The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-03-02
CHAPTER Ill
After "a Year

After Nrar
Lawrence Trcadwell. the attorney.
sat In his office staring thru the open
window. over the entrance 60 the
Opera House was stretched "a canvas
sign advertising n mass meeting held
tho evening before under the au.
spices OF tho Civic club.
! lie read the lettering reher,lvely:
! Protest Against Machine Rule" lie
smiled.
There was n knock AZ the door and
Cameron Craig entered. lie stepped
20 the open window.
You were there. suppose" he
said.
Traedweii nodded.
They began too late" said craiE.
grimiy. "The ticket Is safe enough
this year. fiut next year--the gubcr.
material eampaiEn-,if they could
keep going al then. they might give
f, us trouble"
Abruptly Craig withdrew his Eaxe.
Il see young Sewer held forth last
nighi. Tho last time heard him
WAS In court. Just a year ago. The
young fop' He'd DO better 20 stick to
his law hooks--tho hear he has no
cases any more"
ITS HIS own choice" the attorney
answered. coidly. slie could have "A
new client every day II he wanted
A. matter OF fact. he hasn't taken
a case since the one you speak Of
He fought for six months trying TO
set thru an appeal on that IL was
the first criminal case he had ever
lost. and /, cut him some. fancy
u course. it's ridiculous TO take it
80 70 heart. but swear. can't help
liking him for IT,
lie stopped. wondering at the dark
look on the others face.
What's tho troublsT"
The w~ilcs- Scott case decision. II
Is 20 b. handed down on the frat OF
Aay. II mus; BE- In our favor. r.
though, knew the judge. hut there
are signs that I'm afraid Of
The other muscd moment. The
judge can't be reached in---ln ordi.
nary Ways"
"of course not, We've bern able
10 depend on him no long because he
has grown up with tho trust--hc was
It's counsel for many yeara.-and lie
interests werc his. Hut Beverly Al
ten. tho trusts counsel. and Judge
Allen Of the supreme court are differ.
ent propositions. Something will
have to-persuad, him. lie must
have a weak spot. We must End II.
that. air.
His record was cornbcd with n fne
tooth comb when he went on the
BENCH said Trcadwell II went over
the report myself. There wasn't any.
Thing ;here--uothinE but tho yaguss,
Suspicion 81 an old love affair that
was polished OF 20 years ago"
Craig turned sharply. "A love az
fair After his marriagef"
Trcadweil looked at him curlousiy. |
see here. Craig" he said. after all. |
there's a limit 90 decency A. the |
most II was nothing but passing |
lnfa,ua'ion--an innocent one"
'-Trcadwell.- Craig said. In hard |
voice. you don't seem 90 understand |
This IL a big game. and there IL no |
limit, where are the old reports7"
They were destroyed
Craig. with shrug. caught up his |
hat. and went out.
Treadwell li/ened 20 the heavy |
footsteps descending the stair.
The houndr' he said. under his
breath.
That same evening from his chair |
IN the library AZ Mldficlds. Cameron /
Craig looked steadily at the Judge 1
as tho latter said:
Yes. IL is true tina, was for years 1
affiliated with the interests you rep /
resent. I was their attorney. The /
connection ceased when /. myself
severed IL. II years ago"
Craig leaned forward. his arm on
the little lnlaid desk beside him. "A
seat on tho supreme bench being va
cant, the directorate used such infu /
ence az IL might possess to gain for
your name tho consideration I'm that |
connection which Il deserved
Tho Judge was on his feet what /
Is your object In coming TO me to say !
THAR"
Just thisf' Craig lifted HIS arm.
his big fist clonchcd "You we're the
trusts counsel for 20 years-tili II
put you where you arc nowi DO you
think 1t did that for nothing2 And
now II has reason to believe that you
intend TO knife IL In the back
What do you mean. sir" The
judges tone was icy.
II mean the welles-scott decision"
Craig said In IA low. deadly voice
'That"--his clonched hand srnote the /
light desk at his elbow with n saw.
age blow--"must be oursl'
For am instant there was blank 81 |
lence. Tho Judge stood aghast. This 1
man dared to believe him. Beverly |
Allen. "A puppct OF the beck and call |
Of corporate influence! The room |
seemed suddenly sitting hot. lie
turned 10 the window
lie had not seen Craig's sudden |
start. For at the smashing blow Of |
his fist on the fragile Italian desk, n |
curious thing had happened. It's
catch Ioosened by the Jar, "A tiny
panel had fallen with n little click. |
and n thin shcaf OF yellowed letters
rad dropped and spread fan.wise be.
side his hand. The backs OF the on
yelopes were uppermost and across
The top Of one was written In n
twlrly hand and faded ink. the mi.
tails -. a.
a thought dartcd like cold light.
ming thru Craig's brain. "B. A.
Beverly Allen, Whose were those
old letters7 The initials were In n
woman's hand! His hand closed over
them quiekly--went 10 his breast
- In IIIIarn Animal |