The state herald., 1917-06-08

more Freneau was on trial pefore her
soul. But all she said was:
"The night courti Judge Freeman
let Trask 60. he tried to persuade
me not to pursue him again. What
reason did he havef He must have
known Trask. Hes got to tell the
truth"
Royce disclalmed all knowledge of
Judge Freeman's actions, or his
motives. He saw Judge Freneau COM
ing into the driveway In his car. He
saw the judges daughter, Lois, greet
him.
Gloria saw him, too, and she did not
wait. She glared at. Lois with savage
distrust and curtly demanded word
from the Judge. She beckoned to him
and walked away, and the old jurist
followed her like Z guilty lad going
to his punishment.
Gloria moved away to q secluded
bench in a powered nook, an exquisite
Grecian incl0sure more suited to q
courtship than to an inQulsltion into
crime. Gloria motioned the judge to
sit down. She made sure that nobody
was within sight or hearing, then she
threw on all pretence Of respect for
age and, SELLING the old man by the
lapels of his coat, commanded him:
"Now you shall speak. You are 60
Ing to tell me why you let the muir
derer of Dick Freneau go free. You
are going to tell me what you know
about him. can only think OF one
reason. You know that your daughter
was going to run away with him and
you had him put out of the way. 1t
was you md 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 to keep your pretty fin
gers out Of the fire. II 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 own fingers. You
don't know how much ! 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 knewI" the
judge retorted. driven to bay by Glo-
ria's manner.
Gloria laughed at this. do you
suppose that my brother would toler-
ate her presence here ut his side n he
knewf 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 q
groan.
HE has forgiven her. perhaps, be-
cause he feels that he has committed
as great q crime as hers"
Gloria was infuriated at this attack
on her brother.
'It's outrageous Of you to try to be-
smirch the best that lives. He has
been blind to your daughters treach-
cry. but that il his only fault"
"He has not been blind. He knewi"
the Judge insisted. "Listen, Gloria. On
the night Of the murder I met your
brother at q club. He was greatly
excited. I said, What are you doing
hersf You told me and you told Lois
that you were going South for 4 week
David was IKE Q madman. He said:
I only pretended to co. He took
lettse from his pocket and beat It with
his hands. I've had an anonymous let
ter lept tQ me- be said. and its put me
On my Eua@ Z what Y Nh 4 frye
rve sot to XIII I man. I tA1 tc calm
him. but q club bore came up. and
while he held me David got away.
n was frightened. I hurried from
the club. I went to his house. He
was not there. The butler said that
Lois had left the house alone and
walked toward the drive. She had told
ne she was going out Of town. had
seen her baggage leave the house.
walked over to the drive. ! found Ere
neau's car with smashed wheel. The
chauffeur said that Freneau had left II
and walked north some time before. !
hurried on.
''In front Of the monument ! STUN.
bled over Freneau's body. knelt
down. He was dead. ! nearly lost
my mind with horror. Evidently
David had followed him up. had met
him, and killed him. leaving the body
for the first policeman to fnd.
ut was late and cold and the drive
was deserted. As . Judge. had seen
10 many families ruined BY some mad
act, could only think Of ono thing.
the legal rule that the corpus delicti.
the body Of the dead man. must be
produced or It's existence proved. The
insane inspiration came TO me that II
I could get rid Of that body ! could
save poor David from going to the
chair, ] could save my poor daughter
| from being tlsgrnced before the whole