The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-03-10
Copyright. All Risht, Reserved

Gardner, but the witness had stendi.
ly avoided him. Jim was now con.
WINGED that he was the victim. not Of
coincidence, but a plot. OF course.
he could give his evidence, which
would be directly contradictory 10 that
OF Gardiner, but he was already under
suspicion, and anything he might say
would be uncunSCiously discounted by
the jurors. But he began calmly,
quiet smile still playing about his thin
lips and clean teeth.
II am sorry cannot corroborate all
the last witness has said" he com.
mcnced. II did not leave the ranch
with Rifles; on the contrary. ! was fish.
ing down by the river when | saw
Rifles and Gardiner ride by Gardiner
was talking and | heard him mention
MIR. Harris name. | worked for MIR.
Harris not long ago but ! did not
know he was In this part of the coun.
try. ] heard Gardiner say" Jim
colored little, and stopped
well, what did you hear him sayr'
said the coroner. That Is what we
are snXiOus to know"
IL heard him say something about
Mr.. Harris losing all his money that
night. In the old shanty up the river
road. Strange things have happened
up there. Riles.' he said That made
me suspicious. and | hurried back to
the ranch. determined To follow them
| found that my revolver had been
taken. | armed myself as best could
aud set out When | came near the
building which Gardiner had men
toned ! dismountcd and approached
II carefully II was very dark. sud
denly ! was attacked from behind. A
sack was thrown over my head and |
was oyerpowcrcd. and bound. don't
know how long | was kept In that con.
dillon. but when al last the sack was
removed ! was In the presence of Ser.
gcanl Grey"
With the progress OF Travers' mar
rative all eyes had turned To Gardi-
ner. but. whatever his inward emo
lions, he outwardly showed no signs
Of discontinue This seems 10 be
day OF strange tales" he said to the
coroner. "and the last We have heard
Is stranger than the first OF course.
IL is quite absurd on the face Of H.
The suggestion that would be par
~ 10 rohbing Mr. Harris of $1,000.
and so bHlk transaction In which
stood to make a profit Of more than
twice that amount. is too ridiculous
for discussion. ! didn't say so before,
because II didn't seem To bear on the
case hut ! have at home telegram
which ! received few days ago from
the New York investors Offering me a
personal commission Of 20 per cent on
the transaction II ! was able 10 get
this property for them at the price
they had offered. So, from n purely
selfish point of view, you see where
my interests lay. But there are 9th
you have just heard. To spare the
feelings Of some present, | intended
10 say nothing Of them. but II ! must
tell what know. why, must tell
what know. This man Travers was
farm hand working for Harris on
his farm back In Manitoba. Harris is
or was-well-to-do and Trayers ac-
cordingly mustered up an attachment |
for his daughter. This the young la
dy, IL seems, was foolish enough to re-
turn. They"
"Thatll do. Gardiner" interrupted
Tuvers, In quiet. vibrant voice. |
you are getting away from the sub
ject."
ION the contrary, I'm getting close
TO the suhject-a little too close for
your comfort. IL seems"
81 am not invcsti eating any family |
closets said the coroner. You will
have TO show the connection between !
these matters and the inquiry we are
making"
Il will do that In a moment, sir"
Gardiner returned but cannot
show the connection until have
shown the events that are connected.
Travers had trouble with Harris and
had a fight with Allan. Then he and
the young lady ran away. They have
both been In this part OF the country
for some time. But Travers' plan TO
inherit the Harris property was up.
set on account OF the girl Quarrellng
with her parents, and his ardor seems
TO have cooled of noticeably. But he
was as keen for the property as ever.
Riles was weakling In the hands OF
man like Trayers, and no doubt he
betrayed the fact that Harris was
taking his money with him into the
hills. Then the two Of them framed
up the plan which has resulted In the
death OF one and the arrest OF the
other"
During these exchanges the sympa'
thes Of the jurors seemed TO veer
from side 10 side. The theories pro
pounded were 40 contradictory that
opinions wavered with each sentence
Of evidence. But a new bolt was
ready for the shooting.
mir. Coroner" said Beulah. rising
and pointing at Gardiner, twill you
nj All |