The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-05-31

| q WHILE.
Douglas felt his muscles stiff, his
thought helpless with inarticulate
despair They had him. Just like
Avery Middleton to switch out a
light, stand at that window and spy
on him. Just like him to stop at
his office for a box of fruit.
But they had him. No getting out
OF this. The worst had happened.
They let him sit in a little grated
off space for conference with his at
torney,
Wood looked at him. For full
minute he gazed silently into. Doug
las face, you've got to explain
this
Explain what?"
"Why-you-were there" biting
off the words with menacins slow
ness, when you arrived and where
you've hidden the girl
II explain nothing and admit
nothing"
My God. boy do you realize they
may ask the death penalty7"
Talons squeezing at his throat:
making it hard to breathe, "They
can't ask that"
whats to stop them?"
You say yourself they'll not be
able to show any motive"
"Well, they've shown enough else.
They can suggest the motive, And
the jury may be In mood to be-
lieve them. They'll know there's
something rotten somewhere II you
don't try to clear It up, No one can
count on the reasoning Of jurors.
You can't get by another minute
with this d. silence. ! can't get
you out of 1t If you won't give me
the slightest cooperation. Can't you
explain your presence there7"
II know nothing Of Worths death.
How he came to Il or when or by
whose handwriting.
But you were in his office when
he died or Immediately afterwards,
That's proved. Why were you
there?"
i've never admitted was there. I"
I'm not going to hang you by deny.
ing 1t. Every Juror in that box Is
now certain Of your presence. Why
Were you there? II you're
guiltless you can answer. What am
to tell them when the prosecution
winds up the case on Monday
You've got two or three days be-
tween you and verdict. A few
days between you and possible death
sentence-at the best life imprison.
ment.
Listen Keitn-did the woman
kill WORTH"
she killed him, didn't she? And
you want to shield her. Jurtes ac-
quit women--pretty women. Have
you considered this? The only pen.
atty she'd get would be slight
smudge to her reputation. After all
Is her reputation worth your life?"
Douglas stared moodily at the ce.
mcnt floor. II haven't anything to
cay"
And she killed him?"
I've told you the absolute truth.
Wood. don't know how Worth
came to his death. believe he
shot himself.
And you're going to risk your
life rather than tell what you do
know? Well, think 1t over. Don't
fool yourself on what the jury may
do. Face the worst-death-han
! hxy Ia x,,%1 FTvI.u
isn't much better. Life in a place
like this-a shrinking hole like this
convict for life. You're rs. I'll
come around in the morning."
Five-thirty. Locked in his cell.
small space, six by eight. Dismal
yellow light from the low power cleo.
trio bulb wavering through the bars.
Corners, his cell mate, lay on his
cot. His was the lower berth. He
! chewed tobacco and leaned over to
spit on the floor. Glanced up to
say; "Smatter, kid? You look
done. Going against your" A big
wad Of the tobacco went spattering
to the floor.
For Gods sake-keep it in your
| face"
Corners grinned: Scuse me. kid.
Not used to ritsy society. Sorry
you're feelin low. Don't give I'D
the ship TIL it heaves you into the
sea. I've seen fellows get out Of
awfully tight jams"
Douglas took up a book. He sat
on a bench and leaned against the
iron door. Two days between him
and verdict. Face the worst
death penalty.
Three cells from theirs there was
n fellow sentenced to swing. Wait
ing here now on experimenting in
a fury that made his eyes always
bloodshot: in an anguish that made
him walk up and down the tanks
With little, speedy jerks of his whole
body. Caught redhanded just after
he'd shot a policeman. Waiting to
be hanged. Waiting for the rope
have 1t Topped about his throat the
black cap pulled over his face. A
moments pause-the last moment
OF life. Then body plunged rudely
and with bitter shock through the