White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1927-07-08
CHAPTER w

about the fire, Neeland Barnes began
to think there was to be no unmasking
of his past. In sense he was glad.
These two men whom he had begun
by despising seemed, after all, to have
cut considerable figures once. Barnes
was shrewd Judge of men. He
thought that they had spoken only the
truth. The big man with the eager,
gray eyes was most certainly no
CRATER. And as to the other, Barnes
recalled his case well now 1t was
brought to his notice. He had sneered
at the sculptor's odd defense and be-
lieved 1t with most men about town a
very poor excuse. But now he be-
Iieved absolutely in Floyd Malet's in
tegrity. In comparison, Neeland
Barnes, professional man-of-the-world,
felt rather poor specimen.
"We now come" said Milman, break
ing in on his reflections, ito the case
of Mr.. Neeland Barnes"
Mr.. Neeland Barnes groaned In
wardly. Exteriorly he was urbane
and gracious.
"shearing the black Sheep he said.
"a lesson to all young men. How not
to live"
"Mr. Barnes" said Peter Milman,
us not so complex type as his fell
low-guests. He aimed at physical at
tributes rather than intellectual or ar
tistic achievements. And he succeed
ed just as they did. I doubt If there
is an American living who excelled In
certain phases Of sport as Mr.. Barnes
did.
"He was a man who might have
passed blameless life had his
money lasted. There came a time,
when his relatives would not help
and his horses could not win races.
Finally, he was accused Of some trick
cry at Saratoga and found his racing
career at an end. Since then he has
been living insecurity on what his
few remaining relatives choose to
give him"
"Mr. Milman," Barnes said, and
there was certain dignity In his bear
ing, II have been almost every sort
of fool In my day. have thrown
away fortunes and gambled and drunk
like mailman, but never pulled
any dirty tricks on race track. I was
always out to win and never betted
against my own horses. I'm not what
you might call reliable man, and I've
done things I'm heartily ashamed Of
now, but did not do what the Sara
toga stewards believed of me.'
"What did they believer Bradney
demanded. He know nothing of racing.
"My trainer gave evidence before
them that / instructed him to dope
my entry for the Saratoga cup so
that l might bet on another horse.
Mine was the favorite. 1t did go
to the post full Of bromide, and the
horse I was reputed to, have bet on
won at long odds. I had the trainer
against me and the bookmaker and,
because was known to be In none
tary difficulties I was disbelieved.
Not that I blame the stewards. They
did their duty as they saw it. Some
body fixed my trainer and the Jockey.
1 was forced out of the racing game,
and found / hadn't friend in the
world. My wife would have believed
me, but she was dead. l used what
money could get hold Of to fight the
thing, but the man, or men, who
framed me had more money. I shall
never know who 1t was"
IL KNOW" said Peter Milman quiet
ut Pror
term it, by any crooked owner of
thoroughbreds. None of them was big
enough to pull down man Of your
sort. You had traditions and name
behind you. Your downfall came be-
cause you threw man from the pier
at Narragansett into the Atlantic
ocean. DO you rememberr'
eyes," Barnes said slowly II think
I do. There was woman mixed up
in 1t, but forget her name now. She
was one Of those little fluffy blondes
that were fashionable that season. All,
have 1t. She was roof-garden star.
A man came up and tried to make a
scene. My Aunt Sarah, who was most
particular, was coming toward us.
The thing would have been. most dis
astrous because I had turned over a
new leaf the previous evening and
codtcil was to be added to her will.
Fortunately, the man struck at me,
and thought the simplest way out of
1t was to drop him in the sea. Aunt
Sarah, being short-sighted, did not
even see him disappear" Mr.. Barnes
unused on the thing for few moments.
"Most extraordinary. never saw him
again. There was no summons, no
publIcity-nothing. l wan bit un-
easy at first lest he should have been
drowned, but somebody saw him crawl
ashore. never knew his name, and
never saw the blonde again"
/ "The man you threw into the water
was the man who arranged matters so
that you should be compelled to give
up racing" There was q trace of
triumph In Mr.. AIilman's manner.
You will never be able to prove 1t,
SO don't try"
"And hoped he didn't drown" said
Barnes, LOOKING about for sympathy.
whats his manner" Barnes did not
doubt his hosts sincerity for mo-
ment.
"All In good time" said Milman;
first let me show you his photograph"
He unlocked drawer and took the
I.