The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-02-12

said I did it with a wooden mallet
which had taken from prize
fight, and which had been used to
hammer on the gong for the begin
ming and the end of the rounds. I
had been seen to take it from the
fight, and it was found the next
morning beside Langdon. There was
human blood on it. had been the
last person seen with Langdon. But
they couldn't convince the jury; I
went free, as I should have done. l
was innocent!"
Houston, white now with the men,
cries and with the necessity of re-
failing again the presence Of a
girl who, to him, stood for all that
could mean happiness, gritted his
teeth for the determination to 60 on
with the grisly thing, to hide moth
ing in the answers to the question
which she might ask. But Medaine
Robinette, standing beside the win.
dow, the color gone from her
checks, one hand lingering the cur
tains, eyes turned without, gave no
evidence that she had heard.
II hadn't seen Tom Langdon in
five years. Always had looked on
him as sort of black sheep. He
asked for my father and appeared
anxious to see him. told him that
father was out of town. Then he
said he would stay in Boston until
he came back, that he had informa-
ton for him that was Of the great
est Importance, and that when ne
told father what it was, that ne,
Langdon, could have anything my
father possessed in the way of a
job and competence for life. 1t
sounded like blackmail-I could
think of nothing else coming from
Tom Langdon-and told him SO.
That was unfortunate. There were
several persons in my office at the
time. He resented the statement and
we quarreled. They heard it and
later testified. He suggested that
we go to dinner together and insist
ed upon it. There was nothing to do
but acquicsce; especially as I now
was trying to draw from him some
ting of what had brought him here
We had wine. Oh" and he swerved
suddenly toward the woman at the
window, "1'm not trying to make any
excuses for myself. We left the
cafe, he fairly intoxicated, myself
greatly so. We saw the advertise
ment of prize fight and went, get
ting seats near the ringside. They
weren't close enough for me.
bribed fellow to let me sit at the
press stand, next to the timekeeper,
and Worried him until he let me
have the mallet that he was using
to strike the gong.
"The fight was exciting-especial-
ly to me in my condition. was
standing most of the time, even
leaning ION the ring. Once, while in
this position, one of the men, who
was bleeding, was knocked down. He
struck the mallet. It became covered
with blood. No one seemed to notice
that, except myself-and everyone
was too excited. A moment more and
the fight was over. Then l struck
the mallet in my pocket, telling
everyone who cared to hear that l
was carrying away a souvenir.
Langdon and went out together.
eve started home--for he had an
nounced that he was going to spend
the night with me. Persons about
US heard him. It was not far to the
house and we decided to walk. On
the way, he demanded the mallet for
himself and pulled it ont of nv
pocket. struggled with him for IT,
finally, however, to be bested, and
started away. l went home and to
bed. About four o'clock in the morn
ing, l was awakened by the police.
They had found Tom Langdon dead,
with his skull crushed, evidently by
the blow of a club or a hammer.
They said / did it."
Continued in Our Next Issue)