The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-02-08
Chapter SO.
NEW EVIDENCE.

But it turned out that ! was not,
after all, to hear the rest OF the evil
,dence in the case which SO affected
Bud, except Indirectly. Both Francis
and the boy told me, however. so l
knew 1t all as well as though I had
been present in that room with the
raised platform and the uniformed
men standing about.
The man Simons was brought in,
and his testimony took long time.
1--WE think he is the ring leader"
Francis told me. He is trying to pre-
tend not to be. but after all, the man
is extraordinarily clever. Indeed, it's
his cleverness in trying to appear
stupid that is giving him away at
every turn
How" l wanted to know.
''Oh, lots of ways" he replied vague
ly. You see, policemen and detec-
tives are not apt to be a romantic lot,
but the fact that all these robberies
happened in the same fashion led them
to think one man was back of it all.
Then the newspaper men, who are
a romantic lot, by the way, took to
making movie melodama out of it.
They had master mind back of it.
you know"
II read some of the stories.''
Then you know! Even Pete was
suspected"
Pete! He's shrewd, but
"Shrewd! Amazingly so. I'd like
to take him on at my place when this
affair blows over. He has a clever
tongue and he'd be valuable-if only
could trust him.
/ sighed a little.
His poor little wife! How nice ii
you did, Francis
Nov GOMEZ" he laughed turning to
me. IF l did take him on, it would
be because he has a most persuasive
manner and would make an excellent
bond salesman. But after all, l have
a reputation to keep up in my firm
and Pete has lost his. Besides, can't
take on man because I'm sorry for
his wife,"
mo, suppose not" l agreed
That day Francis came and took me
uptown for tea. These were our only
moments alone these days. For Esther
was always with me in the living room
of our tiny fiat, and her curiosity about
Francis was so great that she sat
staring at him all the time he was
Will IduClS, OIL course, was very
charming to her.
But they're not a hospitable lot d
she commented once. "Why doesn't
mis- mother call on you"
"She willard I've been there" ]
interrupted quickly.
She ought to ask me to dinner, I'm
your sister," Esther grieved. "They
talk of city folks having such grand
manners-I guess Henly Falls could
show them lesson in what's what
after all"
And greatly pleased at having es.
tablished the superiority of our village
over the big city, Esther retired to
some knitting. | said nothing-I was
ldllng over late breakfast-but l sat
Tor long time thinking over the prob
lem or Francis mother. wanted her
to like me, and believed she would
in time. Meanwhile there, was the in.
evitable triangle of two women and
one man-and after having him all
these years, no doubt it was all the
harder for her to part with him now
to me.
She wants you to make a brilliant
marriage" said once.
BE patient" he begged cit would
be the same with anyone l chose
Sne III De all right
But if it were Cecile-"
Lord" he laughed out, throwing
his head back little Neither of us
ever thought of Cecile that way. Be
sldes. my partner has been after hel
1or years. And he'll get her-when
he makes enough money"
l thought over that with a little
sense of shock. Those charming brown
eyes gave no hint of mercenarv dis
position: Cecile seemed everything
soft and winning and lovely.
But about Simons," Francis went
on that afternoon. They'll get a con
1esslon out of him tomorrow. if thew
haven't succeeded today. They found
some new evidence"
What--?"
bank account of his, under an.
other name, into which large sums nj
money have been going mvCter;o,r1, +,