Show r rr r l I. I 11 SYNOPSIS Howard Jeffries bankers banker's son under the he evil Influence of Robert Underwood B. B student fellow-student at Yale leads a life of ot dissipation marries the daughter of ot a gambler who died In prison and Is disowned dIsowned dIs- dIs owned by his father He tries to pet get et work and nd falls fails A A. former college colleSe chum makes a business proposition to Howard which requires 2000 cash and Howard Is broke Robert lobert Underwood who has been re- re by Howards Howard's wife Annie In his college ollege days das and had once been engaged to o Alicia Howards Howard's stepmother has apartments at the Howard decides deIdes decides de- de Ides to ask Underwood for the 2000 he needs Underwood taking advantage of his Intimacy with Mrs Jeffries Sr becomes becomes becomes be be- comes a sort of ot social highwayman DIscovering Discovering Discovering Dis DIs- covering his true character she denies him ilm the house Alicia receives a note from Underwood threatening suicide Art dealers for whom he has been acting as commissioner demand an accounting He lie cannot make good Howard Jeffries calls In an Intoxicated condition He asks Underwood for 2000 and Is told by the theatter latter atter that he Is In n debt up to his eyes Howard drinks himself Into a maudlin condition and goes to sleep on a divan A caller caber Is announced and Underwood draws a screen creen around the drunken sleeper lleeper Alicia enters She demands a promIse from him that he will not take his ils life pointing to the disgrace that would attach to herself Underwood refuses reuses re- re fuses uses to promise unless she will renew her patronage This she refuses to do Und Underwood kills himself The report of ot the pistol awakens Howard He lie stumbles over the dead body of ot Underwood Realizing Reali ReaU- zing his predicament he ho attempts to lice flee and Is met by Underwood's valet Howard Howard Howard How How- ard Is turned over oyer to the police pollee CHAPTER IX Continued But what's the good of sitting here hereIn herein herein in this death house protested How ard Take me to the station if I must got go Its It's intolerable to sit any longer here bere The captain beckoned to Maloney Not so so fast young man Before we go to the station we want to ask you ou a few questions Dont Don't we Maloney Maloney Maloney Ma Ma- loney The sergeant came over and the captain whispered something in his ear Howard shivered Suddenly turning to his prisoner the captain shouted in the stern stem tone of command command com com- mand Get up Howard did as h was ordered He felt he must There was no resisting that powerful brutes brute's tone of ty Pointing to the other side of oC the table the captain went on Stand over there where I can look at you The two men now faced each other the small table alone separating them The powerful overhead overhead overhead over over- head cast its light full on Howards Howard's Howards Howard's Howard's Howards How How- ards ard's haggard face and on the captains captain's cap cap- c captains captain's p- p tain's scowling features Suddenly Maloney turned off oft every electric light except the lights In the elect- elect roller the glare of which was Intensified intensified rifled by the surrounding darkness The rest of the room was In shadow One saw only these two figures standing vividly out in the strong the light ight the white white faced faced prisoner and his stalwart inquisitor In the dark background stood Policeman Delaney Close at hand was Maloney taking notes You Yo did it and you know you did didt it IU t thundered the captain fixing his eyes on his trembling victim I did not do It replied Howard slowly and firmly returning the policeman's police mans man's stare Youre lying shouted the captain Im not lying replied Howard calmly The Tho captain glared at him for a moment and then suddenly tried new tactics Why did you come here hero he de de- I came to borrow money Did you get it No No he he said he couldn't give It to tome me me Then you killed himI him I I did not kill him replied Howard positively Thus the searching examination went on mercilessly tirelessly The same questions the same same answers the same accusations the same denials hour after aHer hour The captain was tired but being a giant In physique he could stand it lIe He knew that his victim could not It was only a question question question ques ques- tion of ot time when tho the latter's resistance resistance resistance resist resist- ance would be weakened Then he would stop lying and tell teU the truth That's all he wanted wanted the the truth You shot him I lid did not Youre lying Im not lying lying its Its It's the truth SI So It went on hour after atter hour relentlessly re ro- pitilessly while the patient Maloney In the obscure background took notes CHAPTER X The clock ticked on and still the merciless browbeating went on They had been at it now five long weary wenry hours Through the blinds the gray daylight dalIght outside was creeping Its way in All the policemen were exhaust- exhaust ld d. d The prisoner was on the verge of Maloney and Patrolman I laney plancy were Yere dozing on chairs but I apt Clinton a marvel of iron will willad nd ad physical strength never relaxed r ar r a moment Not allowing himself weapon weaken or sho show signs of fatigue n s j b. 1 tV j By r f V KLEIN AND y ARTHUR HORNBLOW V ILLUSTRATIONS BY RAY WALTER 1909 D COMPANY he kept pounding the unhappy youth with searching questions By Dy this time Ume Howards Howard's condition was pitiable to witness His race lace was white as death His trembling lips could hardly articulate It was with the greatest difficulty that he kept on his feet teet Every moment he seemed about to fall At times Umes he clutched the table nervously for fear he would stumble Several times through sheer exhaustion he sat down The act was almost Involuntary Nature was giving giving ing way I cant can't stand any more he murmured mur mur- the good of all these questions I tell you I didn't do it He sank helplessly on to a chair His eyes rolled in his head He looked as asIf asif asif if he would faint taint Stand up thundered the captain angrily Howard obeyed mechanically although although although al al- al- al though he reeled In the effort To steady himself he caught hold of the table His strength was fast ebbing He was losing his power to resist The captain saw he was weakening and he smiled with with satisfaction Hed He'd soon get a confession on on out of ot him Suddenly Suddenly Sud Sud- denly bending forward so that his fierce determined stare glar glared d right into Howard Howardl half balt closed eyes he shouted You did It and you know you did No No I I replied Howard weakly These repeated denials are useless useless useless use use- less P shou shouted fed the captain Theres iii I- I f t l u j lOW Why hy Did Y You ou Come Com e H Here ere 1 already enough evidence to cand you to the chair Howard shook his head helplessly Weakly he replied This constant questioning Is ma may kir 5 me dizzy Good God What's Whal's th tho tho use use of questioning me and questioning questioning questioning ques ques- me I know nothing about it it Why did you come here thundered thundered thun thun- dered the captain Ive told you over and over again Were We're old friends I came to borrow money He owed me a few hundred dollars when we were at college together together to to- gether and I tried to get got it Ive I've told you Ou so many times You wont won't believe be bey lieve me My Iy brain Is tired Im I'm thor thoI thoroughly thoroughly exhausted Please let me go My poor wife Ife wont won't know what's the matter maUer Never mind about your wife growled the captain Weve sent for tor her How much did you try to borrow bor borrow row Howard was silent a moment as if it racking his brain trying to ber S berA A two thousand thousand two thousand 1 for for- get I think one thousand Did b say hed he'd lend you the money money money mon mon- ey demanded the Inquisitor No uNo replied the prisoner with hesi hesi- tation He couldn't poor he he poor chap chaphe chap chap- bo he- he Ah snapped the captain lie He refused re reo re- re I fused that fused that led to words There was wasa a quarrel and and and- Suddenly leaning forward until his face Cace almost touched Howards Howard's he hissed rather than spoke You Vou shot him Howard gave an involuntary step backward as If It he realized the trap being laid for tor him hini No uNo no nol he cried Quickly following up his bis advantage Capt Clinton shouted dramatically You He Ue He was found on the thenor floor nor in this room room dead You Vou were to get t out of oC the house with with- with with-I out being seen You hadn't even stopped to wash the blood off your hands lands All you fellers make mistakes You relied on getting away unseen You never stopped to think that the blood on your hands would betray you ou Gruffly he added Now come what's the use of wasting all this time It wont won't go so hard with you youIt If It you own up You killed Robert Underwood Howard shook his head bead There was wasa a pathetic expression of helplessness on his face I didn't kill him he faltered I Iwas Iwas Iwas was asleep on that sofa soCa I woke up It was dark I went out I wanted to get home My wife was waiting for for- me Now Ive I've caught you lying Interrupted Interrupted interrupted Inter Inter- the captain quickly You told the coroner you saw the dead man and feared you would be suspected of his murder and so tried to get away un un- un- un seen Turning to his men he added How is that Maloney 1 Did the prisoner prisoner prisoner pris pris- oner say that The sergeant consulted his back notes and replied Yes Cap that's what he said Suddenly Capt Clinton drew from his hip ket the r revolver volver which he be had found founG on the floor near the tho deadmans deadman's deadmans deadman's dead deadman's deadmans mans man's body The supreme test was about to be made The wily police captain would now play his trump card It was not without reason that his enemies charged him with employ- employ Ing unlawful methods In conducting his Inquisitorial examinations Stop your lying he said fiercely fierce fierce- Q ly Tell the truth or well we'll keep you here until you do The motive is is clear You camo came for tor money You were refused and you did the trick Suddenly producing the revolver and holding it well under der the light so that the rays from Cram the fell directly on its highly polished surface he shouted Howard Jeffries you shot Robert Hobert Underwood and you shot him with this pistol Howard gazed at the shining sur surface face tace of the metal as if fascinated He spoke not a word but his eyes became became became be be- came riveted on the weapon until his face assumed a vacant stare From the scientific standpoint the tho act of ot hypnotism had been accomplished In his nervous and state added to his susceptibility to quick hypnosis he was now directly under the influence of ot Capt Clinton's stronger will He was completely re re- re- re The past seemed all a blur on his mind He saw the flash of ot steel and the police captains captain's angry looking determined face He Jelt felt he was powerless to resist that will v ill any longer lIe He stepped back and gave a shudder averting his bis eyes from the blinding steel Capt Clinton quickly followed up his advantage You committed this crime Howard Jeffries he shouted fixing him with witha a stare To his subordinate he shouted he Maloney lie He killed him all right echoed Maloney Ills His eyes still fixed on those of his victim and approaching his face close to his the captain shouted You did It Jeffries Come on own up Let Lets Let's s have the truth You shot Robert Underwood with this revolver in Von did It and von van cant can't deny denv It You Vou know you cant can't deny It Speak SpeakS he thundered You did it 1 Howard his eyes still sUll fixed on the shining pistol repeated as if reciting reciting I ing a lesson I did it IU Quickly Capt Clinton signaled to i Maloney to approach nearer with his note The detective sergeant ant took his place Immediately tely back of Howard The captain turned to his hia prisoner You shot Robert Underwood I I 1 shot Robert Underwood repented repeated re repeated Howard mechanically You quarreled Wo We V 0 quarreled You came here for money I came here for money He refused to give it it to you He refused to give it to mo me There was a quarrel There was a quarrel You drew that pistol I 1 drew that pistol And shot him And shot him Capt Clinton smiled triumphantly I all he said Howard collapsed Into a chair His I head dropped forward on his breast as If he were asleep Capt Clinton yawned and looked at his watch Turning to Maloney he said with a chuckle By George its it's taken five hours to get it out of him Maloney turned out the electric lights and went to pull up the window shades letting the bright daylight stream Into the room Suddenly there was a aring ring at the front door Officer Delaney opened and Dr Bernstein Bernstein Bern Dern stein entered Advancing Into the room he shook hands with wIlh the cap cap- tain tarn Im sorry I couldn't come before captain I was out when I got gol the call Wheres Where's the body The captain pointed to- to the Inner room In there After glancing curiously at Howard Howard How How- ard the doctor disappeared into the inner room Capt Clinton turned to Maloney Well Maloney I guess our work Is done here We want to get the tho prisoner over to the station then make out a charge of murder and prepare the full confession to submit to the magistrate Have everything ready by nine Meantime I Ill I'll ll go down and see the newspaper boys I guess theres there's a bunch of them down there Of course its it's too late for the morning papers but its it's a bully good story for the editions Delaney Delaney Delaney De De- laney youre you're responsible for the pris pris- oner Better handcuff him The patrolman was Just putting the manacles on Howards Howard's wrists when Dr Bernstein re-entered re from the Inner Inner inner In In- ner room The captain turned Well have you seen your man he asked The doctor nodded Found Found a bullet wound In his head he said Flesh all burned must burned must have been pretty close range It might have been a case of suicide Capt Clinton frowned He didn't like e suggestions of that kind after a confession which had cost him five hours' hours work to procure Suicide he hp sneered sneered ed Say doctor doctor doctor doc doc- tor did you happen to notice what side of the head the wound was on 7 Dr Bernstein reflected a moment Ah yes Now I come to think of it it was the left side Precisely sneered the captain I never heard of a suicide shooting himself him self seU in the left temple Dont Don't worry doctor its it's murder all right Pointing Pointing Pointing Point Point- ing with a Jerk of his finger toward Howard he added And weve we've got the man who did the Job Officer Delaney approached his chief and spoke to him in n a low tone The captain frowned and looked toward his prisoner Then turning toward the officer he said Is the wife downstairs The officer nodded Yes sir they Just telephoned Then let her como come up said the captain She may know something Delaney returned to the telephone and Dr Bernstein turned to the captain captain captain cap cap- tain Say what you will captain Im I'm not at all sure that Underwood did not do this himself Aint you Well I am replied the captain with a 1 sneer Pointing again to Howard he be said This man has just confessed to the shooting At that moment the front door opened and Annie Jeffries came camo in escorted escorted es es- es carted by an officer She was pale and frightened and looked timidly at atthe atthe atthe the group of strange and serious look serious ing men present Then her eyes went round the room in sear search h of her husband |