The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-24
eooDgHsAt. isas. y the Meclur. Newspaper

Harrington Gales chambers in the
Temple faced eastward. Consequently
Iven in June the western sun left them
mscathed. He hated heat and wor-
shipped at the altar of frictionIess at
tainment
There was very little in the room to
distinguish It in the eyes of q casual
visitor from hundred others like It in
that strange old world settlement by
the Thames. On the walls hung the In
evitable collection OF Vanity Fair Port
rats. TO the right of Gales big table
was armchair so placed that the oc-
cupant faced the light On the left of
the window was a smaller table sacred
to Danvers. fellow-worker and confidant.
For five years he had toiled with Gale,
aiding and understanding HIS meteoric
career. watching in this ordinary looking
room history IN the naking-not the his
tory that rufhes the surface of nations
but the desperate individual history of
broken homes and ruined lives. the trag-
edy Of the mollusk who drifts and the
woman who believes in him still. the hor-
ror OF checks that go astray. of moneys
all borrowed but never to return, all part
class distinction in crime.
A discreet knock at the door, and Cor
ringe. the clerk entered, carefully shut
ting the door behind him.
Mr.. Maugan, Sir Arthur Tremayne's
solicitor. sir. and Lady Tremayne." Dan
vers twisted round to his table, his back
to the coming conclave. There he would
remain silent and inrnovable unless sum-
moned to speak. but meantime as recep-
tive as death and as uncommunicative-
A slight knowledge of optics and of the
capacities of looking glass enabled him
to see as well as he could hear.
Sit down. Lady Tremayne."
She was struck by the sympathy in his
voice; it was kinder than the steel gray
eyes and the grim iron mouth. The pitt
less nervousness she had felt all day
gave way to a sense of trust.
Mr.. Gale. you will get him Of won't
you?" She was deadly pale and showed
traces of sleepless nights. Obviously the
tension was acute, and she would need all
her self-control.
Lady Tremayne," he said, leaning for
ward. his right elbow on the table, his
chin rested on his hand. "I have half an
hour to give sou and no more" A mean
ing glance passed between him and the
solicitor who had never known him to
hurry an important case 81 arm not here
to prophesy but to get from you certain
details to help me to do the best can
for your husband. Do you follow me7'
II nm going to run through the main
points of the case. There are several de-
tails about which you can help me, and
If IN any of my facts you think am
wrong. please don't hesitate to cay Sc.
Please try to remember that only know
what I am told"
Certainly"
I'm August. 1904, the man who In now
your husband was Mr.. Arthur Tremayne-
The baronetcy which he enjoys was held
By his cousin, Sir Basil Wilkinson. Sir
Basil owned the Grange In Devonshire
and rent rolf of fifteen thousand a year.
Arthur Tremayne was a struggling bar
rister eking out precarious existence by
means OF Journalism
Gale paused q moment to consult the
copy OF the police court proceedings In
front OF him Then he turned to Lady
Tremayne. There is no suggestion In
the evidence at present offered by the
prosecution which in any way involves
you as q possible motive for the tragedy
that subsequently occurred. We might,
however, get notice of an intention to
call fresh evidence, or under certain cir
eu1nstances I might want to call you as
q witness. In either case want to know
the exact facts. Lady Tremayne, how
hak Nd
present husband and Sir Basil Wilkinson
prior to Sir Basil's death7''
He watched her carefully and sew hsr
color change.
'Ohi I wasn't engaged to Arthur TN
o year after BasiPs death"
Gales brows contracted and bis fira
frightened before he spoke. She felt Tia
pause. and glanced up nervousIy.
Y told you" he said In = hard. -
lentless voice, Il had only half an hour
to give you You will waste much ttnns
II you prevarfcate and compel me Il
draw the truth from You bit by BIT THU
room is the confessional. You have t1
tell me the worst that the most traine
barrister can hear from you when yeu
are on your OATH
VERY well" she said reluctantly. =
Will tell you the whole story. but / an
not very proud OF it I had known BasI
and Arthur all my life We had III
be n great friends. Basil was ten year.
older than was. Arthur was half way
between US Basil died in August 1904
The previous long vacation Arthur asked
me to marry him, or rather to wait fol
him until he could afford to marry"
1.-The usual tragedy of the Bar" mur-
INJURED Gale.
81 told him I liked him better thar
any one else, but refused to bind myself
/ was poor and sick to death of poverty
I was twenty-five. I had never known
what 1t was to be free from none
anxieties. My father was a countr1
clergyman. My mother was dead. wa.
the eldest OF q large family. All my tim,
was spent in making ends meet It wa.