Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-04-04
SYNOPSIS

CHAPTER Francis Ledsam defends
oliver Hilditch, powerful business man
In murder case and succeeds In get
ting him off, only to be told by young,
prepossessing woman, who says that
she is oliver Hilditch's wife. that Hill
ditch is an arch criminal and that Led
sam has turned loose a dangerous man
to resume hin preying upon society.
CHAPTER II-Ledsam, dining with
his best friend, Andrew Wilmore, meets
Hllditch and his wife and is invited to
dine with them at their home.
II will tell you, Mr.. Ledsam," lie
said, why l am so happy to have you
here this evening. In the first place,
l desire to tender you once more my
thanks for your very brilliant efforts
on my behalf. The very fact that I
am able to offer you hospitality at
all is without a doubt due to these"
II only did what I was paid to do"
Francis insisted little harshly. you
must remember that these things come
in the days work with u.s."
His host nodded.
Naturally" he murmured. There
was another reason, too, why / was
anxious to meet you. Mr. Ledsam.' he
continued you have gathered al
ready that l am something of crank.
I have a profound detestation Of all
sentimentality and affected morals. 1t
Is relief to me to come into contact
with a man who is free from that bour-
geois incubus to modern enterprise
a conscience"
'Ts that your estimate Of me| Fran
els asked
why not2 You practice your pro-
fession in the criminal courts, do you
not?"
That Is well-known," was the brief
reply.
What measure of conscience can
a man have" Oliver Hilditch argued
blandly, "who pleads for the innocent
and guilty alike with the same simu-
lated fervor? Confess, now, Mr. Led
sam-there Is 40 object in being hypo-
critical in this matter-have you not
often pleaded for the guilty as though
you believed them Innocent"
THAT has sometimes been my duty"
Francis acknowledged.
Hilditch laughed scornfully.
ut is all part Of the great hypocrisy
of society,"" he proclaimed. you have
an extra glass Of champagne for din
ner at night and are congratulated by
your friends because you have helped
some poor devil to cheat the law, while
all the time you know perfectly we'll,
and SO do your high-minded friends,
that your whole attitude during those
two hours of eloquence has been a lie.
That Is what first attracted me to
you, Mr.. Ledsam."
II am sorry to hear it," Francis COM
mented coldly 'The ethics of my pro
fesSion-"
His host stopped him with little
wave Of the hand.
Spare me that" he begged. while
we are on the subject, though, have
a question TO ask you. My lawyer
told me, directly after he had retained
you, that, although it would make no
real difference to your pleading, it
would be just as well for me to keep
up my bluff of being innocent, even In
private conversation with you. Why
was that?"
For the very obvious reason" Fran
els told him, that we are not all such
rogues and vagabOnds as you seem to
think. There Is more satisfaction to
me, at any rate, In saving an inno-
cent mans life than guilty ones"
Hilditch laughed as though amused.
Come" he threatened, 81 am going
to be ill-natured You have shown
signs of smugness, a quality which /
detest. l am going to rob you of
some part of your Self-satisfaction. Of
course l killed Jordan. / killed him
In the very chair in which you are
now sitting"
There was a moments intense ST.
lence The woman was still tanning
herself lazily Francis leaned forward
In his place.
II do not wish to hear this!" he
exclaimed harshly.
Don't be foolish" his host replied,
rising to his feet and strolling across
the room. "YOu know the whole trou-
BILE of the prosecution. They couldn't
discover the weapon or anything like
1t, with which the deed was done.
Now I'll show you something ingeni-
ous"
Francis followed the others move
ments with fascinated eyes. The wom-
an scarcely turned her head. Hilditch
paused at the further end of the room,
where there were a couple of gun
cases, some fishing rods and bag of
golf clubs. From the latter he ex-
tracted very ordinary-looking put
ter, and with 1t In his hands strolled
back to them.
do you play golf, Ledsam?" he
asked. What do you think Of that?"
Francis took the putter into his hand.
1t was a very ordinary club, which had
apparently seen good deal of serv-
Ice, so much, indeed, that the leather
wrapping at the top was commencing
to unroll The makers name was on
the back Of the blade, also the name