Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-11-08

him with the gun that killed vanoble
they would have him red handed. There
would be no defense and he didn't in
tend to try for one. He'd been a fool
for keeping the thing and this was what
he got for Enthusiastically wouldn't
look any further.
A guard came past Frazee's cell and
saw him pulling at his collar.
He had no story planned. He did not
intend to tell a story-just shut his
mouth n let them think what they
pleased.
II Frazee had any regrets for the way
he had lived and what he had done with
his life 1t didn't show when he walked
into the captains room. He did not think
OF himself as nobl or sacrihcial or even
as unlucky. 1t was a part of the game
he had played and he found 1t worth
while. He was relieved OF that torturing
false desire for Helen's love and he knew
now that there were girls like Phyllis In
the worid-somewhere. 1t wasn't all the
mudhole he had believed In and that
meant q lot.
There were half a dozen figures In the
room that didn't count, detectives, re-
porters, policemen, the captain himself,
broad and noncommittal. There was a
man who didn't belong among them who.
when he turned. showed a ravaged face.
AS Frazee entered the captain made a
sort of introduction. This" he said, SIS
the young fellah we're holdin' on suspi-
cion. He may know somethin' an then
he may not. But here he is. Mr.. Hen
| dirk"
This was her man. He was
a young man grown old He was smooth
and we'll dressed and as swell as Vanoble
had been but he looked like he had worn
his clothes for forty-eight hours and
might wear them as long again.
Frazee looked at him straight, taking
this in. and Hendrix returned his stare,
a strange. entreating, humble look with
something stronger than all three be-
hind 1t. They stood in silence looking
at each other until the captain spoke
with some impatience, "Yeh can ques-
ton him If ye're a'mind to, MFR. Hen
dirk"
The policeman beside Frazee nudged
him sharply and muttered. mind yere
step, kid. an answer up sharp" but
Frazee did not hear for now he saw
something on the captains desk.
They had found it. There was nc mis-
take. He could even see the silver of
white paint and the 1ammed hammer
He set his lips. Let them ask their
questions: they couldn't make him an
| swer.
! But there were no questions. Hendris
was talking, smoothly. rapidly as If his
voice came over a radio. 1t was all very
confusing to Frazee, who was prepared
for something different. but after he got
the hang Of 1t his dumbness became
genuine.
There is no reason why this young
man should be held" Hendrix said
There is not a particle of evidence to
connect him with the crime-or accident
as 1t now seems to have been. On the
contrary, there is every reason to sup
pose him as innocent as Mr. Vanoble,
himself" Hendrix cleared his throat and
picked up the revolver exposing 1T to all
eyes in an expert manner. An hour
ago this weapon was sen to me-mute
witness of this mans innocence. We
know that he sat at a table less than
four feet from Vanoble's and that his
table was beside a pillar. Vanoble was
struck by a bullet fired from some dis
lance away and there is no doubt but
this Is the weapon that carried the fatal
bullet. But what totally exonerates this
man Frazee from any part in the affair
even as eye witness-is that this re-
volver was afterward thrown with such
force as to jam the trigger and make g
dent an inch deep in the pillar on the
opposite side from the table where Fra
zee sat-"
She had done that--1or mimi FTazee
did not hear any more. His dazed MIND
circled around a single thought. h hac
taken the gun from his suitcase wher
he WASH watching; she had given it t6
Hendrix and Hendrix was fixing things
up as she said he would do. A curious
fairness submerged all the resolves hi
had made five minutes ago, but this was
q passionate protectiveness that raj
through his blood like fire.
He walked out of the station beside
Hendrix framing what he would sa!
when they were out of hearing of thu
others. He was going to tell this hxel
with the smooth line just where he go
of after this. He was going to let hin
know what q girl Phyllis was and tina
IL she ever needed q friend
Hendrix had something TO say, too. HI