Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-29

sam Conway spoke distinctly, looking
Harry directly into the eyes. II III
strictly UP against it, even though I'm
innocent. Ia be fool if I didn't see
the whole situation. I'm due to be
pinchcd tonight. And with me arrested
ON murder charge, I'll lose out in the
coming election-all the connections We
built up will go to smasli-the people
I've helped into good positions and good
businesses will lose them Everything
will 20. And when I'm cleared, as
will be-. everything will have passed out
Of my hands.
"And Harry-l'm an old man NJ
sixty years old if | lose hold now m
through. I'm too old to begin the fight
MI over. So you see what I'm up
against-what hundreds and thousands
of people will be up against II m ar
rested tonight" 49,. -,
II see!" exclaimed Harry. God
isn't there some way outE
THAT'S what sent for YOU to talk
about, Harry" Sam Conway's full
Inns we're hanging loose and twitchins
nervously. He spoke with febrilc eager
ness, yet with restraint. There is q
way ont. If" He paused in way to
magnify hundred times the lmpor-
tnnre of that ''if. -.
IL WnNI, sam lNli nav
IF you would be willing to do
something for me, Harry-the biggest
sort of thing
sam. you've been my best friend
owe everything to YOU. III do any =
thing you say. What is it|'
Harry - will you stand to be
pinched in my place.
"You mean---for the Murdoch muir
der?'' breathed Harry.
eyes. Listen, IIarry--1've got it all
thought out. The great Conway
reached across and seized Harry's knees
in grasp that partook partly OF the
quality of an imploring caress and part
~ of convulsivc clutch. His words
came with rush. ITS like this,
Harry. If I'm pinched, there's n tire
no comeback for me. since I'm an old
man. I'm in public life-that's why
the smash will be so big. If you're
pinchcd, it's not going to hurt YOU so
much you're in private life, and you re
Young. You'll get out in a little while.
aud nobody'll ever even remember it eX
cept me-and what I've helped you to
in the past won't be two spot com
pared to what I'll do in the future .''
But, Sam, gasped the dazed Har-
ry, ''can it be done?'
Easy All they've got to connect
me up with the murder. so | under
stand, are the threats | made in the
restaurant. 1t seems nobody saw the
actual shooting. Harry, If you arc
pinched for the murder before the cop
pers get to me, and if two or three guys
turn up to say they saw YOU shoot Muir
dock-don't you see that that leaves
me out Of it clean, and leaves me in q
shape to go right on with the big things
m doing? And you, Harry--wher
the case comes to trial, there'll be Mt
one to testify against you'll attenr
to all that-and your case will be dis
missed, and all you'll be out will be the
weeks or few months you've been locked
up in the Tombs, You'll be in just as
good shape as ever Better for II
not forget what you've done for me
And, Harry" he argued on rap.
IDLY as If to forestall any overcome pos
sible scruples, there's nothing new il
this proposition of getting guy thai
the police cant tX anything on to stant
for an arrest to help out friend who,
in trouble. You know it's done ever,
day down here. Only l guess there
never been case before where a gu,
could help his friend so much Quick
Harry-will you do it? There's hardl,
a second to waste-and we've got tt
frame things for the coppers -
Whatever else his circumstances
might have been, Harry Edwards's de
cision might have been the same. Blu
Just now he was bitter and reckless
partly from alcohol-more from wha
had induced the drinking, the agony
the sense of life's emptiness, that tn
him. p0'
He gripped Conway's hand. "Sam
you're the best friend I've got. II
stand for the arrest and anything els
you want of me. And I'm glad to do il
Sam"-his voice was husky--'it's til
best thing that there's left for me t
do -
But already Conway had his tele
phone receiver off the hook. An in
stant later he was talking rapidly.
THAT you, Tim? Harr
Edwards is the man you want for tha
Murdoch shooting. Better send out
general alarm for him.. BE quick an
you'll have the pinch made in time fo
the morning papers. Joe Graves an
Jack Pearson saw him do the shooting
You know where to find them.
Motive? Why, ] guess he
been drinking a bit and was excitable
and Conway was his friend and he kne,
bout Murdock's threats against Con
way, and so when he saw his chance h
just let Murdock have it. That ough
to explain things"
Conway hung up, rose and fairl
drew Harry to his feet. ''In five min
utes every copper and plain clothe
man in town'll be after you. Bette
heat it, quick, so as not to get pinche
down here near me-"
(CONTJNTTEn TOMORROW