Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-06
MIL.

HT AM not so sure" odeil de.
INJURED. rive only been on the
case a little more than twelve hours.
As to the note. you may remember 1
told you a few minutes ago that II
would be turned over to the bureau
which IL would ordinarily concern IL
I said the word. have not said the
word. for / am not sure Yet that IL
concerns any bureau other than
mine"
But you-you are member OF the
homicide squad" Drew stammered,
and the stub OF his cigar slipped un-
noticed from his fingers.
Exactly. am not sure that that
note has not direct bearing on the
murders am Investigating"
You're mad. tell you. mani
Drew spranE from his chair you
know less than 1 thought OF what
that note refers TO IL you imagine
such ridiculously far-tctchcd
thing"
Not so far-fetched II you remem-
Der the wording Of the note and COM
pare II with the events OF the last
MONTH" Odell remarked quietly. 81
quoted sentence or two from II be-
fore. but do you recall the rest?--
Your mothers went through without
hitch, and the next one will II you
only Keep your nerve. It's got to he
done by the 9th or you know where
the first one will send YOU be-
licvc that it is it word for word. Mr..
Drew. When you consider that Mrs.
Lorne has already been done to
death without hitch and that the
9th OF the month was the date Of.
Julians death. 1t appears to lend the
note quite another Significance,
doesn't it?"
my Cod" Drew retrcated a step
or two. What dcvilish miscon-
struction. But you don't believe II
yourself. sergeant; you are trying, to
bluff me. DO you think would be
enough of an ass to write so openly
and sign my name to il il were
plotting murder"
1T isn't SO much what think as
what jury would decide after the
district attorney had got through ex-
planning IT to them" responded
Odell. you know Hutchins' rcputa.,
ton. don't you. Mr.. Drew? They say
he caY get a conviction on less evil
dencU than any one else who has ever
been in Office. il may be that the
note. together with few other
things which we have against YOU.
are not sufficient to send you to the
evidence to indict you and put YOU
on trial"
You can't dc that Drew cried
hoarscly, gripping the back OF his
chair as he stood behind il until 1t
crcaked warning.
This talk. of conviction Is all
rot, and you know 1t; but / might as
well go to the. chair as through the
notoriety and indignity OF arrest en-
such a hdeous charge! 1t would be
framc-up! You can't do it. Odell;
you shan't! You'll never leave this
room alive to put 1t over on me!'
STEADY there. Drew" the detective
advised coolly. for the others voice
had risen and his features We're
working convulsivcly. Don't take
your hand off your number; the chief
has the note. remember; and II don't
show up he will act on II at once.
Moreover. two CT hay men accom-
panied me here, and one saw me en-
ter this room. The other les waiting
outside for me TO rejoin him: IL !
do not do so within a certain, spe-
cited time tc has his instructions as
to how to proceed"
~ measure OF self-control had re-
turned to Drew and-hc laughed short.
ly.
I'm not n murderer nor even n
potential one, as you know yourself,
sergeant. I sp,f.e In sheer despera.