The Madison journal., 1921-06-04
Copyright. All Right, Reserve
CHAPTER xlII-Continued.

see anything, and | didn't hear any
thing, but | knew it was there.
still remember how frightened and yet
how cool l was i'm that last moment
L held the gun TO my shoulder anC
waited for 1t to thrust itself against
the blanket. In another moment | an
sure i should have fired But before
that moment | heard my name called
and | knew my husbands voice. and
l came out Of the nightmare"
Most extraordinary" the coroner
repeated, after silence. "It seems
to account FOR the shooting of Riles
but II leaves us as much as ever
more than ever, l should say-in the
dark concerning the disappearance of
the money, and the part which has i'm
plicated the young man Travers in the
affair"
The banker gave his evidence. II
was not unusual, he said, for consid-
cradle sums in bank notes to be han
died among SPECTATORS and land buy
RS, but the amount withdrawn by
Harris was so great that 1t had left
him somewhat i'll at ease, and as Ser
geant Grey had happened his way he
had mentioned the matter to him.
During the hearing of the various
witnesses Gardiner had attempted an
air of impersonal interest. but with no
great success. His demeanor, studied
though 1t was, betrayed certain
anxiety and impatience. He was
dressed just as he had dismounted
from his horse. having removed only
his hat. Rut he smiled confidently
when asked for his evidence, and told
his story calmly and collectedly.
1t is quite true that he was assO-
ciated with Riles and Mr.. Harris I'm
the coal mine investment. He was
acting for the owner of the property,
but had seen that a large profit was
to be made from the turnover, and
had been glad to place the opportunity
In the way of two old friends.
Il feel a grave responsibility in this
whole matter" Gardiner protested.
with some emotion. II feel that l am,
at least indirectly, responsible for the
serious loss that has befallen Mr. Har-
ris. and for the injury to his son.
But when you have heard the whole
circumstances you will agree that the
situation was one could not possibly
have fOreseen. Let me give them to
you in some detail.
"The day before yesterday, In COM
pany with Riles, l met Mr.. Harris and
his son, and found that their money
had arrived. The remittance was not
as large as they expected, but be-
lieved that l could raise some money
privately. and that we would still be
able to put the deal through. / ad-
vised against losing any time. as
knew that il the owner should meet |
anyone else interested I'm a proposition |
Of similar nature we would find II |
much harder to make a bargain with |
him. 1t was arranged that the two |
MIR. Harrises were TO drive ahead, TAX |
ing the money with them, and that |
Riles and l would follow. We were
to overtake them at the old building
where this unfortunate tragedy oc-
CURED. AS it happened. had sick
horse at the ranch. and. as / was de-
aged in getting some medicine for
him, Riles suggested that he would
'ide out to the ranch-that is. where
live-and wait for me there. Up to
hat time l had no suspicious, and
lgreed to that.
well, when / reached the ranch,
,ould find nothing of Rifles, and, on
urther search, could find nothing of
Cravers. who was working for me.
Their riding horses were gone, and so
we're their saddles and brides.
ound that Travers had taken his re-
oliver out of the house. confess my
uspiciOns were then somewhat
reused, but l found myself with the
lex horse on my hands, and / could
ot very well leave the place. OF
curse. / never thought Of anything SO
ad as has happened. or l would not
ave considered the horse. but I ad-
lit was at loss to understand their
onduct. But when heard, early this
forming, what had happened, II was
II clear to me-"
During the latter part Of this evil
ence Travers had fixed his eyes on
ardiner, but the witness had steadi-
avoided him. Jim was now con-
need that he was the victim, not of
coincidence. but plot. o. course.
E could give his evidences, which I
ould be directly contradictory to that I
Gardiner. but he was already under
lspiciOn, and anything he might soy q
ould be unconsciously discounted by q
Ie jurors. But he began calmly, T
iiet smile still playing about his thin
ps and clean teeth. q
II am sorry / cannot corrObOrate all n
e last witness has said" he com o
enced. II did not leave the ranch
lth Riles; on the contrary. was fish, o
g down by the river when I saw II
les and Gardiner ride by. Gardiner Il
IS talking and / heard him mention Il
:. Harris name. worked for MI.
arris not long ago, but I did not II
ow he was in this part of the coun-
:. heard Gardiner say" Jim e
!ored little. and stopped. Il
"Well, what did you hear him saw" Of
Id the coroner. THAT is what we
p anyious IN know %