The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-06-05

1T looks like you were guilty from
reading the morning papers," he an
swered with a grin. Put l don't be-
lieve MI read. They've made out a
strong case against you, though"
Il didn't do it," l cried passion
ately.
IF you didn't, who Cid:"
1T must have been Mr. Wick"
There you 90, jumping ut conclus-
/ ions. Why not Claire BradfOrd?"
! why DO you mention her? Do you
suspect her?''
IF she didn't DO it. why did she
come down here to see your
How did y0I know she was here?"
81 was watching you all the time
you We're talking to her"
But how did you know who she
was?"
Il saw the other one this morning.
They look alike"
"But how did you know which sister
it wasp
You didn't seem to get along well
enough in your talk for it to be Bar
bara,' he answered with another grin.
1t had not been my intention to re-
veal even to him Claire Bradford's
second visit TO my apartment. but l
saw how foolish it would be of me To
attempt to deceive or 70 withhold any
information from such a shrewd OBJ
server.
Without reserve and with the ut
most detail / proceeded to relate ev-
erything that had happened since
had seen him the afternoon before
l told of my discovery of the secret
panel in my room and Of the blind
passageway into which it apparently
led, of Barbara's having made the
perilous journey over the window ledge
TO inspect my find of the screams WI
had heard. followed by the shot, o.
how Barbara had fled back by the wa!
she came, and / had run dOwnstairN
and with Wick had discovered thu
body. l told him every detail so fa
as l could remember it. winding VI
with my catching Claire Bradford leav
ing my apartment, just before my al
rest and the finding of the revolver.
"YOu don't think the detective
themselves planted the gun on you?
he asked. ave heard of them doin
things like that
He spoke with such an air of limo
cence that l had 10 smile. / doubt
f! there were many tricks of detective
II | ~ Ii al ahnnr
| "They had no opportunity whatever
| Neither of them had been near Nh
| dresser before. and l was watchin
| them every moment"
| well, who did hide the revolve
| there. if they didn't?"
II don't Know"
= couldn't Wick have done it?'
| "Iwas with him every moment afte
| we discovered the body"
| Maybe it was Claire Bradford?'
| shook my head.
| "I thought at first ii might hav
| been she. bur I'm convinced since tail
| ing with her that ii was not. She
either entirely innocent or else I'll
most wonderful actress in the world
II II think we can leave her out of it
I'd ventured German.
N. THAT leaves only Wick.
70 German shook his head positively.
aNo, Wick didn't do it. He's b;
one all right, and he has done tim
but he's only a tool"
B. Wick has done timer / exclaime
ne How did you find that out? VIII
ut have YOU learned about him?"
is German grinned at my eager que
tioning.
sy II don't know much about him y
Is hut I'm sure he's an eX-con. VIII
ia YOU were in court this morning"
- explained, Il went up to the Gran
:. deck to take a look at things for n
- self. Wick showed me through [
~ Lutan apartment, thinking was fro
y. the coroner's Office. l spotted him
re- once. A crook that has done til
is always sure to give himself ava!
'How?' l asked.
n well" said German judicial
mems businesses leave their MAI
on them. A clergyman don't have
/ be wearing high vest for you To 81
nd him. and nobody ever took danci
M teacher for pugilist. A man that b
ors looked at as many crooks as | ha
'as knows them by instinct, and tn
he there's little ways you can tell.
10y 10y l was going up to the apartment W
Wick he just naturally fell into s.
. ars with me. showing he had been used
IA, marching with other prisoners.
- talks. too, without moving his Ii
ent That's a sure sign. They learn d
In prison so they can talk with
N the guards knowing it"
That's So" cried. 1T struck
that there was something funny alb
the way Wick talked, but l could
have told just what it was"
"Wick's a crook, all right, "bu
think he comes from somewhere
state or maybe out West. but
~ hasn't intelligence enough TO be a
thing more than a runner for
gang"
-.