Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-08
CHAPTER xxx
Kirby Makes Q Call

81 ronyinced that ne nau tOid the truth.
y Ismes had been there. and his brother
-isck knew d. The confession had been
rritten in his shocked face when Kirby
6uns out the charge.
Aill be innocent. just as was the case
9Th him and Rose. The cattleman
wsnted % to find the murderer, but he
!. wanted almost as much to find that
lanes had nothing to do with the
crime. lie eliminated Jack, except per-
hans as an accessory after the fact.
NIX had telltale fnce, but he might
% cJknizant of guilt without being
Ssenly a pnrty to 1t. He could be in
sosnt, but faults of manner are not
erimc. Besides. all Jacks interests
isv IN the other direction. If his uncle
I. md lived n day longer he would have
been sole heir to the estate.
As he wandered through the streets.
Kirby's mind was busy with the prob
Nm. Automatically his legs carried him
70 the Paradox Apartments. He found
himself there before he even knew he
had been heading in that direction. Mrs.
Hull came out and passed him. She
{ was without hat. and probably was
going to the corner grocery on Fiji.
tenth.
( ave been neglecting friend Hull"
he murmurcd to himself. ~ reckon I'll
j,lst drop in an ask him how his health
s."
He was not sorry that Mrs. Hull
was out. She was easily. he judged.
the dominant member Of the firm. If
he could catch the fat man alone he
might gather something OF Importance.
Hull opened the door of the apart.
nent to his knock. He stood glaring at
4 the young man, his prominent eyes
! projecting. the red capillaries in his
l beefy face filling.
q "Whadjawant?" he demanded.
"a few words with you. Mr.. Hull"
Z Kirby pushed past him into the room,
h much as an impudent agent does.
''Wcll. don't aim to have no truck
with you atall," clustered the fat man.
E"You've just naturally wore out yorc
! welcome with me before ever you set
down. III ask YOU to 20 right now.'.
Heres your hat. What's your hur.
r!' murm,red Kirby, by way Of quo
htion. ''Sure III go. But don't get
4 sn the prod, Hull: came to make
some remarks an to ask question. I'll
not hurt you any: Haven't got small
pox or anything"
II don't want you here. If the po-
lice knew you was here, they'd be liable
to think we was talkin' about-about
what happened upstairs"
"Then they would be right. That's
Exactly what we're gonna talk about"
mo, sir I amt got word to say
not word - The big man showed signs
Of !s1 panic. ,.n -,
died out of kirby's eyes. They became
hard and steady as agates. "Who killed
Cunningham, Hull?"
The tishy eyes of the man lodged. Al
startled oath escaped him. "How do
,"Ddn't you kill him?'
'Great heavens, nO!' Hull dragged
out the rcd bandanna and gave his
apoplcctic face first aid. lie mopped pcr.
spiration from the overlapping roll of
Tat above his collar. "I dunno a thing
about it. Honest, | don't. You got no
right to talk to me thataway."
a, You're. tub of iniquity. Hull. |
also, also, you re a right poor liar. You
know lot about it. You were in my
uncleS rooms just before 1 saw Won
there. " '"' Ao" "e'e SET"
"W-w-who says so?" quavered the
Wretched man. '"e
y, You II know who at the proper time.
,na, ~. teli you on" thing. 1t won't look
Eood Tor you that YOU held out all YOU
Ahow tlll 1t was Il showdown"
II amt holdin' out, | tell Won. What
business you got to come here devilin'
''e, Ia like for to know?'
m not devilin' you. I'm tcllin' Won
70 come through with what you know,
:" you II sure get in trouble. There's
wh"t witness against you. When he tells
~ shibo|' The word burst from the
man lips in spite of him.
Ia NmDy dld not bat a surprised eye.
Te nc went on quietly. "I'n not saw who.
Except this. Shibo il not the ONLY one
t VINO can tell enough to put YOU on triaI
nm. ,Ur your life. If you didn't xiii NV
,r.m T"Hle you'd better take my tin, Hull.
for ' vN,l what you know. It'll be better
n Mrs; Hull Stood in the doorway. thin
sma sinister, The eyes in her vcilow
tsee a. took in the cattleman and nassej
bs,d,rr % ncr husband. WHAT'S he doing
sbarn,, she asked, biting off her words
who LiSIaS mhS hskin' Mr.. Hull IL he knew
III Won milled my uncle" explained Kirby.
know rr ;, eyes narrowed. MAYBE YOU
A"oW, Nv, she retorted. ~"
yo, NGt oi yet. I'm tryin' to find ont. Can
TbssMive me any help. Mrs. HuIl?"
"Whoty eyes crossed and fought it out.
demanIdaad1 Ia1 10 you want to know?" she
my I'd udoI like to know what happened in
wuD w theIc thanc rooms when Mr.. Hull was
,pehba b,nereusay about half past nine
III llttle before or n little after ;;
ns ne claims to have a witness" Hill,
"aasen TO get out from dry throat
wom,, "'thess OF what?" snapped the
hams m''aremthat roodl WAS In Ginning.
A Ur sU an instant the woman ouaiIed
~" ..,,a was gene. "'' ia'e
.ole nCil So claim anything to get outa the
,wiftInre " m she said dryly. Then.
,onohihg man. '"You vet omt. mv v
,On~G0 ,OnS"i We don't have to stand yorc M
l what's more. we wont
bs son n hcary Get out, or mi send for
~ 'm ponce. amt scared any OF Won" " +,
l,d b,d dd',uteur detective got out. lie :
,e bnd d;e lug worst Of the bout. But
II No ha" oo, discovered one or two things, !
snssold NC rould get Olson to talk, and co,,ld
iint.a iita,e the fat, flabby man from his a
1rS Wile, 1t would not be harl to !
confession from Hull of nil =.