The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-03-16

I me, who were standing a little be-
hind the others, and he nodded
Stiffly.
No one spoke; yet I felt that an
entire tragedy was somehow being
enacted, and that each actor heard
and understood every word.
Markham remained standing, as
if reluctant to proceed. OF all the
duties of his Office, I knew that the
arrest of malefactors was the most
distasteful to him.
He was a worldly man, with the
worldly mans tolerance for the mis-
fortunes Of evil. Heath and Snitkin
had stepped forward and now wait
ed with passive alertnesS for the
district attorneys order to serve the
warrant.
Spotswoode's eyes were again on
Markham.
what can I do for you, sir?" His
voice was calm and without the
faintest quaver.
"You can accompany these off,
GERS" Mr.. Spotswoode," Markham
told him quietly, with slight in
clination Of his head toward the
TWO imperturbable figures at his
side. "I arrest you for the murder
Of Margaret Odell."
"Ahw Spotswoode's eyebrows
lifted mildly. Then you have
discovered something's"
1.-THE Beethoven Andante."
Not a muscle Of Spotswoode's face
moved; but after short pause he
made a barely perceptible gesture
Of resignation.
81 can't say that 1t was wholly
unexpected" he said evenly, with
the tragic suggestion Of q smile;
especially as you thwarted every
effort of mine to secure the record.
But then. .... the fortunes Of the
game are always uncertain"
His smile faded, and his manner
became grave.
"You have acted generously to-
ward me, Mr.. Markham, in shielding
me from the canaille; and because 1
appreciate that courtesy I should
like you to know that the game I
played was one in which I had no
alternative"
'Your motive, however powerful, /"
said Markham, cannot extenuate
your crime"
do you think I seek ex-
tenuation?" Spotswoode dismissed
the imputation with contemptuous
gesture.
I'm not q schoolboy. I calculated
the consequences Of my course of
action, and after weighing the
various factors involved, decided to
risk it.
1T was a gamble, to be sure; but
it's not my habit to complain about
the misfortunes Of q deliberately
planned risk.
Furthermore, the choice was
practically forced upon me. Had
not gambled in this instance, I stood
to lose heavily nevertheless"
His face grew bitter.
This woman, Mr.. Markham, had
demanded the impossible of me.
Not content with bleeding me
financially, she demanded legal pro-
lection, position, social prestige
such things as only my name could
give her.
"She informed me I must divorce
my wife and marry her. I wonder
if you apprehend the enormity of
that demand?
"You see, Mr.. Markham, I love
my wife, and have children whom
love. I will not insult your in
telligence by explaining how, de-
spite my conduct, such a thing is
entirely possible.
"And yet, this woman commanded
me to wreck my life and crash ut
terly those I held dear, solely to
crafty her petty, ridiculous ambi-
ton!
"When I refused she threatened
to expose our relations to my wife,
to send her copies OF the letters 1
had written, to sue me publicly-in
fine, to create such a scandal that,
in any event, my life would be
ruined, my family disgraced, my
home destroyed"
He paused and drew a deep in
spiration.
II have never been partial to
halfway measures" he continued
in1naSsiyeIv