South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-01-07

Jake Whseey whiried and his jaw
dropped for an instant as he con-
fronted Lillian. who had come up so
noiselessly from her vantage place in
the thicket near by that he had not
known she was there until she spoke.
He recovered himself instantly how
ever, thrust out a pugnacious jaw
and growled menacingly:
And who the hi are you?"
You'll know all in good time"
Lillian promised pleasantly. that -.
If l decide II is advisable TO tell you.
in the mean time il VIII be amply
SUFFICIENT for our purpose If we find
out who you are"
Think you're quite a humorist,
don't your" Jake Wilsey retortcd.
We'll, that kind OF stuff don't go
down with me! And as I've got ser
ious business with these danes, sup
pose you toddle along and mind your
own business"
Suppose you listen 20 met LII
ian's voice was like a whip lash, and
4, saw the man look startled at the
note I'm II which with Lillian always
commands respect and a hearing.
/ You seem TO be overly fond, m,
friend. OF travelling around under
2 ciIeTcnt names. Now, some of thorn
ar" harmless and some-are not"
/ Did / imagine IL or did a look OF
! fear leap into the bold. hard ewes Of
the man confronting her?
F or instance" Lillian said slowly.
pretending TO consult a little card in
her hand. the name OF George
/ Brldgehan. hasn't any record behind
, il that amounts TO very much, Meth
/ er has John cambridge. And as for
Your real name. Mr.. Jake Wilsey, as
/ long as you stay away from the vi
entity Of Sag HarbOr that won't do
! YOU any harm. But now. let's See
an! Yes, the rame Of Harry Conway
/ is something else again"
/ 'Damnation!" The oath escaped
him as If tnvoluntarily. and l saw
/ him put up his hand and wipe great
\ Deals of perspiration from his fore
head. Then he attempted to braze,
It out. What you giving me, any
way? Can the comedy, now"
! Comedy" Lillian drawlcd the
word sardonically. It'll be the cul-
minating tragedy OF your career
when 1 hand in 10 certain quarters
this information l have in my hand.
| You 10 talk OF electric chairs Well.
upon my word. you're a cool one!"
| Whatever of hidden reference
there was in her words the man got
IL instantly. that was evident. He
turned cravenly away.
| Il haven't any objection 10 being
reasonable" he said. IF you don't
want these-these ladies disturbed,
why. I'll just travel along"
No you don't!" Lillian MS voice was
crisp Of authority. Not till YOU
give up a thing or two. You just
stand over against that rail. just
there, and answer the questions 7
put to you What I decide to do
with you when I get through is my
--Own-nusire sS.
The mans eyes roved from one to
/ the other OF us and I saw him es-
! timating his chances Of OverpOwer-
/ ing Us and getting away. But al
though we were in no sense fOrmid-
able looking. he evidently decided
Iagainst thai course. and, walking to
the railing Lillian had indicated. he
\ leaned against II and waited sullen-
/ ~ for her questions.
| 4 don't need to remind you. my
friend. that l hold your life in my
hands. l have no business letting you
! go, but / have my own reasons for
doing so. and as long as you go into
some respectable licensed highway
robbery like the renting of houses.
/ for instance. yoUu be safe from me.
/ But take one step 20 the left. or give
the wrong answers to these questions
/ and you'll find yourself so deep il
! jail v0u1l never be able TO dig your
self out"
"All right shoot" he said in sui
/ len agreement, but I saw with
/ thrill OF fear that his cold hard eyes
watched Lillian constantly. warily I
D = 4 Ii
desperate man the knowledge that
she alone held the key to the secret
I which so meDac ed him.
/ How much of this farrago you've
! been telling these women about poi
sOned tea is true and how much
! false"
His answer came readily enough.
The tea was poisoned. Stock
/ bridge did Clcer away the tea things
/ and wash the cishcs before he called
I the doctor when ne found his wife
dead. And ] did ind the poisoned
packet and the others up the chin
ney where he had put them in a
hurry"
! He paused triumphanttly, but his
/ eyes never left Lillians face. 7 won
dcerd If she saw and read their glare
Alright
She Pondered for a moment look
/ ing steadily ar him as II puzzled.
Then her face lighted.
How much does the prosecution
know Of this?" she asked.
His face fell for an instant. then
/ ne swa ggered a hit.
Not a id thing" he said.
Those guys couldn't find a rat in
q trap. SO I didn't give up anything
I I got 10y myself until I saw"
Where YOU could sell il best" Lii
! Ian interrupted.
As she spoke I saw her eyes leave
his for a moment and stray 20 the
little foOtbridge along which Robert
, Savarin was walking evidently in
search Of us. Wilsey. whose back