Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-01-19

surance that her son would recover.
seized Doctor Darand's hand and
wont with thopkfulpocc

AS Doctor Darand stood in the door
way of the hospital, taking with the
reporters, two newspaper cameras were
trained on him with click. Uneas-
lily, for he detested notOriely, young
Doctor Darand moved aside and he
turned up the collar of his ulster. His
troubled glance swept UP the corridor
OF the hospital. Kitty Hewitt was no
where in sight-and she had promised
to meet him here. Then suddenly he
caught sight Of her, waiting in q taxi,
below at the curb, and he hurried
down the steps.
I'm tired" she murmured "This
business rather got me-"
II don't wonder. I'm still q bit
fidgety myself"
DO you," she asked YEARLY, know
the real story?"
"NOt all of It," he answered. ''They
told me back there about young Mac
Laren coming to Chicago from the
little town, with twelve thousand dol
lars in certified checks, and eighteen
thousand in Liberty bonds. He was
going into some sort Of a real estate
syndicate, and the money belonged to
the people in his home town. He
must have been pretty young, 1 guess,
and somebody swindled him out Of
half Of his bonds He tried to get it
back by gambling"
"And there" said Kitty Hewitt, che
lost the rest Of his bonds, and his
checks, one by one. He cashed them
himself-they couldn't, without CIV
ing evidence against themselves"
"They?" asked Bertram.
Don't you know" She glanced
round at him. Crane, of course. He
operates the biggest gambling joint
on the South side. It's owned by
Harper Cotton. That's where he gets
his money for his cars and clubs
and for his new wife and her plunge
into society,""
Bertram exclaimed but she went on
'"This boy got up against Crane, him.
self; and the game was crooked, Of
course. They leased him on for
time to make him think he could get
back what he'd been sWindled out of;
then they just took everything away
from him. He found out that the
place was crooked, but protected; he
found out that Cotton owned it. Well,
last night he went to COlton's house
Mrs. Cotton, who doesn't know much
about her husbands business, was out
of toWn-and there was row all
right The kid knew too much; he
had too much evidence to let him loose
and he threatened to spill it all and
ruin Cotton. SO they kept him in the
house all night and sent for Crane
that's where got in"
"You? What do you mean?"
81 heard Cotton had sent for Crane
quick. 1 didn't know then what
Crane did, but could guess Crane
went at it his own way; he slugged
the boy. He wanted to go all the way
through with it-kill him and carry
him out by night. But Cotton lost all
his nerve. He's protected gambling
and robbery-and, yes, murder before
this. But he's never had killing in
his house. He got nearly crazy with
that boy dying in the house. He sent
for one of their regular doctors and
he said the boy would live a while
and then go. Then they cooked up
the idea to send for you; you'd the
right sort of name and family reputa-
ton. They'd have an accident-an
ordinary, perfectly natural accident
happen in the house when you were
there You'd see Severson; you'd
hear him fall downstairs then you'd
find MacLaren down at the bottom.
You'd think he was Severson and GER
tify to the whole business. Nobody
outside who couldn't be handled would
ever have to see the boy; they'd have
n perfectly safe and proper service
for Billy Severson. with the coffin
closed, and get him safe below ground.
Stevenson was ready to so through
with his part-to give up a suit Of
clothes and disappear. Well. you
know the rest"
She said: 81 got the tip this morn
ing that Crane sent for you to come to
Colton's.
you took big risk for mel" ex-
claimed Bertram and seized her hand;
she did not draw it away, but she said:
"Not for you-not entirely, that is.
came for that boy, too. l didn't
know who he was; but figured there
was somebody else in trouble. Then
there was Eddie to think about, too"
Bertram's clasp became tense.
"Pellen!" he cried.
ED Pellen I-Oh, what's the use?
You wouldn't understand. There's so
much to this thing" She stopped
and gave it up and gazed from him
out of the cab window.
"By this thing you mean," he
asked, "your association with Crane
and ColtonY'
"Not with them now. I've called
cops on them. I'm done with them
forever"
''I'm glad Of that"
"But they won't be done with me-"
ST can understand that They'll try
to injure you. But surely there's
power to protect you"
She tossed her head 81 know there
is, while Ed Pellen's around"
"Pellen!" said Bertram, "Pellen.