Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-28
CHAPTER XXXIV

"He saw the roadhouses and dance
halls creeping in, overrunning the
town, really. Corrupting it. That's
what they do, Of course. Certainly
they bring in a great many undesir-
ables. Ham Pew fought all that. And
because he fought il, he was muir
dered."
There again, Stella l.. il you
don't mind D.. we don't know why
he was shot. II was a frightful
thing. Of course. But we don't
know. We don't even know what he
was doing az LAKELAND that night"
II beg your pardon, Mr.. Harmer
. !" Stella's eyes flashed, and her
voiced snapped (She must control that.
keep cool) I'VE do know. We
know all about It'll
~ wish ! did" said he. lit has
bothered me. 1t didn't seem like
him"
1T was quite in character" This
was better, quieter. "He had the
best ~ reasons for being there. All
that will come out al the trial"
The lids fliekered.
"Mr. Harmer, you're not helping
"Glad 10 do anything | can, Stella"
"I'm afraid you haven't quite
grasped ms real predicament. Within
the next few weeks I've got 70 write
my article. I've got 70 deal with
Ham Pew. his fight, his murder, and
the outcome. Right now, il looks so
unpleasant, so ugly, that ! find my
self in the position Of being forced 70
paint a rather distressing picture Of
my W home town. | shall hardly
enjoy doing that"
He smoked. The lids moved up
and down.
IAN unfortunate feature of the
situation Is that you. yourself. Mr..
Harmer. are bound TO come off rather
badly, in what I shall have to say"
There was a long anl smoky 81
lence. Finally he said this: That
is a strange thing 70 say, Stella. /
shall have to ask yeu what you mean
by il. There are laws covering
libel. you know
Understand this. Mr.. Harmcr. i
am speaking only for myself and the
work | am engaged in. Nobody else
even knows | am here talking with
you. | an speaking Of nothing but
what I personally know. OF what
| know, understand. The falkland
place has become something Of a
symbol Of the evils that are creeping
into the town. Ham Pew made il q
symbol. Thoughtful. decent people
are on his side. Those who are
profiting through the debauching Of
a fine old town are on the other side.
There's the plain truth
II can accept that only as a state
r,nut &c erfufon
can upright citizen is murdered
'In n ~roadhouse.
yes! In a roadhouSci After he
has been warned TO let that road
house alone. The murderers run at
large. "A strong political party pro-
tects them. Homer Pew. simply be-
cause he took up his brothers fight.
is beaten up. But those criminals
are perfectly safe 10 stay openly IN
town .'
"How do you know that"
81 happen to know. ! also know
that YOU, as head selectman, as the
unquestioned leading citizen Of Ack-
land, have INSTRUCTED every move 70
close that dive. and know why
"Come. come ="
lul nave MpNNA hN1NNH "HA
earth 10 get the Age out of Homer
hand, first BY trying to buy III; then,
Yesterday, BY calling his loans"
Nov, really, Stella, i you force
me 70 speak plainly
please. just this! There's really
no good in wasting your time or
mine. I came here TO ask you two
plain questions. The first is, will
YOU close up LAKELAND, tonight, and
close IL for good@'n
Tonight? No. Certainly not. 1
believe YOU were present when ! ex-
planned that situation with the utter
most care"
every good. The second question
is. will YOU renew those loans
Really, my dear girl
"Will you?"
II question whether Homer would
thank you for bringing UP his private
business in such a connection
The telephone instrument stood on
the desk. Without further words
Stella reached for IL and, calling the
police station, asked for Wilbreham-
'.This is Stella Bagot," she explained,
crisply. Il am at Mr.. Harmer's
house. Will you please come here at
once? I will wait. And please bring
Mr.. Pew. I must have you both
here"
Harmer liz a fresh cigar. He WIS
AaErr- no doubt about that Too