The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-09-22

She knew now. beyond any question
or doubt, that he had been present
when "Slim" Jim Collins had been
killed He had seen mans life
snuffed out, was still trembling for
fear he might be called In as party
to the crime.
you'd better tell me before It's too
late. How did you and Clay Lindsay
come to go to that den?"
1--WE went out tc-to see the town."
"But why to that place? Are you
In the habit OF going there?"
He shuddered. "Never was there
before / had a card. Some one gave
it tome. So we went In for a few
minutes-to see what 1t was like. The
police raided the place." He dropped
his sentences reluctantly, as though
they were being forced from him In
pain.
"Well?"
Everybody tried to escape. The
lights went out. I found back door
and got away. Then / came home"
what about Clay?"
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.
"And the-the shooting? Did you
see thatT"
Twice the words he tried to say
faded on his lips. At last he managed
Ia mo"
"Why notT'
"I-found door and escaped"
"You must have heard shooting"
II heard shots as / ran down the
stairs. This morning l read that
that a man was" He swallowed
down lump and left the sentence un-
finished
"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."
per.
did you see this man Collins in the
room?"
mo. 1 shouldn't know him If I
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 II was"
She waited, but he did not finish.
"Clay's life may depend upon it, 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"
"You-heard-shot
The eyes Of the girl were deadly
weapons. They glittered like unscab-
barded steel. In them was 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 a mix-up? 1t will ruin me-"
How did you come to go?" she
asked.
"He wanted to see New York. l
suppose / had some notion Of taking
him summing"
Beatrice went up to him and looked
straight into his eyes. ''Then testify
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 little. "Clay's life Is at
stake. Remember that"
do you think it would be safe to
go to the police?" he asked doubtfully.
Whitford spoke up. That's the
only square and safe thing to do.
Bromfield. 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 accomplice
of Clay. Don't lose your nerve. You'll
go through with flying colors. When
man has done nothing wrong he
needn't be afraid"
81 dare say you're right" agree
Bromfield miserably.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)