Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-06-16
this captain of thugs knew.

was trembling lest it be discovered,
should the Arizonan, too, join the con-
splracy Of silence? At any rate she
would not uncover her hand.
He told us several things" she said
significantly. you've got to make open
confession, Clary."
The eX-pugilist chewed his cigar and
looked at her.
what would he confess? That the
man with him murdered Collins?"
That's not true" said the girl
quickly.
80 Lindsay's your friend, Ell? Diff
ferent here, miss" Jerry pieced to-
gether what the clubman had told him
and what he had since learned about
her. He knew hat this must be the
girl to whom his host was engaged.
"How about you, Bromfield?' he
sneered.
The clubman stiffened. "Tve nothing
against Mr.. Lindsay"
Thought you had"
'Of course he hasn't. Why should
hep" asked Beatrice, backing up Clar-
endon.
Darand looked at her with a bold In
science that was an insult. His eyes
moved up and down the long, slim
curves Of her figure. 81 expect he could
find a handsome reason If he looked
around for 1t, miss"
The girls father clenched his fist. A
finch of onna- ct.,ont hie r,,ddu nha0l-c
He held himself, however, to the sub
ject.
"You forget, Mr.. Durand, that Lind
say was his guest last night"
Jerry's laugh was a contemptuous
jeer. That's right. I'd forgot that. He
was your guest, wasn't he, BromfleldT'
whats the good of discussing it
here?" asked the tortured host.
mot a bit" admitted Whitford. SAC
lions talk, not words. Have you seen
the police yet, Bromfield"
"N-not yet"
"What'S he gonna see the police
about?" Jerry wanted to know, his chin
jutting out.
"To tell them that he saw Collins
draw a gun and heard shots fired" re-
torted the mining man instantly.
mot what he's been tellin' me. He'll
not pull any such story-not unless he
wants to put himself in a cell for life"
"Talk sense. You can't brighten
Bromield. He knows that's foolish
ness"
Does he?" The crook turned de-
risive eyes on the victim he was tor
turing.
Certainly the society man did not
look a picture of confidence. The
shadow of a heavy fear hung over him.
The telephone rang. Bromield's
trembling fingers picked up the trans
mitter. He listened a moment, then
turned it over to Beatrice.
For you"
Her part of the conversation was
limited. 1t consisted of the word
eyes" repeated at intervals and a con
Guiding, "Oh, I'm so glad. Thank you"
Her eyes were sparkling when she
hung up.
"Good news, dad" she said. "Ill tell
you later"
Durand laughed brutally as he rose.
"Good news, eh? Get all you can.
You'll need it. Take that from me. It's
straight. Your friends in trouble up to
the neck" He staggered to the door
and turned. Don't forget, Bromfield.
Keep outa this or you'll be sorry" His
voice was like the crack of a trainers
whip to animals in a circus.
For once Bromfield did not jump
through the hoop. "Oh, go to the devil"
he said in irritation, flushing angrily.
Better not get gay with me-" ad-
vised Durand sourly.
After the door had closed on him
there was a momentary pause. The
younger man spoke awkwardly. "You
can tell me now what it was Mr.. Lind
say told you"
WED like to know for sure whether
you're with us or with Durand," said
Whitford mildly. "Of course we know
the answer to that. You're with us.
But we want to hear you say it, fiat
foot"
"Of course I'm with you. That is,
I'd like to be. But 1 don't want to get
into trouble, Mr.. Whitford. Can you
blame me for that?"
"You wouldn't get into trouble" ar
gued the mine owner impatiently. Il
keep telling you that"
Beatrice, watching the younger man
closely, saw as in a flash the solution
of this m~ystery-the explanation of the
tangle to which various scattered
threads had been leading her.
"Are you sure of that, dadT
GLOW could ne be hurt, BeeT
The girl let Bromfield have it straight
from the shoulder. Because Clay
didn't kill that man Collins. Clarendon
did it."
my G., you know!" he cried,
ashen-faced. "He told you"
mo, he didn't tell us. For some rea-
son he's protecting you. But l know
IA .