South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-28

"Bateese believe Msieu Houston.
You look like my Pierre. Ny Pierre,
he could do no wrong. Ba'teese
satisfy"
1t sent a new flow Of blood
through the veins OF Barry Houston
that simple, quiet statement Of the
old trapper. His voice bore a vi
brant tone. almost of excitement:
I'm going back to Boston tonight
I'm going 10 find out about this
There's a fraud. Ba tiste-and I'll
prove it If L can get back to Boston.
Miss Jierdon knows the truth about
this whole thing-every step OF the
way Will you TED herr"
"Oui. Ba'teese tell her-about the
hume and Msieu Thayer. what he
say. You go Boston tonight?"
Yes"
weakened, wrinkle-faced little
Jenkins met him at the Boston Of
fee
You're back, Mr. Houston. 1
didn't know whether TO send the no
tice from the Mountain, Plains and
salt Lake Railroad It just came
yesterday"
Abstractedly. Houston picked it up
and glanced at the specifications.
'Jenkins." Houston's voice was
sharp. insistent. The weakened man
entered, rubbing his hands.
Have we any stumpage CON
tracts2"
only one, sir"
THAT one you signed. sir. to
Thayer and Blackburn, ust week
Thayer and Blackburn. just a week
Don't YOU remember. sir; you signed
IT, together with a lease for the f1ume
site and lake,"
'I signed nothing Of the sort,'
You certainly did, sir"
You're lying"
II don't lie. sir. I attested the
signature and saw you READ both
contracts. Pardon. sir. but IL any
ones lyins, sir-it's Yourself"
CHAPTER Y
Ten minutes after that. Barry
Houston was alone i'm his office.
Jenkins was gone. discharged. and
Houston felt a sort OF relief in,the
knowledge that he had departed
He returned to Tabernacle and at
tempted the only solution; he must
secure timber from Medaine Robin
cite and bid on the railroad con
tract.
Houston felt that he would be pre-
Stunning 10 ask 20 Of her-himself a
stranger against whom had come the
accusation Of murder. Yet. withal,
in a way, he welcomed the chance to
see her and 20 seek to explain 20 her
the deadly thrust which Fred
Thayer had sent against him.
Medaines hand trembled slightly
as she extended il TO Ba'tiste. Hous-
ton she received with a bow
forced, he thought.
we have come for business. Me-
dame Ba'tists announced. M sieu
Houston, he have need for iume
site"
She seemed 20 hesitate then and
Houston took q sudden resolve. II
might as well be now as later
Miss Robinette." he began. COM
ing forward. Il realize that all this
needs some explanation. Especially. %
and he halted, about myself"
Houston came directly 10 the cues
ton.
IT'S simply this Miss Robinette.
IL I am guilty OF those things. you
don't want 10 have anything 20 do
with me. But I am here 20 tell you
that I am not guilty. and that It all
has been a horrible blunder o. cir
cumstance. II IS very true in one
sense" and his voice lowered
"thatfabout two years ago in Boston.
I was arrested and tried for murder g"
so Mr. Thayer said"
II was acquitted-but not for the
reason Thayer gave. They couldn't
make a case. q worthless cousin
Tom Langdon. was murdered. They
said I did 70 with a wooden mallet
which I had taken from a prize
fight. and which had been used 10
hammer on the CONS for tha begin
ming and the end OF the rounds