The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-06-30

| lie learned that when a lawbreakel
is going strong, friends at court who
are under obligations 10 him are 4
bulwark of strength. b.. when ones
power is shaken politicians prefer tC
take no risks. No news spreads NOR,
rapidly than that of the impending
fall of a chieftain. The word was
passing among the wise that Jerry
Durand was 10 be thrown overheard
Durand tried to make an appoint
ment with Whitford. That gentleman
declined to see him. Jerry persisted.
He offered to meet him at one of his
clubs. He telephoned to the house,
but could not get any result more sat
isfactory than the cold voice of serv-
ant saying. "Mr. Whitford does not
wish to talk with you. SIR" At last
he telegraphed.
The message read:
"Tll come to your house at eight
this evening. Better see me for mis-
sizes sake"
1t was signed by Durand.
When Jerry called he was admitted.
Whitford met him with chill hos
tility. He held the telegram In his
hand. what does this message
mean7" he asked bluntly.
"Your daughters engaged to Brom-
field. amt sher" demanded the ex-
prize fighter, his Dubious eyes full on
his host.
That's our business, SIR"
II got a reason for asking. She is
or she amt Which Is it?"
"We'll not discuss my daughters af-
fairs"
"All right, since you're so id par
ticular. Wen discuss Bromfield's. I
warned him to keep his mouth shut
or he'd get into trouble"
HE was released from prison this
afternoon"
did l say anything about prisoni"
Durand asked. ''There's other kinds
of grief beside being In stir. I've got
this guy right"
"Just what do you mean. Mr.. Dur
and?"
II mean that he hired me to get
Lindsay in bad with you and the girl.
He was to be caught at the Omnium
club with a woman when the police
raided the place, and 1t was to get In
to the papers,"
81 don't believe It," said Whitford
promptly.
"You will. / had a dictagraph In
the room when Bromfeld came to see
me. You can hear It all in his own
voice"
"But there wasn't any woman with
Lindsay at Maddock's when the raid
was pulled off,"
"Sure there wasn't. / threw Brom-
field down"
"You arranged to have Lindsay
killed instead"
that If you don't call off the district
attorney, I'll tell all l know about
son-in-law Bromfield. He'll be ruined
for life"
''To hear you tell it."
"All right. Ask him."
81 shall"
Conspiracy is what the law calls
It, Maybe he can keep outa stir. But
when his swell friends hear 1t they'll
turn their backs on Bromfield. You
know It,"
"rll not know it unless Mr.. Brom-
field tells me so himself. 1 don't care
anything for your dictagraph. I'm
no eavesdropper.'
"You tell him what he's up against
and he'll come through all right. I'll |
see that every newspaper In New York |
carries the story If you don't notify |
me today that this attack on me is
off. I'll learn you silk stockings you |
can't make Jerry Durand the goat"
Whitford announced his decision
sharply. "If you'll leave me your tele-
phone number, I'll let you know later
in the day what We'll do"
He had told Durand that he did not
believe his story. He had tried to
reject it because he did not want to
accept it, but after the man had gone |
and he thought it over, his judgment
was that 1t held some germ of truth.
If so, he was bound to protect Bron-
field as far as he could. No matter
what Clarendon had done, he could
not throw overheard TO the sharks
the man VINO WIS Slul enSdSeu " MS
daughter. He might not like him. In
point of fact he did not. But he had
to stand by him till he was out of his
trouble.
Colin Whitford went straight to his
daughter.
Honey, this man Durand has just
brought me a story about Clarendon.
He says he paid him to get Clay into
trouble at the Omnium club in order
to dscredit him with us"
"Oh, dadi"
I'm going to see Clarendon. If it's
rue ! don't want you to see him
again. Authorize me to break the en-
yagement for YOU"
They talked it over a few minutes.
Beatrice slipped the engagement ring
rom her finger and gave 1t to her
ather with sigh.
you can't do wrong without paying
or ii, dad"
"That's right. Bromfield-"
I'm not thinking of Clarendon. I'm
linking about me. | feel as If had