The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-09-09

Who's been blackmailing herr" he snarled.
 Burke's lips snapped shut. The captain knew that Burke's experience Mad taught him the value of silence that he would answer no question while under police suspicion or accu- satfon.
 Now. I give you my word" he said. "that there's nothing against you. I don't suspect you-she does.'' What" The exclamation came like a painful cry from Burke. She's been paying hush money to somebody, and she thinks you're be- hind the gang. We've been watch l ing you. and I'm convinced you've had nothing to do with 1t. But I want you to help us run down the black natlers."
 Burke shifted uneasily in his seat. Captain" he walled, tits the last thing in the world I'd do-harm her. | There were so many who knew about it, suppose it could be any of them.'' | I can't imagine who it could be. Well, the point is this" drawled 1 the detective: 'sshe thinks the money has been going to you. She's tired of paying and she's asked us to land the | grafters."
 l Burke glanced at the captain sus- piciously. Then his eyes narrowed on Carroll. and a sudden thought flashed l across his mind.
 1 Look here," he said CT don't | know that Margaret Case is the woman you say she is. And if she is I'm not going to do anything to harm her, he blurted. "Captain,'' l he appealed, that girl had nothing 1 to do with the job for which she was sent up. She didn't know no more l about it than 8 baby. I swore to the | truth at the trial. I gave her the package of jewels, and asked her to take it home for me. said I'd call for it, in the evening. She didn't know what was in the package. When | she was arrested, you got her with the goods on; but tell you she had | nothing to do with the robbery
 ''She knew how you got the money, l didn't she?''
 i s'No, she didn't, She thought I was working. She was on the level. She showed 1t when she got away as l soon as she got out on parole. l haven't seen her since"
 "You were in love with her?''
 Burke's eyes dropped. A g1eam of tenderness lit his face for an instant and softened It's surliness.
 s'That's all past" he muttered. "Yes," assented West. seeing as she is now the wife of a railroad president. Well. if you have any re- gard left for her. you'n help us stop this bIackmai1ing. Now I want you to do exactly as Carroll says. He'll call for you when he wants you. You can go now"
 Burke walked down the steps oi headquarters. slowly and meditat1ve1y Did she really think he was black mailing her?
 Were West and Carroll dealing fairly with him? And how did she avoid the implacable consequences ot breaking parole?
 The thought of her position loom d in his mind-the prominence Of her husband and the wealth that was al her command. And he came to the conclusion she had bought her free dom. It was the only solution of the problem.
 He walked the streets, steeped ir thoughts. His mind traversed the paths of his past and swept the gloomy outlook of the future. He recognized the derelict that he was the present was too painfully vivid to permit of any false conception o1 himself. But 1t gladdened him - gla addened him as much as t was pos sble for anything to bring joy to his congealed nature-to know that she | Then it came to him that she thought he was a blackmailer. That he was extorting hush money from her. Well, he would show her he had not fallen to that depth. Yes. he would help the police to run down the extortioners. First he would make sure they were playing fair with him.
 He reached the East Side parish house of pr. Phillips church. The oIo in, nd In o1 10 stairs to Dr. Phillips office.
 I'm glad you came" the clergy man greeted. T was about to send for you"
 Burke followed his words expect antly.
 "I've found a job for vou.'' Dr. Phillips continued-"a good job, out of the city. I spoke to friend about you and he's going to send you away. Now Burke" the clergyman looked at him kindly, 'fyou've got to make good. You've got to make good, for me as we'll as for yourself"
 Thank you, sir," Burke respond ed. ''I will make good-''
 "The friend whom I have interest ed in your behalf the clergyman pursued, "is MT. Harvey Lake, President of the D.. H. & M" Burke started. His eyes stopped
 
 minister.
 Do you want me to call on the gentleman" he asked eagerly. You probably will have to go to his office tomorrow" Dr. Phillips re- piled. ''Before doing so, you had bet ter call here, and I will tell you what to do.''
 As Burke neared his home, after having passed through various stages of bewi1d erment, his mind saw q light. It was Mrs. Lake who had ob- tained the position for him, he fig ured. She was anxious to get him out of the way. He saw it all now, and he smiled inwardly.
 The reason for the sudden activity of the police also was plain to him now. They had been bribed to get him out of the way. The blackmail- ing story was an invention, concocted with the view of accelerating his