Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-22

ming for Barsden." says Pete. IF
| he didn't, where was he between IL
and 3?--He.s had plenty-of chance to
:'Huhw says I. "And I'll bet you
people would send that poor simp to
| the chair on no better evidence than
that. Say, think he'd open up to me.
How about my havin' little talk
with him."
Pete was doubtful about that. He
didn't think the chief would like it:
They'd even kept out Sister Alice and
his lawyer. Then he had bunch.
would you be willing to have one
LOT our men listen in from the next
cell?" he asks.
Sure" says I. 'If Albert did it he
fought to get what's coming to him.
But if he didn't he ought to have.
fair show. and while amt strong for
crashin' in on affairs of this kind. l
should feel Like like j. GUTTER If didn't
..Then I guess can fix it up" says
Pete. I'll see what the chief says.
They're a cagey bunch, that district
attorneys Office crowd, specially,
when they've got a big case on and
leach one is workin' for all the per-
believe some of 'em would convict
his own grandmother of any crime on
the calendar for the sake of gettin'
his picture on the front page and his
name in the headlines. For an hour
or more they kept me waitin' while
they chewed over the proposition of
|lettin' me have a few words with
Hickson. But they must have decid-
ed it might be a good way to get
something more on him, for finally
I'm handed a pass and put in charge
LOT fiattie with good ears.
It amt chirky pastime, payin'
forenoon call on a suspected murderer
in a detention cell. Ever try it? 1
finds Hickson sittin' with his head in
his hands starin' dazed and simple at
when l stop in front of the door. Not
until l gives him the hail does he pay
any attention.
"Oh! says he. sighin' relieved. ITS
you. is it, professor? I supposed It
was some more of those fool detec-
other grilling. Four times they have
had me out. and I've answered ques-
tons for hours and hours, until i
hardly know what my own name Is.
Tits nice Of you to come and see
me while-while I'm like this, pro-
fessor." ..-..
Maybe" says I. but I want to
say, Albert, that I don't believe you
did that shootin' at all"
"Oh, thank you. McCahe:e thank
you!" and he. tries to paw my arm
through the bars; "You-you,re the
i IL
rested. All the others seem to think
there's no doubt that I did it. and
| they try to get me. to confess. Oh,
! I'm SO glad some one doesn't belize it.
You'll tell them. won't you. + IS
sor, that"
"A hot lot Of good that would d."
says I breakin' in. See here. Albert,
Iits up to you to do some te!lln'.
Don't you get that? Tell 'em where
you were between II o'clock that
| evenin' and am. next mornin-
Albert drops his chin and lowers
them starey blue eyes. why" says
| he, IL was in bed"
you're a poor liar, Albert" says
II. Anybody could see, just by the
| way you say it, that you wasn't. Be
sides, they know different The jani-
tor has spilled it all-about the FIRE
| escape and SO on"
coverin' his face with his hands.
! where you WERE" 1 goes on.
II don't want to-" says Albert
you got to, though" says I.
"Oh. IL can't do it. professor"
says he.
you see that unless you do they'll
send you to the chair? Sure they
will. They've got to pin this on
somebody, and you're the goat. That
is, unless the gunman comes forward
and gives himself up. which amt
you were. Give up and let's see if
ooh. oh" groans Albert. rockin'
back and forth. What will Sister
Alice say?"
HUH" says I. That's it, Ell? You