San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-09

for you doing the rough work." said
Jerry obstinately. Besides, the
chances are 4 thousand to one against
there being any trouble out az Mr..
Rafael Anatoiia's estate"
Pelham's smile grew broader.
Thousand to one shots bring home
the bacon sometimes" He rose from
the chair in which he lounged and
slapped Jerry upon the shoulder.
Some day I'll deliberately leave you
out of the climax of one of our cases
and my excuse will be that you need
your eight hours sleep. Answer my
question: What do We do?"
81 have five automobiles filled with
plain-clothes men, waiting down
stairs" said Jerry. We ought to
make Rolling Meadows in little over
an hour. When we get there We
crasA in. That ought to be all there
is to it."
Il hope So" sad Pelham.
What do you mean?" demanded
Jerry.
Wrinkles appeared on Pelham's
forehead. Jerry, L am cussed if |
know what / mean. Only-weren' I
Won surprised at Ballantyne's atti-
tude? His cOwardice, / mean:'
Nothing that a crook does sur
prises me-" declared Jerry.
Pelham sighed. "All right, let's
90" he said.
Judge Smithson Waddelrs note OF
hand was so long overdue that his
honor had almost forgotten ever hav-
ing signed the document. A member
of the Supreme Bench of his state,
with thirty years of honorable prac-
tice of his profession to look back
upon. it. was only natural that he
should have forgotten-almost-an III
cident of his early career. Judge
Waddell. in those moments when CIR
cumstances reminded him of an In
cident of long ago, remembered It IN
a most impersonal way. The Smlthson
Waddell who had committed a crime
was a person so long disassociated
from Judge Waddell that it was dit
ficult for him to realize that the same
person was an uncaught criminal ana
an ornament to the bar. Memory was
logged tonight.
He had Just finished dinner when a
servant brought him word that Jason
Austey was calling. The judge frowned.
He had looked forward to a quiet even
ing. But he would come up for re.
nomination six months from now, and
il was Just as well to be on friendly
even cordial. terms with a man who
was supposed to hold n great many
thousand votes in the hollow OF his
hand. A few moments later they sa
facting each other across narrow
mahogany desk, Uttered with briefs
and law books.
Mr.. Anstey was a stout gentleman
with a mop of white hair upon a huge
round head. He had two chins. thick
Inns. a blob of nose. and green eyes
that twinkled. Only the black brows
that ran harshly in an .unbrOken line
from temple TO temple denied his ex'
preston of easy good hnmr.
II want TO tell you little story,
Judge" Ansley began. Thirty years
ago there was young lawyer Just be-
ginning practice in New York. a
widow sued a railroad for damages
for personal injuries. The railroad
settled for $4,000, and the lawyer
signed receipt for that amount. But
he told the widow that he had col.
lected $4,000. He took one thousand
for his fee. and paid her two. Now
il hahnened that shortly afterward
the widow died. and the lawyer who
settled her estate-it was little one
ran across some items that aroused
his suspicion. He investigated and
found that the facts were as l have
inst related them. What do you sup
pose he did,"
Judge Waddell's lean, stern face
was white.
"what?" he whispered. 49,,
Anstey smiled banding. He did
nothing, beyond filing away a few af-
fidavits. Why? Because he had an
idea that the information which he
possessed would come in handy some
day. That some day is now
This is blackmail," said the Judge
hoarsely.
Anstey's smile became a grin. "ivc
always said. judge. that when 1t came
to rendering quick decisions on the
law. there was no one in your class
You call it blackmail, and that's ex-
actly what 1t it,
"Why?" demanded Waddell.
81 was the young lawyer who
handled the widows estate and put
the affidavits away in MY safe, said
Anstey. you looked like a clever
young chap TO me, bound to succeed.
The widow had no heirs, and there
was nothing 10 be gained by putting
you in jail. Why. judge. you'd be sur
nrised il you knew the men on whom
| have the goods. Some of them will
never know, perhaps. that L could send
them to Sing Sing. Others. like your
self. find it out only when necessity
arises"
"The crime-if you want to call it
that's, outlawed," declared the
judge. =,
Anstey shrugged his fat shoulders.
"Sure il is, nut news is always news:
Respected Judge Proved Criminal
Think what the headline writers would
say"
what do you want?" asked wad-
dell.
Anstet leaned forward. The harsh
black line of his eyebrows made Wad-
dell think of an iron bar. the sort OF
iron bar that with others. fronts a
prison cell. Il want you to issue n
writ of habeas corpus within the next
five minutes" he said.
For whom:' asked the judge.
"For Peter Ballantyne. alias the
GRAY Ghost" replied Anstey.
You're mad" cried Waddeil.
Anstey stared at him. when leave
your house. I'm going 10 call up every
city editor in New York and tell them
why 1 shall oppose your nomination"
you wouldn't dare! You'd expose
vourSelf" said fhp indigo
Anstey laughed. II am one OF the
Gray Ghosts lawyers. He's been worth
a hundred thousand year 10 me for
some time. A client like that is well