The Argosy, April 1916 — page 70: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

60 Owens, and give Yale the title of husband? Was it to defeat the ends of justice?” “Not exactly. You see, so far as the ends of justice were concerned they were far away from me. I knew that Mr. Yale was suspected, and unable just then to protect himself, and so I did what I could to pro- tect him. “TI had told Adolphus, or whatever his name is, that I was farm-hunting. When I went for him to help me with Mr. Yale, I knew that in order to remain there and not arouse comment, he must be known as my husband.” “You were aware, of course, that you were defying public opinion.” “Your honor, I have been nearly all over the civilized world, a good deal of the time alone. I have never done wrong, nor have I suffered wrong—until now. I have fought my way as aman fights his. I have defied public opinion, if you choose to put it that way. I have always found public opinion. carrion in its taste. It will feast on its own conceived rottenness and overlook the true motive that underlies an action. el am not a slave to public opinion. I have no action in my life to recall with shame.” “And I arrested that girl,’’ whispered the chief to Blake. ‘She is superb.” “She is royal,” admitted Blake. “But who the devil stole the wedding presents?” CHAPTER XXX, WHO GOT THE REWARD. THE judge rustled the leaves of the man- uscript, which, in fact, was a résumé of the case which the chief had got into his honor’s hands before midnight on Saturday, and which the judge had conscientiously studied all day Sunday. “Yale,” he said, looking sternly at the man with the bandaged foot, “why did you seek your own house as a hiding place?” “TI didn’t,” replied Yale. “I had no more thought of hiding than you have at this moment. I left the Whitesboro Hotel with Williams in his automobile. Somebody had evidently tampered with the machine, and we were wrecked. I lay all night in the woods unconscious. “In the morning Williams was not to be found, and I was suffering tortures. I knew my house was the nearest. I knew I would find water and a way to heat it. I went through the woods on a path I remembered, THE ARGOSY. and when in sight of the place fell uncon- scious. I was not fleeing from justice. I was in search of Beverly Wayne.” “Because you believed she had skipped her bond?” : “‘No, because I believed she had been ab- ducted.” “Why? Had you deduced any reason for the abduction of Miss Wayne?” “T believed that she knew, or the robbers believed she knew, something that would convict them.” “But according to Miss Wayne’s testi- mony, in which I can find no flaw, she knows nothing about the robbery.” “T believe that now, and cannot under- stand why the robbers should want to steal her away.” ‘“‘And they seemed to have an unreason- ing hatred of the camera.” “T can’t understand that, either.” “Do you know how that black bag got into your house? I am willing to admit that a man who was borne in unconscious did not carry it.” “I have absolutely no idea. George Green- land visited the place, and was roughly re- ceived by Adolphus ané@his mother. Why, after showing that faithfulness they de- serted us at night, when we were to be visited by robbers, I can’t imagine. But the man is here, and perhaps your honor can get something out of him.” “We'll come to that. Chief, from what source did you receive the information that a big blond man drove a big bay bony horse into Yale’s farmyard the day after the Raymond robbery, and had in his wagon a big black bag?” __“T received the information from a man who gives his name as Edward Smith, says he lives in the village of Prospect, near Trenton Falls, and his story goes on that he was driving toward Utica and saw the big blond man drive into Yale’s farmyard. He said that the contents of the bag were of soft metal, not steel or iron.” “He had a sharp ear, that Edward Smith. Where is he now?” “T don’t know, just at this moment.” The magistrate looked alarmed, and then vexed. | “But you knew, didn’t you, chief, that this Smith might prove a very important witness?” “T did know it, but I wasn’t going to give it away to him. He came to me early on Saturday morning and made specific in- MICLOOOK C@