Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-20

flament OF smoke stfn rising from
It's barrel. lay on the carpet three
or four PAGES away. Forster had
fallen back Imply In his chair. Evi-
IDENTIFY he thought he'd killed her,
for he was bleating frantically. Il
didn't do It'll She did II herself
She pulled the triggerr His voice
rose to a yelp as be cried 70 Con-
ley Take her away Don't leave
her lying therel Take her where ]
can't see her."
Conley picked her up IN a mat.
ter-of-fact sort OF way which led
Martin to think that he'd come TO
the same conclusion as his own,
that she was not dangerously in-
jured Martin opened the door for
him. but as soon as he'd gone out
with his burden. closed II after him
and turned back TO Forster. The
old man looked from one to the
other Of them I'm bewilderment. and
al last weakly demanded Of Mar.
tin, who are your What are you
doing herer"
SIN the reporter from the News,
Martin said. who wanted nm inter
view from you about the disap-
pearance OF Rhoda Mcfarland. i
came up to your apartment and
found her here We happened To
be where we could see everything
that's gone on IN this room since
that woman Conley Just carried ont
came into H."
More hlackmail II Forster snarled.
IT'S a conspiracy that's what II
is. You are all IN t."
He looked as he said that Ike
nothing in the world but n rat in
a corner. darting helpless venomous
glances this way and that toward
the picture Owe the fireplace, be-
hind which he knew his bodyguard
was no longer on watch: toward
the closed door through which no
cry OF his could be heard: even
toward the revolver lying on the
carpet. hopelessIy ont of his
reach.
1t was Rhoda who answered him.
She was so pale. Martin had
feared that she might be going To
faint. But the %giittering timber
or her voice as she spoke con-
WINGED him that she was white only
with anger. There Is only one
conspiracy I know about" she said
That's the conspiracy you went
into with Claire Ceveland-only
she was called Clara Bowman then
and the nan who was your secre-
tary-I think his name was Stat
ford"
Martin held his breath as he
looked from one or their faces To
the other.
You don't know what you're
talking about" Forster wheezed.
But the CONSERVATION In his face
proclaimed that she did know.
You had your secretary hire
her. Rh0da went on. That's why
you didn't know who she was when
she came back here and rot a lob
In your Office. You didn't know
that Stafford had told her who you
were. And when he died you
thought you were safe. You thought
you didn't have 70 pay the money
you'd promised her for running my
father
She turned away from him as III
the sight or his goat-like face bad
become uncomfortable TO her. and
went on speaking to Martin. That's
what he did They hired this wom-
an-Stafford found her-to 20 west
on the same train my father was
going on She was TO CRY and pre-.
tend she'd lost her ticket and her
money. and get him TO take pity on
her and pay her fare. They must
have known how kind ne was and
how innocent he was or they
wouldn't have thought the trick
would work. II did work, partly.
He paid for the ticket and her
berth and loaned her some money
besides to buy her meals with on
the trail. The rest Of the plan
didn't work. He didn't eren look
at her. She &aid so herself To-
him, Just now. He never even
guessed what she was trying 10
make him do. But she went ahead
just the Bame-I suppose they'd
promised her more money-and
made her complaint before the dis
trict attorney. And she testified
against him az the trial. only the
jury didn't believe her and set
father free. But enough other peo-
pie believed her 40 that he had TO
resign from the university and
come out here. like n man In hid
ing, 10 20 10 work. without know
ing IL, for the very man who had
ruined him" She whipped around
upon Forster again. her eyes blaz-
ing with furious anger. II wish
she had shot you. instead she
told him deliberately. II wish she'd
shot you dead You deserve IL, II
anyone ever did"