The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-11-03
rnen7'' cried Bromfeld, tiny beads of

"'Tbe boob's padlocked his mouth.
For some fool reason he's protectln'
you. Get out, an you're safe"
Bromfeld sweated blood as he
walked up and down the room looking
for way out of his dilemma. He had
come TO the parting of the road again.
If he did this thing he would he Il yell
low eur. 1t was one thing to destroy
Lindsay's influence with Beatrice by
giving her false impression. From
his point Of view their friendship was
pernicious anyhow and ought to be
wiped out AT most the cattleMan
would have gone back unhurt ia the
Arizona desert he was always talking
about, Nobody there would care
about what had happened to him in
New York. But to leave him, IN inn0-
cent man, to 20 to his death because
lie was too chivalrons to betrGy his
partner in an adyenture,--this was
something that even Bromheld's afro
phied conscience revoltcd at. Clay
was standing by him, according to Du-
rand's story. The news Of II lifted d
weight from his soul. But 1t left him,
too, under a stronger moral obligation
to step out and face the music
The cIubman made the only decision
he could and that was to procrasti-
nate, to put off making any choice for
the present.
I'm think 1t over. Give me day
to make up my mind" he begged.
Jerry shrugged his heavy shoulders,
He knew that every hour counted in
his favor, would make it more difficult
for The tortured man to come forward
aad tell the truth. Sure. Loot; it
over upside and down. Don't hurry
But, man, what's there to think about?
l thought You hated this guy-wanted
to get rid of him"
Not that way. Cd, no! Durand,
III give YOU any sum in reason to let
him go without bringing me into it.
You can arrange It,"
Jerry slammed down fist heavily
ca the table. ~ can but l won't Not
ii you was to go ilfty-fifty with me to
your last cent I'm gOln' TO 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 that do you? I'm
offering you cold cash just to let the
truth get out--that Collins was trying
to Kill him when he got hit"
"NOthin' dom. I've been layin' for
this boob. I've got him now. I'm goir'
to turn the screws on and listen to him
boiler"
Bromfeld's valet stepped into the
room, "air. and Miss Whtford to see
you. sir"
Annie Millikan nodded her wise lit
tie head. "Jerry's gonna frame him II
re can. Hes laid the wires for it.
That's lead pipe"
Sure" agreed AIMIdoon. an bel
he's been busy all night lixin' up his
story. Some poor divvles hen bully.
rug 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 wen do II. 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 had his days free,
guided Whtf0rd and his daughter to
MHddOck's. AS they reached the
house an express wagon was being
driven away. Automatically the IL
cenSe number registered itself in Tins
memory.
The policeman took key from his
pocket and unlocked the door. The
three went up the stairs to the desert.
ed gambling ha':. and through 1t to the
rear room.
From what Lindsay says, the bullet
holes ought to be about as high as his
nrmpIts," said Whltford.
"'Slim' must n been Standin' about
here" guessed MuldoOn, illustrating
his theory by taking the position he
'ut..nt. "rhe blllIcta would hit the par.
tition close to the center, wouldn't
theyT"
Beatrice had gone straight to the
plank wall. They're not here" she
told them.
"AIust he. According to Lindsay.
story the fellow was aiming straight
NJ IT,"
well. they're not here. See for your,
self"
She was right. There was no evil
dence whatever that any bullets, had
passed through the partition. They
covered every inch Of the cross wall IL
their search.
Lindsay must have been mistaken,
decided Whitford, hiding his keen dis
appointment. "This man Collin.
couldn't have been firing in this direc
ton. OF course everything was con
fusion. No doubt they shifted rount
in the dark and"
He stopped, struck by an odd ex
preston on the face Of his daughter
She had stopped and picked up small
fragment of shaving from the floor
Her eyes went from 1t 10 a plank Ii
he partition and then back to the thil
gyiGt1 nf N,pn1