Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1936-03-25

Il -
too. Anyway, when they'd gone,
did a whole lot of thinking. And
I decided this wasn't a good minute
for pride, or anything. II they're
going to separate u.s.: I said, why,
they're going to, and that's that
So took chance, and the first
train I could get after I'd found
somebody to look after the boy.
When the butler told me Mr.. Rid
der'd be home around midnight,
figured my luck had changed. OF
course, I never thought Of a fake
Ridder."
There was. no iIl-will in her tone !;
only a faint amusement, succeeded,
almost Immediately, by desperate
earnestness.
"Well, that's my story" she said.
"God only knows why ! told you.
I came here to tell It because
1 didn't think even that tough old
bird would want to see his boy sent
up for murder. Now--What do we
do? Cable? 1 haven't got money
enough; have you? / haven't got a
lawyer, or a dollar to hire one. l
haven't got a relative that I know
about, or a friend in the world.
Just sick kid at home, and fel-
low I'm kind of strong for locked
up in the Tombs." ~
She had asked, "What do we do?"
II haven't got money enough; have
you?" Taken him into partnership;
that's what she had. Into one of
those natural, inevitable partner
ships Of people who have no one to
whom they have the right to turn;
the kinship Of the poor, and de-
spised, and outcast.
II know a great lawyer" said the
Duke. "A great criminal lawyer. !
met him tonight. A fellow named
WinsloW."
, "NOt Peter Winslow?"
The Duke nodded.
Eyes, he's great enough, but he'd
never take my case"
"He might take mine," the Duke
unused, aloud. 1--WE struck up quite
a friendship. He offered to get me
a job. OF course, that's all off, be-
cause"
Because whyw
Because he isn't going to do
anything for me when he finds I'm
a fake. Nobody is, when they know
I'm not John Clarke Ridder, Jr."
The Duke rose, slowly, and
walked across the room.
He was thinking hard.
Nobody is," he repeated, still
more slowly, as he returned to the
chair in which was sitting the wife
of the real "Jack" Ridder. But
why should they find out now?"
The~gtrt looked at him, wide
eyed.
II don't get you"
"1t's easy" he answered, still
slowly, and very deliberately. "Peo-
pie don't do anything for fakes, or
cast-Offs accused of mdrder. They
won't do anything for the real John
Ridder, because he's broke and in
disgrace. But they might do a lot
for, the fake John Ridder-if they
didn't know he was a fake"
II guess I'm dumb" Peggy said,
''but still 1 don't get YOU"
Listen"
He resumed his seat in the small
chair opposite her.
"You came out to get old John
Clarke to help you"
"Yes.">
"And he wasn't here"
mo"
"That was a lucky break for you,
because, if he'd been here, he'd've
had you chucked right out of the
front door. Think, kid! Herhasn't
spoken to his son for years. Paid
him fifty dollars a week not to use
the family name. And then a caba-
ret girl turns up to say she's mar
ried the boy, and he committed
was accused of it
because somebody caught her pick
ing pockets in night-club."
ut doesn't sound good-the way
you put it."
"That's nothing to the way he'd
1ut it. But he's not here. And
hats not the best of your luck.
rhe best of your luck is that I am"
"Why?"
Because l can help you, and I'm
going to. am-if you'll let me. If
TOu'll let me 60 on being John
Clarke Ridder, Jr."
"Oh, that's the game, is it?"
Listen. John Clarke Bidder, fake,
.an be the best friend John Clarke
bidder, real, ever had in his life. /
IAN get Winslow to take your case,
f he don't know I'm a fake. I can
ret Judge Hambidge to use his in
Iuence, and that's plenty. I. can
ret money from home, because I'm
making good. Look-read that!"
He darted across the room, and
o the table drawer, returning with
he letter from Mrs. Ridder.
Read it quick! ANY shock might
rove serious. He must change his
Vill.'. And he still reads the papers.
Ill right. What If he does read
bout a bum, named Jay Rogers. |
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