The midland journal., 1946-04-05
CHAPTER XIV

OuS!
"Why, yes," Tope assured him,
"I'm serious"
The door from the hall opened,
and they all looked that way; saw
Bee Dewain. For moment no one
spoke; and Bee said: $50 on,
please. May I listen?"
Tope answered her. "We're just
trying to make Mr.. Ledforge admit
that he was the man in Little Bear
last Friday night" he explained,
and turned to Ledforge again. "If
you weren't" he challenged, show
did you know it was dog blanket
that they wrapped him up in? said
blanket but I never mentioned a
dog"
"Why, I've been in Holdom's ga
rage many times. When you said
blanket I thought of the police
dog sleeping on his blanket in the
corner there"
"Well, maybe" Tope agreed; but
before he could speak again, Joe
Dane took hand. Here was, it
seemed to him, not only his cue,
but Bee Dewain for an audience to
witness his triumph over Tope. He
strode a little forward, and spoke
briskly.
"Come, Tope," he said with a
mocking kindness, 81 guess you've
gone as far as you can, haven't you?
Maybe you've got at the truth, all
right; but Tope, it isn't enough for
me to know the truth. I have to
be able to prove it. I have to get
something that will pass as evidence
in court"
Tope looked at him thoughtfully.
"That's so, son." he agreed. "You
do have to try the case, don't your"
Joe nodded. $50 while you've been
reading dream-books, and telling
fortunes by the cards." he derisive-
ly explained, 'tI've been collecting
a few facts-just plain facts. And,
Of course, one particular fact! One
good fact that can't be shaken is all
we need, isn't it,"
Adam Bruce demanded: "Joe, do
you have to be a fool twice in one
day?"
But Tope touched Adams arm,
hushed him. ''Now, ADAM" he pro-
tested, ".you let Joe set off his fire.
works! It wouldn't surprise me
bit if he had something. Joe's
smart 'yourg man."
"Then he ought to know better"
Joe said resentfully: ''Now, wait
a minute, Bruce! After all, this
case is my job. This old man hasn't
an ounce Of evidence, but / have.
can prove that Rufus Ledforge,
here, was in Little Bear that night,
Friday night" he said exultantly.
'Rufus was, all right" Tope as
sented. II know that too"
'But you can't prove it?"
''Why, that dependsl Maybe not!"
"Well, I can," said Joe proudly.
'While you've been chasing will-o'-
the-wisps, I've found witness. I've
got man who heard Mrs. Kell, in
the cottage that night, call Led
forge here by name"
Tope exclaimed: "Well, if you
have, that's something, surel"
Dane laughed exultantly. "You
bet it isl" he cried. "It's worth all
your guess work"
Called him by name, did she?"
Tope reflected.
Joe cried in hot triumph: eyes,
she did!" And he explained care
fully: 81 think she was begging him
not to leave poor Christopher there
to die. But at any rate, she said:
oh, no, please don't, Rufe! Don't,
Rufe, please!'"
"'Rufe,' eh?" Tope echoed.
"Sure. Rufus. Rufus Ledforgei
And that's proof enough to convince
any jury-with the rest of what
we've got-that Rufus Ledforge was
in Little Bear that night"
Tope rubbed his mouth with his
hand; he wagged his head. "Why,
Joe," he said, "Rufus Ledforge was
in Little Bear that night, all right.
Or right handy. But the woman,
Mrs. Kell, she wasn't talking to him;
and if she had been, he wouldn't
have heard her, Rufus was out in
the car, under the rumble seat, sick
and unconscious, with the drugs in
him. No, Rufus couldn't hear her,"
Joe stammered: "What are you
talking about?"
"This man here isn't Rufus Led
forge, son." said Tope. "This-what
was his brothers. name?-this here
is Christopher"
And while they were all for mo-
ment silent, Bee Dewain-as though
she had heard what she came to
hear-quietly slipped away.
Bee had departed: but no other
moved. Only Ledforge laughed, ap-
pealing to young Joe Dane, to big
Mat Cumberland.
''Who is this-aged jackassf" he
protested. "Our best friends couldn't
distinguish between US. SO you may
have to take my word for it; yet !
assure you / am Rufus. not poor
Christopher"