The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-06-24

and got away. Then came home"
"What about Clay! W.
Bromfield told the truth. II didn't
see him after the lights went out, ex-
cept for moment. He was running
at the man with the gun" .,... ~.
"You saw the gum
He nodded, moistened his dry lips
with the tip Of his tongue. ST. D..
| and theT-the shooting7 Did you
| see that?" ,,..-4@ .HD......
Twice the words he tried to say
faded on his lips. At last he managed
q i"No." 1915 -
+ ,"Why not?' ...,ai,s I'M
.,'I-fOund a door and escaped"
: 9rYou must have heard shooting" & !
'I heard shots as ran down the
stairs. This morning read that.
that man was" He swallowed
down lump and left the sentence un-
finished. :.' 49,.
"Then you know that Clay is ac-
cused of killing this man, and that the
police are looking for you because
you were with him.
'Yes." His answer was a dry whis-
per.
did you see this man Collins in the
room?"
mo. I shouldn't know him If l
saw him."
But you heard shots. You're sure
of that" cried Beatrice.
"Y-yes.'
The girl turned triumphantly to her
father. He saw the gun and he
heard shots. That proves self de
Tense at the worst. They were shoot
ing at Clay when he struck with the
chair-if he did. Clarendon's testi-
mony will show that"
my testimony" screamed Brom-
field. "My Cd. do you think I'm
going tO-to-go into court? They
would claim III was"
She waited, but he did not finish.
"Clay's life may depend upon 1t, and
of course you'll tell the TRUTH" she
said quietly.
Maybe 1 didn't hear Shots" he
hedged. maybe it was furniture
falling. There was lot of noise of
people stamping and fighting"
Observation-Disclosures
The eyes Of the girl were deadly
weapons. They glittered like unscab-
barded steel. In them was u con-
tanned fire that awed him.
He threw out his hand in a weak,
impotent gesture Of despair. MY
Cd, how did ever come to get into
such mix-up? 1t will ruin me-"
"How did you come to goY" she
asked.
"He wanted to see New York.
suppose I had some notion Of taking
him Summing"
Beatrice went up to him and looked
straight into his eyes. "Then testify
to that in court. 1t won't hurt you
any. Go down to the police and say
you have read in the paper that they
want you. Tell the whole truth. And
Clary-don't weaken. Stick to your
story about the. Shots" Her voice
shook a little. "Clay's life is at
stake. Remember that"
do you think it would be safe to
90 10 the police?" he asked doubtfully.
WhitfOrd spoke up. "That's the
only square and safe thing to do,
Bromtield. They'll find out who you
are, Of course. If you go straight to
them you draw the sting from their
charge that you were an accomplish
Of Clay. Don't lose your nerve. You'll
go through with flying colors. When a
man has done nothing wrong he
needn't be afraid"
II dare say you're right" agreed
Brolnfield miserably.
The trouble was that Whitford was
arguing from false premises. He was
assuming that Clarendon was an innO-
cent man, whereas the clubman knew
| just how guilty he was. Back of the
/ killing lay conspiracy which might
come to light during the investigation.
He dared not face the police. His con-
science was not clean enough.
! "Of course Dads right. It's the only
way to save your reputation" Bea-
trice cried. I'm not going to leave
you till you promise to so straight
down there to headquarters. If you
don't you'll be smirched for life-and
you'd be doing something absolutely
dlshonorable"
He came to time with heart of
heavy dread. "All right, Bee, I'll Co."
he promised. ITS an awful mess, but
I've got to 80 through with it, sup
pose"
"Of course you have" she said with
complete conviction. you're not
gutter and you can't hide here like a
criminal"
/ well have to be moving, Bee"
her father reminded her. "You know
we have al appointment to meet the
district attorney"
Beatrice nodded. With a queer feel
ing Of repulsion she patted her funce's
cheek with her soft hand and whs-
percd word of comfort to him.
Buck up, old boy. 1t won't he half
as bad as you think. Nobody is going
10 blame YOU"
They were shown out by the valet.
You don't want to be hard on Brom.
field, honey" Whitford told his daugh-
ter after they had re-entered their car.
Hes 4 parlor man. That's the way
he's been brought up. Never did Il