Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-05-17

HOh," he said, what could
have been the use?'
They were conversing jerkily.
tersely, as men do when they are
greatly moved.
ut must have been pretty
tough on YOU" Cholliewollie said.
II never suspected how very
touch it was."-
Smith was looking straight
ahead.
1T has been HE'LL" he agreed
simply.
And yet, you have so much to
make you feel at this moment
very proud"
All" Smith exclaimed, with a
touch of impotence, chow can ]
feel proud? What can a man
boast when he put in more than 80
years of his life doing SO little that
he left behind him neither sign
nor trail? Why, the only way /
can guess at my age is to take
what the doctors deduct from my
general physical condition. And
how can [ feel at ease? If what
that woman has just said is true
1t a fractional part of it is true;
how can | really know that there
ism t murder behind me, that some
night [ didn't leave a stark, cold
thing lying on the roadside with
IT'S sightless eyes turned toward
the moon? How can [ know that
the faces of those whom I should
have loved have not been ravaged
by grief because Of me? Those are
the things, the thoughts, the fears,
that swoop down on me and blot
out at times all the light in my
soul"
To Cholliewollie, he seemed too
near a breakdown. He had never
heard him speak with such bitter
ness.
"There is this to be remem-
bered," the newspaper man took a
new tack: "the Leslie woman
story is a lie. That's certain"
"Why is it certain?"
Somehow, | know it. [ haven
been in my business all this time
for nothing. I've felt for weeks
that the whisky people had some
thing on you. I've been more
afraid Of it than you have. But
this-why, this is a cheap grand
stand play. It's too evident"
"She seemed" Smith COM
mented heavily, tremendously in
earnest, thoroughly sincere"
But she was lying" Waller
persisted, and, when the other
made no reply, continued: eff [
can only write this thing the way
it happened! II | can only get
into my story all the things you
said! 1t was wonderful, immense.
| believe it will do you more good
than HARM"
The way you will write it, yes /;
but how about all the other stories
that will go out of Washington to-
day and tonight?"
Leave that to me-" Chollie-
wolfe cheered him. "ThereW be a
parade like a bread line into my
office tonight. Every correspon-
dent in town will want the carbon
copy of the story of the man who
witnessed the scene. And my story
will be the thing that will give
them their first impression Of what
happened. That's so per cent of
the whole thing"
What would you advise me to
do today?"
60 back to your office and get
to work as usual. | know it'll be
hard, but it 8 the thing to do"
And the newspaper men?"
Receive them this afternoon as
usual. Answer their questions ,
THAT will be easy, Smith
smiled. II don't know anything. 3
Exactly" Waller agreed.
"That's what makes it good"
And what will become of the
Leslie woman?"
"Oh, they'll all get statements
from her and elaborate her story.
You'll have to remember that. To.
morrow will be a field day for her
in the papers. Your turn will come
later"
"Yes, [ understand that
But I'm not through with her.
/ intend to get the truth from he1
sooner Or later. She was lying
/ know she was lying"
They reached the garage and
took a taxicab, directing the
chauffeur to drive to Smith s Of.
Rno MI