Evening star., 1921-11-27
4 Thrilling Story by Mrs: Wilson Woodrow

b
Coombs. to have the best obtainable
counsel. an asking you to take the
casa"
Achison was silent. Apparently he
was eng-ossed in the study OF .
scarab ring upon his finger.
forward, you would particularly care
to have your afiliation with the Sands
woman disclosed. or the fact that you
had turned over to her letters to be
used in the levy Of blackmaii."
Achison glanced up from his con-
temptation OF the ring and nodded:
You are quite right" he admitted
uausingly, II have no real reason 70
feel ashamed Of my conduct in the
AFFAIR. 1t was the result OF chain
Of circumstances. and, to my mind.
fully justified. You must understand.
Ramsey" he squared back in his chair
ing himself. Il have known Ella
Sands for a long time, OF and on. I
once cleared her of q charge Of rob-
berry when she was little more than q
girl, and she has ever since looked to
me as an adviser. and has made me
to some extent her confidant. 1t was
due to this relation or quasi-reiation
between US that ! was able to secure
from her and hold in my keeping
your letters: but only on condition
that l should not destroy them and
would deliver them to her on demand
at any time she could convince me
no injury would inure thereby to the
"Poor thing" He shook his head
contemplatively. "She had a good
many hard knocks from life. and !
suppose they had taught her to drive
q sharp bargain.
"As any rate" he resumed: she
on a performance Of the covenant.
She told me that she was no longer
young. and felt that she ought to
establish herself in a settled position.
Her brother, she said. q successful
truck farmer, would buy more land
and take her in as a partner II she
could furnish the required capital.
knowing that you had been seeking to
locate her, looked to you as a likely
purchaser.
II told her II she could give me
proof that you were the person buy.
ing them she could have the letters;
sation you had with her. in which the
terms were arranged. was held from
my ONCE. with me listening on an
other instrument. Regarding 1t as a
transaction beneficial to both sides.
he smiled benevolently, Il gave her
the letters without further question:
and supposed that ended the matter.
II can quite believe what you say"
Ramsey, who had been frowning
throughout the recital, exclaimed Bit
terly. Your story Is worthy OF you
in every respect, and confirms me in
my suspicion that you had a hand In
the later developments"
Achison shrugged his shoulders
with supreme Indifference.
'Nhave no apologies to make" he
said. his tone still satirically cour-
teous. Granting that my action in
ethical. you must yet admit that it
was human, very human.
he broke off. speak
IL ing more briskly, "as you say.
the question of Importance at present
is not what you think of me or 1 OF
you, but how to deal with this situa-
ton that has arisen. II the attitude
Of the district attorneys ONCE is what
you tell me. have no douN that the
letters can be successfully suppressed.
But as to securing an acauittal for
this valet of yours. that is horse Of
evidence - the best evidence in the
contrary notwithstanding-se all
against him. The one thing in his
favor is the apparent lack of motive" :"
And isn't that enough?" demanded
Ramsey. why should he kill a woni-
an utterly unknown to him. and do
it in such q manner that there was no
chance Of escape7"
why. indeed?" Achison echoed
thoughtfully. UNLESS his devotion to
his employer was such that her ac-
ton reused him to a homicidal fury,
and that is scarcely plausible. How
ever" he gave a wave Of the hand as