Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-09-09
CHAPTER VIl-continued.

"And the number she called up
the private .number-did you find out
about that?"
"Sure, that was easy. It's one of
the apartments in the Granddeck-
Henry Kent's. Who's hep
IT never heard of him. I'll try to
find out, though"
81 would, but be careful how you
go asking questions around the place.
The Moore woman may have a pal.
They generally work in pairs
The ease and celebrity with which
German had learned all these things
about the girl impressed me greatly,
and / said as much. He received my
compliments with a deprecatlng wave
of the hand.
Nothing to it, boy, when you know
the ropes. But last night you told
me you had taken the girl out to try
to pump something out of ner. What
vas it? What's doing?"
From beginning to end l told him
ire whole story in all OF its perplex-
mig details, starting with the day that
vF had received my great-uncle Rufus
note that had led to the chance meet
tng with Miss Bradford, bringing in
my discharge and the disappearance
of the CASTOR pearls, and explaining
what made me think these facts were
in some way involved with the at
tempt to blackmail the BradfOrds.
what do you make of it?' l asked
as l ended my narrative. "Who do
YOU think is at he bottom of it?'
81 don't think" he retortcd. "In our
business it does not pay to think too
quick. You're apt to convict the wrong
party"
but you must think something"
protested.
81 Think" he said slowly and medi-
tatively, that there's lot of crooked
work going on-Tll say that much.
And you and Miss Bradrord's pretty
close to being the center Of it."
"What can we do about it?''
"There's way l learned from q
lawyer that amt bad. He'd take his
client and put him in the center of a
big circle with lines running in all Ill
rcctio,is - alibi, insanity, mistaken
identity, no proof Of guilt, lack OF
jurisdiction, escape on legal technical
itv-he'd mark out every possible de-
tense. Then he'd follow each line out
and see where il led and what plan
the opposing lawyers would be likely
TO spring on him. Generally he got
his man off,
AZ don't quite sec how that applies.
"You don't, eh?"
He traced an imaginary circle with
his forpfngcr on the cable in the little
back room where we were sitting.
"Iinrc's YOU and Miss Bradford in
thr center. surrounded by lot of mys
FERROUS devlltry. Wen make two cir
cles. This inside one is the things
t,ot have happened to both of you
fine wall safes opened, the papers
stc7cn. the pearls gone, the anonymous
notes. the blackmail threats the loss
Of vour lob. he voices you've heard
Now on this outer circle we'll mari
down MI the people who might be
mixed UP in these things-mind We,
saw only might be. First, there's
Lefty Mocrc's woman--we know shes
crook. Then who do we know tina
knows her? There's at least two
Mr.. Wick. the superintendent tina
hired her. and this Mr. ilenry Kent
whose apartment she tclcphoncd to
Then there's all the rest of the help II
the house. Any one Of them might be
Nor pal. Then there's the flight!
Bradford girl"
"You don't suspect her, do your
cried, mortified at thc prospect of hi
nyeatiratlon taking this turn.
"Hc easy" he retortcd. Tn no
suspcc,ing anyone, I'm only putin!
them down. There's the Bradford
qIrl and her eN.hushand. He's big
mist and TINT makes him crook
Those two men you saw in the park
one OF taem with scar on his face
wen run them down. You know
safe the scarfucco man goes to, 81