The Washington times., 1937-05-20

"You can't tell what a dumb
Jury will do" observed Terrell.
yeah" said Jackson. "All Evans
needs is IL sheiks on that jury
and then let the Fowler dame put
those eyes of hers to work"
Let him try and get them" vii.
hanson replied. Miles will get
some hard-boiled old hens on that
Jury, and a couple of hen-pecked
married men that would be afraid
to vote for acquittal for fear of
what their wives would do to them.
Our noble county prosecutor is no.
body's fool"
Thank you, gentlemen" said a
deep, pleasant voice.
The door of Miles office had
opened noiselessly. There, with
his back against it and his hands
behind him on the knob, stood
Miles, athletic and trim and hand
some, his dark and usually stern
features relaxed in an amused
smile.
IT have" he said, relinguishing
the knob and squaring his broad
shoulders, AN unusual request to
make of you"
CHAPTER VIII
The Prosecutors Secret
Grady Williamson thrust a hand
In a trousers pocket. How much,
Francis?" he asked with a mali
cious grin, bringing forth a sadly
crumpled bill and some silver. 1--WE
only got dollar and so cents, but
you're good for all of it."
Miles laughed briefly. Thanks"
he said, and then, SOLDERING, he
explained the nature of his re-
quest. I'm going to ask three
Of you-one representative from
each paper-into my office and
tmpart some confidential informa-
ton. After a conference with
Lieutenant Cropsy, I have de-
cided to explain what I meant
this morning by extraordinary
circumstances "
"As you know'-here his voice
became slightly edged with Sar-
casm-"I have not been long in
public service, and have a lot to
learn in regard to relations with
the press. Lieutenant Cropsy,
whose experience qualities him as
an expert on the subject, has con-
WINGED me that my secret will be
safer if show the newspapers
that I can trust them. Other
wise"
otherwise" VILLA m o n
finished for him, "every news
hound in town would try to be first
to crack the story. CropSy's right.
He's never lost anything by trust
ing us with a secret"
There was a trace Of reproof in
his last sentence.
IT believe you," he said. "And
now if you gentlemen will choose
among yourselves . I see there are
two from the Sun-Ferrell and
Jackson"
"It's more my story than yours. 4"
Jackson said to Terrell, $50 that
eliminates you.
Terrell laughed ruefully. "1rre'
gardless?"
well, see if I care. I'm hiding
enough dark secrets in my bosom. "
Miles, although he was laugh
ing amusedly at the ungrammatical
by-play, interrupted. IF you
don't mind" he said, opening the
door to his office. Bunny Jack
son. Williamson and I filed in and
he followed, locking the door be-
hind him.
Cropsy was sitting there Smok-
ing. Gentlemen he said mock
ingly, and while the other re-
porters sought chairs I found a
brief opportunity to whisper to
him that wanted to see him alone
after the conference. Important, +"
I told him. He answered with a
nod.
Miles waited until we were all
seated and had accepted cigars
from his proffered box. Then he
said, Nov, I have a very good
reason for not wanting you to
print the name OF the man who
was with Margie Shannon the
evening she was murdered"
But we want to make it clear,
Cropsy cut in, that, good as that
reason is, we wouldn't have given
it any consideration if we had hac
to find the man ourselves. AS II
was, he voluntarily gave himself
UP to the prosecutor and saved us
q lot of trouble. His request fol
secrecy is entirely reasonable, as
you'll see."
Exactly" said Miles. cat least
I hope you'll see it that way. These
are the circumstances: The man