Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-20

face was a> cNprc>>lonlosS as
the Judges own 1t was" he
added. with no attempt at
humor. ~ private fight"
"Nou know the man YOU were
fighting with.
Too long aud too we'll" the
prisoner growled
The nudge looked past hm ana
around the courtroom
"Nhere are the complain
ants" he asked the room an
large "Nhcre il the proprietor
of this saloon ,"
4 small WHY man got up from
his seat in the body OF the court
room and stepped 10 the bench.
I'm the proprietor of the
Elite" he announced. MY name
il Torrance, have no complaint
To offer"
"All right" The nudge dis
missed HIM III there are no
complaints. the case II dismissed.
RicSe. I want Nou Ia step into
my chambers. officer Blake, re-
lease your prisoner"
He got up from his scat and
walked into his chambers and a
the door closed behind him muir
muir arose IN the courtroom 1t
seemed the general opinion that
the Judge ha5 failed IN his duty.
This man Ricse had INDUCED in
another brawl. He had been fight
ing with everybody since ne came
10 San Mateo six months ago.
Granted that this Nick CoStrcllo
was a known crook and black
mailer. still he was a native of the
town and no stranger ought 10 be
allowed 10 beat him up. a couple
more decisions like this one and
Judge Pcckham would wake up
without a Job Jabcz REESE lis
tened TO the talk with a curl on
his lips. Then he turned and
opened the doors of the Judges
chambers and walked inside.
The Judge sat at a ilat-toppcd
desk A sha ape y, dark-haired
woman in her middle tWcntleS sat
in Il chair beside HIM Her brown
eyes swept Jabez REESE appralS-
lnGly as he stood at the desk
looking a the Judge Her full
Tipped mouth broke INTO a smile.
WATCHING YOUR WRITING"
"YOu didn't have 10 kill him."
she SAID 10 the man. Her voice
was full and throaty and amused.
II had 10 make him promise
he'd return your letters 10 YOU"
REESE looked at her briefly and
then past her. His glance was
lmDerSOnal "He needed lot
of persuasion. He promised just
before 1 knocked him cold. Did
you get them"
They were i'm this mornings
mall" she nodded. "all Of them.
That was nice work. I'd like to
give YOU something for your
efforts"
"No, thanks" RiCSc refused
1T will be on your bill. | guess
that finishes me up here"
II had no idea OF this whole
affair until my daughter here
told me this morning" Judge
Peckham said Stiffly Rita has
always been indiscreet, but l
thought that by now, she.
married woman. would have
more sense than To write anna
tory letters To another man"
81 wrote them long before |
was married." Rita patiently
pointed out, hut this CoStrello
changed the dates 80 that they
appeared to have been written
since. 50 he could blackmail me.
That's why i retained the serv-
ices of the Durham Detective
Agency, of which MIR. REESE is
AN operative" She turned 10
RicSc. II heard about the fight
and your arrest. MIR. Torrance
: called me up"
a That's fine" RicSC smiled
* SardonlCally. Better watch your
writing hand from now on. I'm
glad to have been Of service"
He bowed and walked out. As
the door closed behind him,
Judge Peckham SAID pctulantly.
Rita, ! hope YOU realize YOU
are ieojardizing my position in
both the church and the com
munity. That man has been a
source of irritation ever since
he came here. He's been bad
ncighbOr."
Rita didn't answer. She movcC
10 the window and looked after
REESE as he walked arrogantly
down the sidewalk
TIE END.
Tomorrow short story: This