Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-01

believe now must be true. / be-
Neve you've gone completely Of
your head. I'd like to hear why you
think | am morally responsible for
Mr.. Martins death; and, particular
IL, I'd like to know what"
Il want to get this sver," said
Locke, with a set face. you are
clever. If It appeals TO o certain
sense of morbid vanity In you, that
they say all criminals possess, L
grant at once that you are as clever
scoundrel and as miserable and
inhuman and interruptions a one, as
ever blasphemed the image in which
God made him."
Captain Francis Newcombe Strain
ed upward from the chair. his lips
working-but Locke stood over him
now and pushed him back.
Don't get up." he said with
savage curtness. You are going to
hear more than that before l am
through. / said you were clever
but your cleverness will co you no
good here. This is the end, New
combe. You took a child out of the,
slums of London-bought her in
some unholy fashion, l imagine,
from woman named Mrs. Wickes;
YOU sent the child out of England
"a
school, especially selected also
imagine. where she would be brought
into intimate contact with. and form
ner friendships among the daugh-
tiers of wealthy Americans OF high
social position. Why? In the light
OF what has happened, the answer
is plain enough: That you might
use. her introduction into these
homes as an entree for yourself to
further yotir own criminal purposes"
Locke paused. /,
A cold sheer had gathered on Cap
tam Francis Newcombes lips.
You employed the word imagine
on both counts" he said. II con-
graduate YOU"
Quite So" said Locke icily. az
may even employ it again. l am not
imagining, however, when say that
you received a letter from Polly
telling you that Mr.. Marlin had half
million dollars in cash here on
this island, and"
Did Polly tell you that?" de-
manded Captain Francis Newcombe
sharply.
lnnocently-yes," Locke answer
eo. And in her letter she also told
You all about everything here to
use her own words. which could
not help but embrace the fact that
Mr.. Marlin was not right in his
mlnd-yet, strangely enough, in the
smoking room of the liner, you will
perhaps remember, you had had no
idea of any such thing, and even ex
pressed anxiety for the safety of
your ward
Captain Francis Newcombe was
painstakingly polishing the finger
nails of one hand on the palm of the
other now. o
one might possibly conceive a
man to be eccentric and attribute,
MS ldlosyncrasieS to that cause
without thought of classifying him
as a 1aving lunatic," he observed in
bored voice.
Locke shrugged his shoulders.
Perhaps there is better ex
PLANTATION Of your mistake" he said
evenly. You did not, at that time,
nave the slightest idea that I, too.
island" '''''
Captain Francis Newcombe Ioolsed
up from his fingernails.
Did your he inquired softly.
Yes. said Locke CURLY.
An Captain Francis Newcornbe.
with eyes half closed now, studied
Locke's face for full minute n.-
!ofe he spoke again. II am becor,-
ing rather curious as to lust who
you are, Locke" he murmured
You ought to know" Locke re-
sponaed grimly. Il imagine it was
you VINO went through my papers
THAT night in my cabin"
Ihat is the third time" sug-
gested Captain Francis N.wcomha
that YOU have said imagine
~ s." Locke smiled Witro,,t IN,
NOR. Il happen to know, however
tiiat from the moment of your ar
rival here Mr.. Marlin became more
ana more obsessed with the belief
.iat ne was being watched and fol-
lowed. l know from his own state
rient that he rather m.ninglv hid
false trail-to an OLD nus in tho
woods behind the house, wasn't il,
Ne"ccmbe? And 1t is rather con,
sLusNe evidence. l should saw.
my me man who followed that
.loH was the man who was watch
f, ns MI. Marlin. L saw you coming
from that direction at 3 O'Clock this
morning. You were unsuccessfmI
OF course; but YOU are none the
Iess' as L said before, morally re-
sponsible for Mr.. Martins death"
Captain Francis Newcombe lean
60 pack in his chair, and laughed
soItiy, insolently, contemptuousIy
AS l understand that indictmen,
ne said coolly, 1T is to the efYnct
tnat left London for the p,,rnosa
OF coming here and stealing some
money that l knew a mailman h,I
uuen. me evidence against, me is
.n beginning to end purely cir
.,;4.o;,i and most of it is adj
it,o
'damning' fact adduced is thai T VIZ s
seen coming from somewhere
o'clock this morning.
Anis IS bit thick, Locke-com-
ins from YOU" His voice was he
ginning to lose its suayitv. "yo,,
uon imagine. do you, that anv such
case as that would hold water for
an instant in any court of lawa;,
NO, said Locke quietly: 81 know
~ wouldn't. L quite agree with Won
Captain Francis Newcombe,, f.o.
r , an instant held look of puzzle
arigh+ ehough he had not heard
menace. 4hlo ugly
think you need a lesson" IT,
sPoke from between set iips. "rbie
- no longer merely ridiculous ~.
monStrous!" IL Is
Agan agree with ro,,,
h;s voice was low now, raspine
ms words 1T is SO monstro,,s
.na.. strong as the circumsta ntia I
sss,oence against you is, / would nor
nave been able to credit it had no not
n ~ basis for BELIEF that pern,,tt ho,
.c,i no GENIAL. l know you for ex-
LILY what you are. 1 know that
S SUu are criminal. that you are one
otber poiession. that YOU have no