The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-11-29
TIL + LADY Is
liz ECKLESS
Continued from Page 81
BY ROB EDEN

iOonNIluen tfpm Eakt o.
truth Of some Of your shady deals;
you've decided to get nd II him.
Isn't that true?"
It's ridiculous. II that's all
you have to say. you might as well
go. I'm busy"
She decided to play her ace
card.
Would you be inclined to tell
me where Bob Brock is if | told
you where you could get your
hands on a confession, a confession
in your own handwriting, admit
ting crime for which another
man suffered? ?"
Bites End
Fenwick leaned back in his
chair, fumbled in his pocket for a
cigar. bit off the end of it leisurely
and lighted it before he answered.
Jill eyed him closely. After all
the news must have come to him
as a tremendous shock. the news
he must have been dreading for
years.
She marveled at the mans self
control. Aside from a slight deep
ening in the redness of his face,
he gave no sign that her state
ment had had the slightest effect
upon him.
What is that you said ," he in
quired, casually. A trifle too
casually, Jill thought.
Il mentioned a confession that
is in my possession. A confession
the location of which was told to
me by my uncle Thomas Mac
query, in the last letter he wrote
before he died in China"
Have you, er, read this so-called
confession ?"
Yes. 1 know exactly what it
says. l also have your check, in
payment of my services as a maid
in your home. An expert, I'm
sure, would say the signatures on
both check and confession COIN
eide"
DO you have this, this confess
sion with you? Might I see it
for a moment"
The girl laughed.
Il hope you don't imagine I'm
so simple as to let you get your
hands on it, Mr.. Fenwick, until
you've done what I want you to
do, tell me what you've done with
Bob Brock. Tell me where he is"
IF I could be sure you weren't
just bluffing-"
81 can assure you I'm not. The
confession exists. It's in safe
place where l can get it any time
l choose. It's no place you would
ever think to look, so you might
as well forget that angle if you
were considering it."
Purported Confession
Just what does this, er, pur-
ported confession say"
I'm sure you know perfectly
what it says. 1t completely alb
solves Thomas Macquerry Of any
blame in connection with the
crime you committed, and admits
that you yourself stole from the
customers of the firm. You
wrote it,"
Fenwick laughed There was a
soothing note in his voice.
| asLNinf1Agffalya
lieve any such thing, even admit
ting that a confession exists,
which l very seriously doubt.
Why. young lady. do you know
that I'm very powerful man in
Rawlton Who would believe such
a cock and bull story about Peter
Fenwick? l control the mayor. the
city council, judges of the courts
are on my payroll, the police do
as | tell them. It's utterly ridicu-
lous to attempt to threaten me, to
try to blackmail me-"
What have you done with Bob
Brock ?" the girl demanded.
Il haven't the slightest idea
what you're talking about
know nothing about Brock or
Lands or whatever his name is"
Unseen by the girl. he touched
button under the edge Of his
desk. A moment later. the door
into Rothbury's office opened and
the secretary entered.
At Club
Il wanted to remind you. sir,
of your appointment with Major
Wright" he said. Hes waiting
for you at the club"
1t was a formula they had used
many times to get rid of an un-
welcome caller, but Jill couldn't
know that.
If you'll excuse me, Miss Tai
bot. Fenwiek said, II must 90
now. You may stay here and
explain your problem to Rothbury
If you wish"
He walked swiftly across the
room, opened the outer door. and
it closed behind him. There was
sharp click as if the door had
been locked from the outside.
The girl started to her feet. She
| knew now she shouldn't have