Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1922-02-17

your curiosity I'll tell you. We've got
the girl spotted; we can lay our hands
on her in an hour; and, believe me,
we've got the goods on the young lady.
Here's the, sticker that did the busi-
ness, and / found it right where you
had hidden it away. l can find three
men-they are keeping out Of sight,
but / can stir them up-wholl swear
that she went away alone with Alva
from that factory over there; that he
had the bag with him, and that the
two got into the auto together. That
makes one hi of straight case,
don't it?"
1.-THE way you put it-yes. But
what good will 1t do Xou fellows to
have her pinched? Where DO you gain
anything?"
'"Time; it blocks the getaway with
the swag. That's all we want. See
here, Severn, we know where the stuff
is planted; at least we've got an idea,
but we've got to work slow and eau
tious in order to lift it. If it wasn't
for that we wouldn't care if she
skipped. If you'll help us to get quick
action, Wen let the girl go, and give
you a share. Take my word for it,
that's a d-n sight more than you'll
ever get by staying with her"
"But if she finds out that / have
| turned her down."
"She won't never find it out; We'll
| keep num- Besides, you're doin' her
a good turn, keepin' her out of the
| electric chair Well, there's the prop
| osition-yOu can leave it, or take it."
Serious as the situation was could
not fail to see it's absurdity This was
no threat to frighten me; the fellows
meant what they said, although
doubted if they really possessed the
knowledge claimed so glibly. But they
evidently meant to go on; they were
not bluffing, for they really had an
ugly case, and could undoubtedly make
| trouble. The evidence against the girl
was strong, almost convincing it ever
shook my own confidence in her in
nocence. The absurdity of the situa-
tion lay in my absolute ignorance. /
knew even less than they pretended to
know. What should / do? Pretend,
manufacture some story? had no
faith it would work. These fellows
were criminals, suspicious and unscru-
pulous; they would only believe what
could prove. If they caught me in
q deliberate lie, as they probably
would, that would instantly end every
thing. l might, then, just as well fight
il out with them now as later. | set
my teeth, ready for what l felt sure
was coming.
You fellows have sized me up
wrong" / said quietly, but firmly. II
am not the kind to squeal because of
a threat. You'll find I'll protect the
lady, but I'll do it in my own way
not yours. The honest truth is, /
haven't anything to tell. You won't
believe that, but it is so. know less
than you claim to know. ! have no
knowledge of where the money is, or
who got it. ! do not know who killed
Alva; even now l haven't any suspi-
cions worth mentioning. But l will
say this plainly-I do not believe this
girl did it, or that she had any hand
in the robbery. I am going to stay
with her till HI freezes over, If that
is what you want to know. That's my
answer, Harris, and it is all I've got
to give you"
"You id cur! Wen show you
something"
Perhaps you will you are three to
one, and on your own dung-hill. But
the man who touches me is going to
get hurt; I'll promise you that. No.
you don't, Costigan; that trick won't
work !"
l tried to keep my eyes on the three
Of them, but his movement caused me
to step back closer against the wall.
feared the Jew least he had neither
spoken nor moved since our entrance,
and felt he had no stomach for any
farther fighting. Yet I judged wrong.
With one quick dash forward he
gripped my wrist as reached back
for a revolver, and flung his burly
frame against me with such force as
to have thrown me headlong but for
the support of the wall. Before I
could wrench myself free, the others
closed in desperately, content to use
their hands, unwilling, perhaps, to
create any alarm with firearms. I was
a better fighting man than any one Of
the three, but combined they had the
advantage. I wrenched free from the
Russian, and thus got one hand in ac-
tion, yet that was all. I know
planted one jolting blow straight
against .Costigans round face which
made him vince, and got foot fair
into Harris stomach sending him reel
ing backward. Indeed / staggered the
two of them, twisting out Of the grip
Of those iron fingers. and smashing a
step forward in spite Of every effort.
was maddened, frenzied, reckless Of
all injury, eager only to injure those
devils in any conceivable way; hate
seemed to endow me with supernatu-
raj strength, and desire to kill swept
me with passion. All before me was
| a \ |al hnf