Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-12

what do o want me to do.
then? cried -Bromheld, tiny beads OF
Precipitation OF his forehead.
You'll do Vas I say-beat 1t outa
the country till the,thing's over with.
But Lindsay will talk"
THE boob's padlocked his mouth.
For some fool reason he's p%rotectin'
you. Get out, an you're safe @
Bromtield ,sweated blood as he
walked up and down the room look
ing for a way out of his dilemma.
He had come to the parting Of the
road again. If he did this thing he
would be a yellow cur. 1t one
thing to destroy L~indsay's influence
with Beatrice by giving her a false
impression. From his point-of view
their friendship was pernicious any
how and ought to be wiped out. At
most the cattleman would have gone
back unhurt to the Arizona desert he
was always talking obout. Nobody
there would care about what had
happened to him in New York. But
to leave him, an innocent man, to
90 to his death because he was too
chivalrous to betray, his partner in
even Bromf1eld's atrophied con-
science revolted at. Clay was stand
ing by him, according to Durand's
story The news of it lifted n weight
from his soul. But it left him. too,
under a stronger moral obligation
to step out and face the music.
The clubman made the only de-
cision he could, and that was to pros
crastinate, to put off making any
choice for the present.
I'll think it over, Give me a day
to make up my mind" he begged.
Jerry shrugged his heavy shoulders.
ia knOU that ovory hour cd in
his favor, would make it more diff
cult for, the tortured mant to come
forward and tell the truth. Sure.
Look it over upside and down. Don't
hurry. But, man, what's there to
think about? I thought you hated
this guy-wanted to get rid of him."
"Not hat way. Cd. no! Durand.
I'll give you any sum in reason to let
him go without bringing me into it.
You can arrange it."
Jerry slammed down a fist heavily
on the table. II can. but I won't.
Not if you was to go fifty-fifty with
get this fellow. See? I'm goin' to
get him good. He'll be crawlin' on
his hands and knees to me before I'm
through with him."
What good will hat do you? I'm
Offering you cold cash just to let the
truth get out-that Collins was trying
to kill him when ne got hit"
"Nothin' dom. I've been layin' for
this boob. I've got him now. I'm
goin' to urn the screws on and listen
to him holler." "
Bromheld's valet stepped into the
room. Mr.. and Miss Whitford to
see you, SIR" -.
Annie Millikan nodded her wise lit
tie head. "Jerry's gonna frame him
if he can. He's laid the wires for
it. That's a lead pipe"
Sure" agreed Muldoon. It'll bet
he's been busy all night fixin' up his
story. Some poor divvles he'll bully
rag into swearin' lies an others he'll
buy. Trust Jerry for the crooked
stuff"
We've got to tell the truth said
Beatrice crisply. pulling on her gloves.
And we'll do it, too. A pack of lies
can't stand against four of us all look
ing for the truth"
Muldoon, who was on night duty
this month and therefore lac his days
free, guided Whitford and his daugh-
ter to Maddock's. AS they reached
the house an express wagon was be-
ing driven away. Automatically the
license number registered itself in
Tins memory.
Inc pOllC6HldH LOOK d Key lEOHl his
pocket and unlocked the door. The
three went up h stairs to the desert
ed gambling hall n through it to
the rear room.
From what Lindsay says. the bull
let holes ought to be about as high
as his armpits.," said Whitford.
"'Slim' must "a been standin' about
here" guessed Muldoon, illustrating
his theory by taking the position he
meant. THE bullets would hit the
partition close to the center, wouldn't
.they?"
Beatrice had gone straight to (the
plank wall. They're not here" she
told them.
Must be. According to Lindsay's
story the fellow was aiming straight
at it,"
We'll. they're not here. : See for
yourself"
She was right. There was nj evil
dence whatever that any bullets had
passed through the partition. They
covered every inch of the cross wall
In their search. -
Lindsay must have e mistaken"
decided Whitford, hiding his keen
disappointment. This man Collins
couldn't have been firing in this direc-