Evening star., 1932-07-02

| PEARSON WAS III urgent HSlS
i immediate need of money
I am not going 70 enter
| into the ethics of the situation at the
moment. Pearson had apparently be-
| fore now occasionally borrowed money
to use a euphemism-from his firm-l
! may say without their knowledge. He
was fond of speculating in shares, and
! on one occasion previously, knowing
| that certain dividends were to be paid
| into his account in a weeks time, he
anticipated them by using the firms
money to buy certain shares which he
| had pretty certain knowledge were
| bound to go up. The transaction was
quite satisfactory, the money was re-
| placed and Pearson really doesn't seem
to have had any doubts as to the
honesty of the transaction. Apparently
| he repeated this just over a week ago
| This time an unforeseen thing oc-
Cured The books of the firm are ex-
{ amined at certain stated times, but
! for some reason or other this date was
advanced and Pearson was faced with
very unpleasant dilemma. He was
/ quite aware of the construction that
would be put on his action and he was
quite unable to raise the sum Of money
| involved. He admits himself that he
had tried in various quarters and
| failed when, as a last resource, he
rushed down to Devonshire to lay the
matter before his uncle and persuade
him to help him. This Capt. Trevel-
yam absolutely refused to do.
Nov, my dear Emily, we shall be
quite unable to prevent these facts
from being brought to light. The
police have already unearthed the mat
ter. And you see, don't you. that We
have here a very pressing and urgent
motive for the crime? The moment
Capt. Trevelyan was dead Pearson
could easily have obtained the neces-
sary sum as an advance from Mr..
Kirkwood and saved himself from dis
aster and possibly criminal prosecu-
tion.'
"Oh, the idiot" said Emily, help
lessly.
quite So" said Mr. Dacres, dryly. at
seems to me that our only chance lies
in proving that Jim Pearson was quite
unaware of the provisions Of his
uncle's will"
There was a pause while Emily con-
sidered the matter. Then she SAID
quietly: 40
I'm afraid that's impossible. All
three of them knew-Sylvia, Jim and
Brian. They often discussed it and
laughed and joked about the rich uncle
in Devonshire. You don't think him
guilty, Mr. Dacres?"
"Curiously enough, do not, replied
the LAWYER I'm some ways Jim Pear
son is a most transparent young man.
He hasn't, if you will allow me to say
so, Emily, a very high standard OF
commercial honesty, but I do not be-
lieve for one minute that his hand
sandbagged his uncle"
well, that's a good thing" said
Emily. II wish the police thought the
same"
"The case against him is unfortu-
nately strong I am not going to dis
guise from you, my dear child, tnat
the outlook is bad. I should suggest
Lorimer, K. c., as the defense. For
lorn hope man, they call him." he
added. cheerfully. q
There is one thing should like to
know" said Emily. You have seen
jim 1 want you to tell me honestly
ii you think he has told the truth in
other respects" She outlined to him
the idea that Enderby had suggested to
Eer.
TITS my impression" the lawyer said,
that he is speaking the truth when
he describes his interview with his
uncle. But there Is little doubt that
ne has got the wind-up badly, and If
he went round to the window, entered
that way and came across his uncle's
dead body-he might just possibly be
too scared to admit the fact and have
concocted this other story"
That's what I thought" said Emily.
Next time you see him, Mr.. Dacres,
will you urge him to speak the truth?
1t may make the most tremendous
difference"
II will do so. All the same" he said
after moment or two's pause, Il think
you are mistaken in this idea. The
news of Capt. Trevelyan's death was
banded around in Exhampton about
$50. At that time the last train had
first train available in the morning.
thoroughly unwise proceeding, by the
way, as it called attention to his move
ments, which would not have been no
ticed if he had left by train at more
conventional hour. Now If, as you sug-
gest, he discovered his uncle's dead body
some time after 4:30, think he would
have left Exhampton straight away.
There's a train which leaves shortly
after and another at quarter to g."
That's a point" admitted Emily. Il
didn't think of that"
"I have questioned him narrowly
about his method of entering his
uncle's house" went on Mr.. Dacres.
He says that Capt. Trevelyan made
him remove his boots, and leave them
on the doorstep. That accounts for no
wet marks being discovered In the hall. >
HE doesn't speak OF having heard
any sound-anything at all-that gives
10 thnrn wight have
been some one else in the house.
He didn't mention 1t to me. But !
will ask him"
Thank you" said Emily. eff write
a note can you take 1t TO him?"
Subject to its being read, OF course.
"Oh, it will be a very discreet one"
She crossed to the writing table and
! scribbled few words:
Dearest Jim-Everything's going to
! be all right, so cheer up. I am working
| like the worst kind of a niger to find
out the truth. What an idiot you've
' EMILY"
There" she said. "I have no time to
lose. 1 am going to see Jim's Aunt Jen-
infer"
At the Laurels, Emily was informed
that Mrs. Gardner was out, but would
! be home shortly.
/ A few minutes later Nurse Davis,
| starched and curious, arrived.
How do you do" said Emily. Il am
Emily Trefusis-a kind or niece of Mrs.
| Gardner's. That is am going to be a
, niece, but my flance, Jim Pearson, had
been arrested, as I expect you know"
"Oh, it's been too dreadful" said
Nurse Davis. I'VE saw It all in the pa
perS this morning What a terrible
business. You seem to be bearing up
wonderfully, Miss REALISTICALLY won
derfully."
well, one mustn't sag at the knees, "
| said Emily. "I hope you don't mind
very much. I mean, it must be awkward
for you to be associated with a family
that has a murder in it,"
Its very unpleasant, Of course" said
the nurse. But ones duty to ones pa
tient comes before everything"
How splendid" said Emily. "It must
L = 4 e.