The Washington times., 1933-09-30

a break!" said Murtoch. Il don't
want to die. I don't want to be
shot. If gave you the goods on
Crelliman, what would you do
for me?"
"Quit stalling," said 0urant
disgustedly. I'VE want Crelli-
man dead"
"I'll get him dead for you'll"
cried the gangster. IF he hired
me to kill someone, wouldn't he
go to the chair?"
"Of course he WOULD" said
Durant. But if that's all you
have to say-why would you
confess that you killed someone
at his orders?"
because if I told on him I
wouldn't get the chair. I
wouldn't be killed. I'd get life
and he'd get the chair if you
people stuck up for me and said
that I told you"
Durant hesitated. The gloom
hid the exultant light in his
eyes. That's true enough. That
is, if you had corroboration,
Murtoch. Your word wouldn't
be good unless somebody else
backed you up. It would be the
word of one murderer against
another. But if you had a wit
ness who could swear that he
knew Crelliman hired you-but
you're stalling, hoping to get
another minute of life, like the
yellow rat you are"
$50 help me God, I'm not
stalling. And I have another
witness. She was with me three
nights ago when Crelliman gave
me a grand to bump off-1'm
not telling who, not until you
promise that you'll get me off"
Murtoch Confessed
"Get you off, For a murder?
I'll get you life imprisonment
but that's the best. Take it or
leave it. You know me. You
know my word is good"
"I don't want to die. I'll take
your word. Crelliman hired me
to kill Montague. There was
girl in the flat with me three
nights ago when he told me to
do it, when he gave me the
money. He didn't know she
was in my bedroom, but she
heard it all. She's stuck on me;
she'll come through for me-"
"Who is she? I think you're
lying, but I'll take a chance.
I can postpone killing you for
a little while. But if she's out
of town or can't be reached,
then say your prayers, Muir
toch."
"She's right in this building.
Has an apartment here. Her
name is Mamie Ross. She's in
Apartment I'D. You 60 down
and ask her what she heard.
For Gods sake, give me a
break; give me a chance!"
Durant nodded to Stevens.
Instantly the lieutenant left the
room, and the next 10 minutes
were the longest Durant had
ever spent. If the girl refused
to talk. Then Stevens re-
entered the room, bringing with
him a rather pretty girl who
had thrown kimono over her
paiamas.
"She was in the bedroom, Mr..
Durant. She heard Crelliman
tell Murtoch to be in this room
the next night and to shoot
Montague when and if she
came out on the porch with
Siddall. That's all she knows.
She says that she told Muir
toch not to be a sucker, but to
let Crelliman do his own kill
ing. She says she thought from
the papers, that Siddall had
killed the girl. She lies, but
that's to square herself for
not telling the police what she
knew"
Durant looked at Murtoch.
"You confess that you shot
Mimi Montague from the win
dow of your apartment?"
Eyes, yes, yes," whimpered
Murtoch.
Durant walked to the win
dow Gertie WaXted and Crelli.
man were leaving the porch
and entering the penthouse.
He turned back to Stevens.
"You and I ought to be
enough to take Crelliman. You
two men''-he addressed the
detectives-"take this man and
this woman to Police Head
quarters and book them. Come
on, Stevens"
Durant yawned; his eyes
opened. He looked about the
room. In sudden apprehension
he stretched out his hand,
hardly daring to look, but he
was the only occupant of his
bed. He grinned as he pressed
the button that would summon
Layton. Then his eyes widened
as the bedroom door opened
and Gertie Waxted entered the
room.
Reaction
$50 you're here, are you?"
he said. "Where have you been
keeping yourself? Did I so fail
in hospitality that I made you
take the couch outsider"
"You didn't make me do any
thing" she told him. "You just
collapsed, and Layton and I
put you to bed"
"Lawton and-you?"