The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1920-06-16
Continued from 1st page, this section)

TO question me this way"
Lady" interrupted the keeper,
"youll have to be going now. Times
up"
Promise me-" she begged hastily
in an undcrtone, as she departed.
"whatevcr you think about me, you'n
keep my sister on: Of It,"
"Tll promise nothing. unless you con
Tess everytiialg." / repeated, 6aten
mined. if could. to drag her secret
from her. even though |. as we'll as
she. was eager to shield Bnrbara's
name.
Claire Brahfords attitude. must
confess. puzzled me greatly Her de-
nial that she had seen the revolver,
or that she Ind been working in con
junction With Wick seemed to ring
true. and was also inclined to be-
licrc her statement that she knew
nothing of her former husbands pres
ent whereabouts While | was non
drring over her statements. my cell
door opened ar German was let In.
We'll. young fellow" he said. this
sleuthing business didn't turn out ex-
actly the way we expected it to, did
it?"
"Y,a don't think I'm guilty, do
you7"
waited In pgouy for his answer.
If he failed me, there was no one
absolutely no one, to whom l could
turn.
1T looks like you were guilty from
reading the morning papers," he an
swercd with grin. "But don't be-
lieve all I read. They've made out
strong case against you, though"
II didn't do It'll" l cried passion
atcly.
IF you didn't, who did?"
ut must have been Mr.. Wick"
There you go, jumping at conclus-
ions. Why not Claire Bradford?"
why do you mention her? 10 you
suspect herr"
IF she didn't do It, why did she
come down here to see ypu?"
"Flow did YOU know she was here ?"
II was watching YOU all the time
%cu "c.c talking 10 iirr."
"I'ut how did you know who she
wasf"
II saw the other one this morning.
They look alike"
''But how did YOU know which sister
1t WASP"
"Iou didn't seem to got along wei!
enough in your talk for it to be pal,
bara," he answered with another grin.
1t had not been my intention 10 r..
veal even TO him Claire Rrndrur;i's
second visit TO my apartment. but
saw how foolish it would hc ot me to
attempt to deceive or to withhold any
information from such Il Shrcwd ob.
server.
Without reserve and with the ut.
most detail | proceeded to relate cv.
erything that had happened since
had seen him the afternoon before.
J. told of my discovery Of the secret
panel in my room and of the blind
paSSa&cWAy into which it apparently
lei, of Barbnra's having made The
perilous journey over the window ledge
to inspect my find, of the screams we
had heard, followed BY the shot, Of
how Barbara had fled back by the way
she came, ana l had run downstairs
and with Wick had discovered the
body. | told him every detail so far
as L could remember it, winding up
with my catching Claire Bradford lcav-
Ing my apartment just before my ar
rest and the finding OF the revolver
You don't think the detectives
themselves planted the gun on your"
he asked. "lve heard OF them doing
things like that
lie spoke with such an air of inno-
cence that had to smile. doubt If
there were many tricks Of detectives
that German did not know all about.
They had no opportunity whatever
Neither of them had been near the
dresser before. and was watching
their every moment"
"Wc!l, who did hide the revolver
there, If they didn't?'
II don't know"
Couldn't Wick have done it?"
II was with him every moment after
we discovered the body"
"Maybe 1t was Claire Bradford?"
I shook my head
81 thought at first It might have
been She, bur I'm convinced since talk
Ing with her that It was not. She's
either entirely innocent or else the
most wonderful actress In the world"
II think we can leave her out of It."
Venturcd German
THAT leaves only Wick"
German shook his head positively.
mo, Wick didn't do it, He's bad
one all right, and he has done time,