Gunnison news-champion., 1924-02-29
ssudatehmsns


caSs ther. is no cIrcumstRntial evil
drrre. and .s 10 motive. poor old Vic
tor Vas too big a fool to have an
en-my In the world"
sidney yo.s. who was up for the
Sheridan club and had once been there.
glanced respectfully across AT Franc.s
You ought TO know something about
erin and criminals. Sir. Ledssm.- he
ss!d Have you any theory about the
affair
Francls set down rhe glass from
Will he had been drinking. and. fold
In Up the evening paper. laid II by
III s.is Of him
As a matter OF fact" he answered
enImIy. Il have
The few words. simply spoken, yet
In their way charged with menace.
,hrlII-d through the little room Fair
fa1 ,wuns round upon his stool. tall.
agzr, sslye-IoOking youth whose good
look we're half eaten up with dIssi-
patton. His eyes were unnaturaliy
bright. the cloudy remains In his glass
In d-ated ahsinthe
Listen, you fellows,' he exclaimed
Nj Francis Lei<am. N. great Grim
ina, barrister. Is going to solve the
n srery Of poor old vIcfor's death for
O.
The three other young men all
turned around from the bar Their
eyr- and whole attention seemed rivei.
e. upon Francis, No one seemed 10
nu'.0e the newcomer who passed quiet
ly To q chair in the bacf ground, al
thnr.h he was person Of some note
an interest TO all OF them. lmper-
turJahle and Immaculate as ever, Sir
Timothy Brast smiled smlably upon
the little gathering. summoned walt
er ant ordered a dry martini.
I can scarcely promise TO do that"
Francis said slowly. his eyes resting
for second or two upon each Of the
four faces. Exact solutions are a lit.
lie out Of my line. ! think can prom.
Is TO give you a shock. though. II
you're strong enough to stand IT."
There was another of those curious
u charged siIences. The bartender
paused with the cocktail. shaker still
In bis hand. yoss began TO beat nerv-
ously upon the counter with his
knuckles.
We can stand anything but sus-
pense." he declared. Get on with
your ck-giving"
Il believe that the person responsi.
bic for the death of Victor BIdlake Is
In this room at the present moment"
Francis declared.
Again the silence. curious. tense and
dramatic. Little Jimmy. the bartender.
who had leaned forward to listen.
stood with his mouth slightly open and
the cocktail shaker which was In his
Aand leaking drops upon the counter.
The first conscious impulse of every
body seemed TO be TO glance susp!-
ciously around the room. The four
young men at the bar, Jimmy and one
walter. Francis and Sir Timothy Brast.
were Its only occupants
7 say. you know, that's bit thick.
isn't itr' Sidney Voss stammered at
last Il wasn't In the place at all. I
was in Manchester. but it's bit rough
on these other chaps. victor's pals"
Il Was dining at the Cafe Royal"
Jacks declared, loudly.
Morse drew little breath.
Every one knows that was at
Brighton" he mutiered.
II went home directly the bar here
closed" Jimmy said. in a still dazed
tone. Il heard nothing about II till
the next morning
"Allbis by the bushel." Fairfax
laughed harshly. "As for me. was
doing my show-every one knows that
| was never in the place at all"
The murder was not committed in
the place" Francis commented calmly
Fairfax slid OF his stool. spot Of
color blazed in his pale cheeks, the
glass which he was holding snapped
in his fingers. He seemed suddenly
possessed.
Il say. what the hi are you get
ting aty' he cried. Are you accusing
me-or any Of us-victor's palsr'
Il accuse no one" Francis replied.
unperturbed. You invited q state
ment from me and l made H."
Sir Timothy Brast rose from his
place and made his way to the end
Of the counter. next to Fairfax and
nearest Francis. He addressed the
former. There was an inscrutable
smile upon his lips. his manner was
reaxsuring.
Young gentleman" he begged.
pray do NOT disturb yourself viii!
answer for II that neither you nor any
Of your friends are the objects Of Mr..
Ledsam's suspicion Without q doubt,
1t Il to whom his somewhat bold
statement refers"
They all stared at him, immersed In
another crisis. bereft OF speech. He
tapped 4 cigarette upon the counter
and lit It Fairfax. whose glass had
Just been refilled by the bartender, was
still chastity pale. shaking with nerv-
BUSINESS aEj breathing hoarsely
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