Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-20


INSPECTOR coRTELYoU. a veteran
Scotland Yard sleuth, who takes up
the case for Clinton.
MARSHALL. STEAD, chief cashier
and confidential man for Sir Robert.
." Know Who Killed Your Father"
She sat miserable and uncertain,
in silence for moment or two, and
Stead watched her.
Il suppose these men came to
you?" she said at last.
They did" he answered. AS a
great many of our men do-when
they are in trouble"
Then are YOU the only person
who knows about this?" she asked.
II am" he answered.
Phillipa rose and walked reStleSsly
across the room; she scarcely knew
why. On the other side of the table,
which stood in the center she sud
denly turned and faced the cashier.
Would it not be possible TOTO
get these men out of the way?" she
asked. Toto give them so much
money to go away to America or
Canada. or somewhere? Surely they
could be-"
Gould be bought OFF," he inter-
rupted with one of the smiles which
Phillipa so much disliked. II dare
say, Miss Mannersley, 1 daresag
they could. Men OF that sort can al
ways be bought OFF. oh. yes. we
could furnish them with money and
send them to Timbuctoo or the Fiji
Islands, and set them up, and in q
years time they would write for
more, and they would probably come
home and try blaCkmail.
"And in addition to that. Miss
Mannerslcy. tampering with the law
is q very serious offense. and in
this case. to remove highly i'm
Iortant witnesses would be regarded
as a most reprehensible crime. No.
l don't think we can do that"
Then what do you propose?" eX
claimed Phillipa. who was rapidly
becoming too perplexed for her
patience to bear. You come to me
saying you can clear Sir Clinton,
YOU tell of these men, who seem to
be the only stumbling block, and
then YOU say YOU can do nothing
with them. Why do you not ex-
plain"
Stead. who had risen when she
did. and now stood on the hearth
rug, looked across the table at her.
1t struck her afterward, in reviewing
the situation, that he was cooler
and more imperturbable than ever
at that moment.
Il have explained what | have" he
said, because l wished TO make the
situation clear to you. Ii these
men rebut Kings evidence. as they
will. and nothing else is brought for
ward on Sir Clinton's behalf-as
nothing else can be-Sir Clinton will
inrallibly he found guilty, IL not of
murder. most certainly OF man
slaughter. That is as certain as
that we are here. Now Miss Man
hershey. do we speak in perfect con-
fidence?'
Phlllipa looked her nstonishment
at him without speaking.
Il mean" continued stead, with
out showing any discomposure-- II
mean--do | understand that you re-
gard this conversation rs being
strictly private MS between ourselves
that YOU will not breathe u syll-
able of what l say to any one?"
Phillipa drew herself up proudly.
She gave the cashier n glance which
would have made any right-feelng
man ashamed of himself But Stead
received it with-fis usual imperturb-
ability.
Il have never been accustomed to
revealing condolences. Mr.. Stead"
she replied Jelly. 1T is not likely |
should form such n habit now"
Just So he said. "All the same.
l should like you to give me your
word that you will not divulge TO
any one what / have said and wish
to say to you. | know you so well
that / am certain if you once give
your word nothing could possibly in
duce you to break It,"
Thank YOU" she answered, half
contemptuously. 81 should have
Then you give me your word" he
asked.
Il give you my word" she replied.
Stead laid his hat, which he had
all this time kept in his hands, on
the table, and. leaning his knuckles
on the table edge, bent forward and
looked across at her with an intense
expression. As for Phillipa, she,
from some cause which she could
not explain, felt inclined to shrink
from him.
Then listen" he said, in a tense
whisper. 1T does not matter what
these men say as regards knight
does not matter what evidence is
brought against Sir Clinton--I, and
I alone. can save him"
"You--only your" she brcathed,
rather than spoke.
only l."
but why?" she whispered, lean
ing forward In her eagerness.
= The answer came In a tenser
know who killed your father"
pbillfpo OF ri ad I'm 90 cha Im a
received a sudden blow. Then she
drew nearer. and looked at the man
with staring eyes.
"Who?" she said, with dry lips.
"Who?'
But the cashier shook his head.
NO" he answered, that is my
secret. until the proper time comes.
In the meantime must know II you
accept my terms"
"Terms?" she exclaimeds and sud-
denly she saw that something was to
be paid, some bargain to be made,
some sacrifice to be offered. before
the man before her would speak.
"Terms?" she repeated.
Precisely" replied Stead, in his
smoothest tones. And my terms are
tEese-I agree at the adjourned
hearing to reveal the truth, which
will set your cousin free, on condi-
ton that You give me your word OF
honor-which I know you will not
brtak--to marry me on the same
day, which can easily be done by
Archbishop's license. I will show
my faith in you by fonorably full
filling. my part of the contract first;
IL do not. you can repudiate yours.
But / know you would keep yotr
word"
PhilIipa felt a. II the room we're