The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-28
CHAPTER

L lWLlN4 IL 1NA
The inquest may have freed me
from suspicion-although the cap
ain and coroner we're so contrary
in their opinions that the police
might try to convict me now, just
for spite-but I was sure that Jerry
was still a suspect. He was in
deeper than ever. And Jerry was
lust a boy, incapable of murder,
| knew.
= l freed myself from Belzer and
Mcclure as the crowd mllled out
the door, grabbed Jerry by an arm
and separated him from Murlel,
There's a cab around the corner
l told him.
Whats the idea?" His face was
haggard.
''Muriel," I explained, sis half
h~ysterical already. She has some
crazy idea. Anyway, her
mother will take care of her. In
fact, Mrs. Benson already was do
ing a good job of it, despite Muir
iel's protests. l don't think Mrs
Benson approved of Jerry
I got Jerry into the cab and told
the driver to let us out at Mckln-
lev park. 4 want a chance to tell
YOU that I'm going to help you all
I cam l promised my friend,
We've got to get you a good law
YER and decide what to do
There's no evidence left, except
evidence against me.
Don't worry about it, Jerry.
Look where l stood half an hour
ago! If you hadn't testified that AL
was alive when | went upstairs,
Id be looking at the electric chair
right now. A trial would be a mere
formality.
And so you think
Il think l owe you d lot, and I'm
going to see you out of this fix if
it's the last thing l do"
ITS going to be awfully hard on
Muriel."
She'll stick by you. And just
because her family thinks you're
too poor doesn't mean that
they'll"
It's a good excuse to separate
US"
But it's only circumstantial evil
dence that they have against you,'
l protested. Just because you
were the first to find the body
Isn't that enough? And don't
forget that l knew he had the dia-
monds on him. They can say
killed him for the diamonds, and
then couldn't find them"
Don't be a fool! Any jury"
You can't depend on juries. And
suppose the jury did free me. II
would be just their opinion. Until
the real murderer is found there
would always be that suspicion
against me. I never could live il
down. Not until the murderer
speaks and tells the truth"
He was working himself into ar
hysterical state of mind. l was
glad when the cab stopped in the
park and we were able to find
bench by ourselves. you've go
to pull yourself together" I tole
him. We've got to find the way tx
counterfeit any of this so-callee
evidence they dig up against you
They will, you know. The distric
attorney will be after a conviction
But you and I know you're no
guilty"
"'Th-thanks, Bill. Say, do YOU
suppose it could be St. Clair?"
'St. Clair? What makes you sa,
that?"
Don't you think he acted queel
at the inquest? He looked like hi
was only playing a part. And he
didn't like some of those ques
tons"
You're on the wrong track"
told Jerry firmly.
Jerry dropped his head. '1'n
ashamed of myself. Of course
He's got a better alibi than vol
have. He was singing at the plan
when you went upstairs. 1 re
member him standing there"
Instead of trying to find tn,
murderer, let's just think of way
to beat the officers in their move
against you," I suggested. 81
there any possible motive h e
could dig up, aside from thos
diamonds?"
"You know better than that, Bill
AL and I were friends"
"Okay then. What about finger
prints? Did you touch anythin
when you leaned over him tina
Bella ~LANAN-COURT T