police. for there seem
% to be no chance of convictlng anyho'
I'll went over to Greensboro and loOE
,,s up Edward Clipton's alihi Even wi
- out fbe evidence Of his cousin Rob
It was ironclad. This man could hs
~ no fear Of being accused Of this m
~ der, and, assured Of this. summon
-. him to Bradbury, and he came.
1 "a had a conversation in my private rot
and the reader must understand t
everything ! said to that man wal
lie.
- "Mr. Clinton" said II. have J
+ sent some of my men to arrest
IN murderer of your father. He will
i'm here soon, and shall question b
NC In order that may be prepared to
sn want To falI with Ynn first