The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-11-12
CHAPTER x-centlnvsA.

IS
''It looks Ike you were guilty from
reading the morning papers," he an
swered with = grin. but I don't be-
lisvs al I read. They've made out q
strong case against you. though"
II didn't do itp I cried passion
ately.
IL you didn't, who did,"
1T must have been MI. Wick"
There you 60, jumping at %conclus-
ions. Why not Claire Bradford?"
Why do you mention herr Do you
suspect her1"
III she didn't do It, why did she
come down here t see your"
"How did you know she was here?"
Il was watching you all the time
you were talking to her."
"But how did you know who she
vast"
II saw the other one this morning.
They look alike"
"But how did you know which sister
II WASH
"You didn't seem to get along well
enough in your talk for it to be Bar
bara." he answered with another grin.
It had not been my intention to re-
veal even to him Claire Bradford's
second visit to my apartment, but !
saw how foolish It would be Of me to
attempt to deceive or to withhold any
Information from such q shrewd OBJ
server.
Without reserve and with the ut
most detail l proceeded to relate ev-
erythins that had happened since I
had seen him the afternoon before.
] told of my discovery Of the secret
panel In my roo and Of the blind
'passageway into which It apparently
led. Of Barbara's having made the
peril0us Journey over the window ledge
to inspect my find. of the screams we
had heard. followed by the shot. Of
how Barbara had fed back by the way
she came. and I had run downstairs
and with Wick had discovered the
body. ! told him every detail so far
~ ] could remember 1t. winding up
with my catching Claire Bradford leav-
ing my apartment. just before my ar
rest and the finding Of the revolver.
"Y0u don't think the detectives
themselves planted the gun on your
he asked. 1--WE heard Of them doing
things like that"
He spoke with such an air OF inno-
cence that ! had to smile. l doubt II
there were many tricks Of detectives
that German did not know all about.
They had nc opportunity whatever.
Neither Of them had been near the
dresser before. and I was watching
them every moment"
"Well. who did hide the revolver
there. II they didn't?"
II dent know"
Couldn't Wick have done TT"
II was with him every moment after
We discovered the body"
Maybe 1t was Claire Bradford7"
I shook my head.
II thought at first II might have
been she. but I'm convinced since talk-
ing with her that II was not. She's
either entirely innocent or else the
most wonderful actress In the world"
II think vi can leave her out Of It."
ventured German.
THAT leaves only Wick"
German shook his head positively.
mo. Wick didn't do 1t. He's a bad
I'll right, and he has done time,
but he's only q tool"
~Wick has done time I" l exclaimed.
'How did you find that out? What
have yOu learned about hin? 7"
German grinned at my eager Ques-
aoning.
4 don't know much about him yet,
W I'm sure he's an ex-con. While
yUn were in court this morning" he
Explained. II wen up to the Grand
1sck 70 take = look at things for my
~. Wick showed me through the
::atnn apartment, thinking was from
~ eorOner,s ONCE. / spotted him at
oneA = crook that has done time
= always sure to give himself away"
Howl + asked.
well" said German judicially,
smenS businesses leave their marks
- them. a clergyman don't have to
~ wearing : high vest for you to spot
~ and nobody sver took . dancing
eaener ~ ! Dngiljst. A nj that has
loUkod at - many crooks a. have
knoWe them by Instinct and then
AoGDh1 ltttje WayS ron can tell. A
SQo gotng ~ % the apartment with