Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-02-14

notH
THAT is well-knOwp." was the brie
reply.
"What measure 81 conscience car
a man have" Oliver Hildltch argues
blandly. ''who pleads for the innocen
and guilty alike with the same slmu
lated fervOrl Confess, now, Mr.. Led
sam-there Is no object in being hypo
critical In this matter-have you not
often pleaded for the guilty as though
you believed them lnnocentT
THAT has sometimes been my duty,
Francis acknowledged.
Hilditch laughed scornfuily.
1T 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 lie.
That Is what FIRST attracted me to
you. Mr.. Ledsam."
Il am sorry to hear IT," Francis COM
mented coldly. "The ethics Of my pro-
fesslon-"
His host stopped him with a 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 1t would make no
real difference to your pleading, It
would be just as well for me to keep
up my blum OF being innocent. even In
private conversation with you Why
was thatf"
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 limo
cent mans life than a guilty ones -
Hilditch laughed as though amused.
Come" he threatened, Il am going
to be ill-natured. You have shown
signs of smugness. quality which
detest. / am going to rob you OF
some part OF your self-satlsfaction. OF
course / killed Jordan. killed him
In the very chair In which you are
now sitting
There was a moments intense ST.
ience. The woman was still tanning
herself fuziiy. Francis leaned forward
in his place.
Il do not wish to hear thisw he
exclaimed harshIy.
Don't be foolish" his host replied,
rising to his feet and strolling across
the room. you know the whole tr0u-
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-
GUS"
Francis followed the others move
ments with fascinated eyes. The wom-
an scarcely turned her head. Hildltch
paused at the further end Of the room,
where there were a couple Of gun
Eases, some fishing rods and a bag Of
golf clubs. From the latter he ex-
racted a very ordlnary-looking put
er, and with 1t in his hands strOIled
back TO them.
do you play golf. Ledsam78' he
lsked. what do you think OF that9.
Francis took the putter into his hand
{ was a very ordinary club, which had
apparently seen a good deal Of serv-
ce, so much, indeed, that the leather
wrapping at the top was commencing
0 unroll The makers name was on
he back OF the blade, also the name
t the professional from whom II had
cen purchased. Francis swung the
Implement mechanically with his
'rists.
There seems to be nothing extra
rdlnary about the club" he pro-
ounced. "It is very much like a cleek b
putt with myself" {
"Yet II contains secret which would
lost certainly have hanged me- OIL.
Ter H declared pleasantly
Seei" q
He held the shaft firmly in one hand
nd bent the blade away from IT, In j
moment or two It yielded and he
TO unscrew Il. A little
rclamation escaped from Francis q
ps THE woman looked on.with tired :
res Z
THE Join in the STEEL" Hilditch 4
tinted out. lis so fine as to be UNI =
by the naked eye. Yet q
hen the blade comes of, like this, ri
u see that although the weight Is q
'soiuteiy adjusted, the inside is hoI-
". The dagger Itself Is encased in r.
Is cotton wool to avoid any rattllng :
put It away In rather a hurry the /
Il time / used It. and as you see /
rgot to clean II"
Francis staggered back and gripped
the msntelpIece. His eyes were
led with horror Very slowly. and
tn the air of one engaged upon some
foaL 0lfvop IIfldffoh had