i
The Daily Capital Journal
ccroND
PAGES
9 TO 16
SECTION
HIRTY-SIXTH YEAR.
SALEM, OREGON, SATURDAY, JULY 12, 1913
PRICE, TWO CENTS. KmM?!.
The
Urgyle Case
A Novelization by J. W.
jloConaughy of the Success
ml New Play by Harriet
Ford, Harvey J. O'Higgina
and Detective William J.
Burns, In WTileh Robert
Hilliard Is Appearing :s :: .
opyrleht, 1312. by Journal-American-
Examiner.
SYNOPSIS
l,iel Argyle, wealthy and eccentric, Is
id shot denu in trie llDrary oi nil new
k home Hie only eon, rruce, an art
land hla ward. Miss Mary Mam ret,
isuspucted.
Jche Kayton. a detective of repute, (
jd in. He Is given carte blanche ai to
tnie and told to run down the mur-
The library wnere Air. Argyie was
li opened.
yton and hie assistant, Manning, ar.
at the Arsyie mansion, iiiey ques
Flnlev. the butler, and aearch (or
r printa in the hope of finding a clew.
e detectives And a woman's finger
a on the library tame. tare, wymtt,
ftfazuret's companion, tells Kaytoa
the girl's mother was a Mrs. Nellie
nh of San Francisco.
vton learns from the servants that
i Maiuret was awake and about at
iftime the crime must have been com
bed. In the dead man's desk he finds
iinuaually fine counterfeit $100 DHL
Jiica Argyle comes In. He tells Kay
jof the events of the evening before
j murder. Reluctantly he admits see
Isome one In the upper hall on the
iul night. Miss Mazuret, pale and
i, enters.
Jss Mazuret unwillingly tells Kayton
(tie had heard angry voices late that
t and had thought that Bruce and his
aer were quarreling. She admits that
Jknew of the will being In her favor.
fcyton telephones Chief Wllkle of the
.jted States secret service about' the
Iterloua counterfeit. Later he Inserts
ffake" advertisement In one of the
papers In the hope of locating Nellie
sh.
irley callB on Kayton In his office and
ires about the "fake" advertisement,
i told It concerns a large legacy for
Mnrah. A telegram from San Fran-
p Informs Kayton that Nellie Marsh
been In prison with her husband, a
Krtialer, the head of a band of coun
:tera. - - .
'.. Mareh answers the "fake" adver
tnent In person. She Is known as Mrs.
-fiin, she tella Kayton. and keeps fur
d rooms. He secures a record of her
;pr prints and then arranges with her
Kike Miss Mazing ns a roomer.
(Iss Haiuret If told that Mrs. Martin's
rr prints are Identical with those on
library table. With some apprehen
the girl goes with her. Kayton and
aBBistant go to the Martin house the
night. Lieiore the counterfeiters re
they Install a dictograph. Then
ton goes to Miss Masuret's room.
CHAPTER XIII.
"This house is watched!"
HE entrance of the two weaker
members of the confederacy
was somewhat tumultuous.
Gape burst Into the room chnt-
3 Incoherently like a monkey. Ha
followed by it thick set, coarse
man, very much the worse for
I'QwIch village whisky.
frs. Martin mid Krelsler eyed them
I;, unmoved until Gage managed
putter out:
Ills bouse Is watched!"
'riedrich!" gasped Mrs. Martin. At
if word her constant fears became
I lied prophesies of evil. But Krels
pale gray face remained calm,
onsenw!" ho snld doubtlngly.
e. without wultlng for comments,
ii feverishly opening secret caches
lucking his belongings tn a suit
Skidd lurched forward ngalnst
lable and brought down bis fist
a crash that sputtered acid about.
Bon' t .vou V" he demanded, drunken-
"Well, do you believe I'm druuk?"
Herman's disgusted growl was
lent answer.
'ell." went on Skidd, "they didn't
me bo drunk 1 couldn't keep my
on tnem."
dropped Into a chnlr. erumbllne
fatly. Mrs. Martin nnnrnnehed
tremulously.
pit Is It? What has happened?"
'me oneB on to us," snapped Gage
"t turning his head. Skidd wav
i hand for silence anil rnld hla
S' with the exaggerated Impressive-
or the Importantly drunk. But It
none the less nlnrmitig.
r 4 Kuy irieu io wurm
?o nie in n saloon." he said, wblle
I(t and the woman listened close
"d I couldn't get hlra drunk,
believe me. there's somethlne do-
iwlieii I can't get a man drunk.
nil there's a new newsboy over on
cruer. That's dern funny, now,
It ?" Wl.l i .L
r iiiuimk me siigntesi nurry
f vpresslon of alarm Krelsler began
f '"R "is things awny hi their bid
I Pln-'en. And Skidd, proud of the
Iresslon he had made, continued:
fnrt what I want to know Is, Are
"Her us or are they after that
skirt you've got In here? Who la
t ue demanded, glaring at Mrs.
V: "What's she wanted for?"
" all right. Skidd." Mrs. Martin
''red him. watching Krelsler at bis
i't and silent work. "She'a not
tiled for anything. I know all about
J'l. what's she soao mysteri-
V hnpf forr landed
4'a- "What do you want to keep
",h01t "P In that room for all the
I may be drunk, but I ain't to
drunk I can't be suspicious, r want to
ee that girl !" ,
"That Is Impossible," declared Mrs.
Martin firmly.
Gage Btepped forward and took the
drunken man's arm.
"You better go down and hit the
hay, Bill," he suggested. Skidd, blink
ing at him affectionately, Instantly
turned from bis former design.
"D'you think I better. Simmy V be
Inquired.
Without answering him Gage pushed
him out of the door and returned.
Krelsler was grumbling savagely un
der his breatb.
Then Gage declared himself, shifting
nervously from one foot to the other as
he talked.
"Well, I fly this coop In the mornla',"
ha declared "early mornin': We're
uothln' but a pack of deuces. Skidd
pickled, your pocket picked and n pet
ticoat down In the parlor that you can't
get Introduced to! Me for Philadel
phia!" ,
Kreisler's lip curled contemptuously.
"I would advise then, Mr. Gage." he
began, "that you take"
The door burst open, and Skidd stag
gered into the room. All three started
at the expression of his round face.
The drink had died from bis eyes. His
skin was pink and white and the whole
expression was one of utter terror.
"Mrs. Martin," be gasped, "there's a
man there's a man down there!"
Before any of the three could recover
the power of speech there was a sound
of quick, firm footsteps and a rustle
of skirts, and Kayton strode into the
room, followed by Miss Mazuret. The
detective's eyes were flashing with an
ger as tbey rested on Skidd. The oth
ers, save Mrs. Martin, he ignored.
"What do you mean by trying to
force your way into this young lady'a
room?" be demanded, advancing threat
eningly as Skidd retreated before him.
Mrs. Martin, Is this the sort of pro
tection 1o have In your house?"
'Who Is be?" demanded Skidd of
Krelsler. "How did he get in?"
The German swiftly seized him by
the arm In a powerful grip that Im
posed silence.
'Mr. Sklcld, go to your room," order
ed Mrs. Mnrtin severely. She rose to
the situation Instantly and turned to
Kayton with n half apologetic manner. 1
"He's been drinking," she explained.
"Who the devil is he?" demanded
Skidd, but not with his former bellig
erence. Ho was Inwardly completely
cowed and frightened.
"What business Is It of yours?" de
manded Mrs. Martin angrily. "Are you
running this house? Go to your roomP'
Gnge took his arm and dragged him
reluctantly to the door. Skidd still pro
testing feebly.
"Of course If he's drunk." said Kay
ton. after they had gone, "be probably
made a mistake in the room. I'm sorry
If we disturbed you."
"Not at all," returned the woman
politely. "I didn't know you had called.
Doctor, will you see If Mr. Skidd Is all
right?"
"Certainly." said Krelsler, and fol
lowed the others down stairs.
"Mrs. Martin, can't yon arrange to
give her a room near your own?" asked
Kayton quickly when they were alone.
Mrs. Martin nervously moistened her
lips and spoke with a visible effort.
"Mr. Knyton, I think It would be
better If much better If you would
take Miss Mazuret away. You see for
yourself that I can't protect her In a
house of tills sort. I can't have the
responsibility."
Kayton drew nearer and lowered hla
Tolce.
"I can't get her away." he said.
"This house Is being watched."
Unknown to herself Mrs. Martin's
band flew to the collar of ber dress.
"What do you mean?" she asked fal
terlngly. "It has evidently leaked out that she
Is here," replied Kayton. "Tbey may
be reporters: they may be police de
tectives. Bruce has the whole force
searching for her. I can't tuke her out
without betraying my hand, aDd she
can't go alone. Isn't there a back way
that you could escape with her to a
hotel?"
"It's Impossible."
"Mrs. Martin, the men who are watch
ing this house are operatives of the
government secret service." said Kay
ton swiftly, and the woman choked
back a cry. "Some one living here has
been uttering counterfeit money. I
cannot have Miss Mazuret Involved in
a scandal of that sort. I didn't tell
you at once because I didn't want to
alarm you unnecessarily."
"My Ood!" moaned the woman, her
hands pressed to her face. Kayton
watched her for a moment In a dead
silence. Then she made a quick rush
for the door, but he barred the way.
"Walt a moment." he said grimly. "I
can't permit you to speak to any one In
this house or do anything to defeat the
law In this matter."
She stared at him, and her lips bare
ly moved as she asked. "Who Is It?"
"I am not allowed to tell you."
Her eyes questioned again, but be
shook bis head.
"I advise you to go with Miss Mazu
ret. Will your'
"No!" she gasped defiantly. His jaw
clicked, and he stared at her a moment
from under narrowed lids.
"Very well, then." said he eVHetly.
"Sit down a minute." Mechanically
she obeyed, and he stood opposite, talk
ing to her across the table, hla tack to
the closed door.
"Mrs. Martin, my own men are
watching the house. The personal
which you answered was a plant"
She half started up with an exclama
tion and then sank back ns if crushed.
"I discovered tlat your husband. Dr.
Krelsler. and yourself are engaged
with others In a gigantic counterfeit
ing scheme. Now. Mre. Martin. I can
not make you any promise of immuni
ty from prosecution, but you know
that If yon do what Is rlgnt oy assist
ing the law that fact will be taken
Into consideration by the prosecuting
officers 1 may be able to assist you
there, but In return you must do some
thing for met"
He paused and waited.
"What?" asked the woman, almost
Inaudibly.
He leaned toward her and in a low,
steady voice:
"I want to know who killed James
Argyle!"
The woman sprang to her feet with
a half smothered shriek and faced him
with wildly staring eyes.
"Why do you ask. me that?" she
cried. "I don't know! 1 don't know!"
1
"I could kill him," he said.
"You're the one person who does
know," declured Kayton grimly.
"1 don't know anything about it!"
"Yon do, and you can save yourself
by telling!" .
Mrs. Martin gripped the table and
leaned toward him, ber eyes staring
into his wltb the wild glare of a
maniac.
"I don't cara for myself!" she cried.
"I don't care but for one thing In this
world! What are you going to do
with Dr. Krelsler? What are you go
ing to do with Dr. Krelsler?"
Her voice rose passionately, but Kay
ton shook his head.
"I can't do anything for Dr. Krels
ler," he replied brusquely.
"You must! You shall!" screamed
the woman as the door was flung
open and Krelsler himself sprang into
the room.
"What's this? What's the matter?"
he demanded, looking quickly from
one to the other. His wife stabbed nt
the detective with a rigid forefinger
and gulped hard before she could utter
a word and her voice was a hoarse
rattle. ,
"This man Is Kayton! He has trap
ped us!"
The next instant the door was shut
and locked, and Kreisler advanced into
the room, saying softly:
"Quietly, my dear, quietly. He also
is in the tnip. Now," bis mouth set
grimly, "what Is It?"
Kayton felt a quick thrill of admira
tion the respect ' for courage that a
brave man always feels wherever he
meets it
"Dr. Kreisler." he replied almost
courteously, "your wife is Implicated
with you and others In this counter
felting. I have offered her a chance
to save herself if she will tell who
committed the Argyle murder. She"
Not lo much as an eyelid flickered In
the German's colorless face as be in
terrupted quietly:
"She knows nothing about It. How
should she?"
"She knows everything about It" re
torted Kayton.
"Friedrlch!" cried his wife frantical
ly. "Can't you do something?"
With the speed and smoothness of a
sleight of hand expert In a delicate
demonstration the counterfeiter's band
went to his hip pocket.
"I could kill him." he said quietly,
as if trying to make up his mind. Kay
ton, who carried his soft dark bat in
his right band, let it fall to the floor
and disclosed a small automatic pistol.
"No!" gasped the woman, seizing her
husband's arm.
With a low moan Miss Mazuret. who
hnd shrunk hack against the mantel
and watched the scene with staring,
frightened eyes, sank unconscious on
to the old oak bench.
"Your daughter!" exclaimed Kayton
in a new tone. "She's fnlnted!"
And for the first time In his life
Kayton lost control of the situation In
a vital crisis. Forgotten was the mur
der, the counterfeiters, his reputation,
his life everything as he bent over
the pale faced girl.
Mrs. Martin seized Kreisler's arm.
"ne knows!" she gasped. "He knows
she's my daughter!"
Kayton threw back his head and
straightened up.
"Do you think I'd have sent her
here If you weren't her mother?" be
snarled savagely. "You ought to have
gone when I told yon to. Good God!
Haven't you nny feeling for her nt all?
I might have known I couldn't trust
her to a woman who left her when aha
was a baby for a man like Krelsler!"
ne had apparently lost all sense of
the terrible situation save In so fnr as
the girl's name might be smirched.
With a woman's quick intuition Mrs.
Mnrtin saw and her face lit with a
1 fierce Joy.
"Friedrlch !" she cried, in a shrill
rolce. "We've got him!"
The German's burning, steady eyea
bad never left the detective's face, but
his right band bad made the trip It
started before but this time It bad
fulfilled its errand. It was concealed
In the folds of Mrs. Martin's skirt.
"What do you mean?" be growled.
"He's in love with her!"
Her finger pointed to the scene across
the room and Kayton winced as if the
hand bad thrown a spear at him.
"Whatever you do to me!" cried the
woman triumphantly, "you'll do to her!
She's my daughter and I'll claim her!"
Kayton's eyelids narrowed, and be
gritted bis teeth.
"You're a rotten pair!" he said
slowly.
But the woman was all but hyster
ical. "I've got her1 out of my life until
now and you brought ber Into It!" she
cried. "From now on she'll get what
I get!"
"You can't drng ber so low that I
won't drag her back!" declared Kay
ton tn a tense voice. "She's accused of
this murder, and the only way I can
clear her is by showing yon up."
At yie word Kreisler's right hand
darted up. Kayton's lip curled, and he
tossed his revolver across the floor. He
was a brave man, ilka Kreisler.
"Go ahead!" be exclaimed contemptu
ously, walking almost up to the muz
zle of the revolver that was held In a
hand as steady as the cool mind behind
It. "Shoot and she'll hang for it!" He
pointed to the woman that still clung
to Kreisler's left arm. "And my boys
will kill you and your gang like rats In
a trap! The house is surrounded.
There's a dictograph In that window.
My men hear every word we say. I
have only to speak an order to have it
obeyed. The moment you threatened to
kill me they started to raid the house."
As If In Instant proof of bis words,
even while the white crease in Kreis
ler's forefinger showed the pressure on
the trigger, the buzzer above the door
way burred out Its warning.
Slowly the finger relaxed, and the arm
came down to his side. His eyes turned
to the woman's face wltb an expres
sion that in its very calmness struck
despair and agony to ber soul.
"It hag come." be said simply.
"Put up your hands!" snapped Kay
ton. Kreisler glanced at him Indiffer
ently and' found himself facing the
steel circle of the muzzle of a second
revolver. Then bis eyes came back to
the woman. His look at Kayton and
the revolver was no more than that we
give a stranger on the street.
"Put up your hands!" repeated Kay
ton warningly.
The German, ignoring him, kissed the
woman's dank forehead, gently disen
gaged his arm and. leaving her stand
ing rigid with eyes closed, turned his
back on Kayton and walked slowly to
the door. Here be suddenly threw up
The Woman Threw Herself Across 'His
Lifeless Body.
one band, not both hands; there was a
sharp report and Friedrlch Krelsler
had accepted defeat tn his warfare with
soeloty.
With a low moan the woman threw
herself across his lifeless body just as
Manning, followed by the other mem
bers of Kayton's force, burst Into the
room. Kayton bent over the still in
sensible girl for an instant. Then be
turned to his nsslstant.
"Joe. call a cab."
CHAPTER XIV.
After the Raid.
THERE were columns about It
in the morning papers, but no
astute reporter saw any con
nection between tlie "unearth
ing of the most gigantic counterfeiting
plot In history" and the Argyle mur
der. None knew that Miss Mazuret
had been in tlie house. Guge, Skidd
and Mrs. Martin were Inconiuulcado,
the latter too numb and dazed tn talk
even If she could have been upproacb
ed. As a special favor to Kayton she
was held under his orders to be taken
to his office when wanted in tlie morn
ing. Knyton appeared as frcsn and clean
shaved nnd Immaculate as was his
wont. He heard the final reports of
the night's work from his various aids,
dispatched them out for breakfast, or
dered the stenographer to hustle with
the illefiiu'riiph notes and sent for Man
ning. The young man entered, eating
his morning apple.
"Hurley's all right, governor," was
his greeting. "He's down In hla of
fice." "Nervous?" queried bla chief, wltb a
faint smile.
"Ob. gear murmured Manning. "He
r ma
: 0, fM
got up all right and bad a big Dreak-
fast ordered and then saw the paper
and be didn't eat a bite. He piked
back to bla room and packed bis little
bag. Then be read the papers again
aud unpacked it We went down on
the 'V with him, and he passed bis
street, and we thought be was going
to beat It, but I guess be was so wor
ried be forgot his station. He's wait
ing in his office now with bis ear to
the ground."
Kayton smiled. "Let's start a little
rumble for bim, Joe." be said, picking
up the telephone receiver. "Get me
Hurley. We've got to find out who
this Hurley Is, Joe, and get bis rec
ord." He ran over some typewritten pages
that Leiscbmanu dropped noiselessly at
his elbow and grinned. -
"Hurley's got us sized up in fine
shape," he remarked, glancing down
sideways. "According to him, I'm a
plnhead."
"He bns a great sense of humor, gov
ernor." Manning assured him solemn
ly. "He laughed so hard last night
that he nearly split the dictograph?'
Kayton laughed and then suddenly
frowned for silence.
"Hello, Mr. Hurley," he said cheerful
ly into the phone. "I think I've ob
tained a clew on your Argyle case.
Drop In and see me this morning, can
you? Yes, I'd like to consult you. It's
too confidential for the telephone. AH
right Thanks."
He hung up the receiver, laughing
silently.
"Joe. go to the hotel and get Miss
Mazuret." be Bald quickly. "Don't go
to the desk. Go to the telephone girl
she's all right and send my name up.
Get ber out without attracting any at
tention, and bring ber right down
here."
"All right, governor!" said Manning,
and he hurriedly slouched out Kay
ton sent for Leiscbmann and gave him
some particular Instructions In connec
tion wltb the last page of the dicto
graph report and the specimen of Mrs.
Martin's signature as "Nellie Marsh"
that be bad in bis desk.
"Look here," be said, "I want you to
type In above the name there! you
see? as if it were tbe final page of
ber confession tbe usual thing before
a notary public, and have two of the
boys sign right down here and put on
a couple of wafers. ' Make It 'Page 9,
N. M. statement' "
"Yes. sir," said Lelschmann and add
ed as be withdrew, "Mr. Colt bas
come."
"Oh!" Kayton chuckled. "See If be
has Mrs. Martin with bim. If be bas
send her In, and tell bim I'll see bim
Inter."
Unconsciously Kayton drew himself
together, and bis muscles stiffened as
the door of the outer office opened, and
Mrs. Martin walked Into the sanctum.
She bad dressed herself with a care
that only accentuated, the ghastllness
of ber appearance the fishy whiteness
of her face and the madness of anguish
in her dark eyes. Slowly and delib
erately as an automaton, she advanced
to tbe desk, ber eyes fixed with dendly
Intensity on Kayton's Impassive face.
"God!" she exclaimed at last In a
low, passionate voice, in which utter
hate and utter despair were strangely
blended. "God, I wish I'd let him kill
you!"
Kayton met ber terrible eyes as
calmly as If she bad wished him a
pleasant good morning.
"What good would that have done?"
he asked quickly. "If 1 hadn't cnugbt
him some one else would. You were
playing a gnme that you couldn't win.
You knew that. You said so. You
told him last ulght that every prison
In tbe world was waiting for him."
The woman turned away with a
groan and sank weakly Into a chair.
"He's dead! He's dead!" she moaned.
"There was nothing for him to do
but kill himself." said Kayton, as
quietly as before. "Why, he killed
himself when he went Into this thing.
The government would never have let
him out. He'd have been buried
alive."
Mrs. Martin choked and shook ber
head wildly, us if struggling for breath.
"Oh," she cried distractedly, "let me
alone let ine alone!"
Kayton gave her a look of pity. "I
would If 1 could, Mrs. Martin," be said
gently, wltb unmistakable sincerity.
"I've had to mnke you a good deal of
trouble. I'd like to give you a little
help now. If 1 can."
He paused a moment and studied the
worn face before hlra.
"I cau clear you of tlie charge against
you In the counterfeiting .case," be
went on in the same quiet matter of
fact way. "but I want you to tell me
everything all that you know of the
Argyle case.
Mrs. Martin drew In her breath with
a gasp, leaned forward and gripped tbe
edge of tbe desk with both hands.
"Why do you say that to me?" she
cried excitedly. "Why do you pretend
I know anything about that?"
Kayton, too. leaned forward until
there whs a scant eighteen Inches be
tween his calm, cold face and her trem
bling, twitching mask.
"neeniisc. nfter Mr. Argyll's fall." he
snld swiftly, "drngglng off the table-
cloth, you were leaning forward-just
ns you are now-holding on to the table
with both hands!".
And. reaching over quickly, he tap
ped her wrists smartly and leaned
back.
I.Ike one In the numb horror of
nlchtmnre. Mrs. Martin slowly pulled
lirself to her feet.
"What!" she whispered. Kayton cool
ly took some sheets of paper from the
top drawer nf his desk and held them
out for her scrutiny.
"The are the finger prints you left
on the table that night." he snld coolly.
"They coincide wltb the ones yon left
bert on my blotter." She dropped
heavily back into the chair with U
Inarticulate moan. j
This," added Kayton slowly. wHh a I
stern gaze, "this la Jury proof of com
plicity." Tbe woman looked at him dully, stol
idly, for ail tbe suddenness of hla at
tack. "Yon can't prove It!" she cried hoarse
ly. "I had nothing to do wltb it noth
ing!" "To prove that," returned Kayton
coldly, "yon will have to confess who
did it"
"You can do what yon like!" she
broke out wildly. "I don't carel I
don't carel It doesn't matter!"
"It matters to an innocent girl!" de
clared Kayton sternly. "Your daugh
ter's life Is ruined unless we can clear
ber from this charge."
Tbe woman choked, closed ber eyes
and pressed her clinched bands against
her bowed chin. For the first time
tears crept from under ber eyelids.
"And yet." Kayton spoke with in
finitely gentle reproach "you refuse
to do anything for her."
She started and threw out ber hands
In a gesture of entreaty and despair.
"I don't want her to know me! I
don't want to know her!" she cried.
I'm dead as far as she is concerned."
"If you go on tbe stand as tbe atate'a
witness," urged Kayton, "your past
can be absolutely protected. Your
daughter need never know any more
about you than she doea today."
'You don't need me to clear her.
abe protested desperately. "You know
v
Hilton
'This Is jury proof of complicity," he
said. .
ahe didn't do It You know it was
some one else. Why don't you find
bim yourself without me? Leave me
alone! Leave me out of it!"
Kayton's figure and bis expression
relaxed. He nodded In the friendliest
fashion.
"You needn't Bay any more, Mrs.
Martin," he assured her quietly.
"What do you mean by that?" she
demanded, wltb a new dread.
"You have told me what t wanted
to know," replied Kayton,
"How what?"
"You have told me it was not Dr.
Krelsler," he answered to tbe un
spoken question. "You wouldn't risk
going to the electric chair to protect a
dead man?"
"You can't frighten me wltb that!"
She whirled upon bim furiously, "I
bad nothing to do wltb It, and you
know It! You know who did It! You
want me to make a confession to bang
hint with, and I won't do It! I won't
do it!"
Kayton opened the door of an ante
room as the telephone buzz sounded.
"Walt bore a little," be said gently.
"I may need you presently, even if
you are unwilling to help me."
Manager Lelschmann on tbe tele
phone announced some Importnnt ar
rivals In the outer office Mr. Hurley.l
Miss Mazuret and Bruce, Mrs. Wyatt
and Miss Thompson. The last party
was the first received, and after a hap
py reunion and much excited explana
tion Kayton bundled them Into one of
the consultation rooms that opened off
bis sanctum, obtained a few neces
saries from Manning, who was tn the
outer office, and then be was ready
for tbe lawyer.
As for that worthy, be did not enter
with his wonted manner of pushing
everything out of tbe way. He was
almost reluctant, and his eyes were
troubled. Kayton apparently noticed
nothing of this, and his greeting was
as cordial as over.
"Well, I'm very busy this morning,
Mr. Kayton," he replied, In response
to the detective's Inquiry as to bow be
did. "But I wanted to oblige you.
What was the clew?" he Inquired.'
He did not settle himself comforta
bly In a chair and light a cigar. He
remained standing above the desk,
Knyton was busy with his papers,
some of which partly concealed the
metal contents of a little pasteboard
box.
"It's a little better than a clew," b.
replied at last cheerfully, looking up.
"I think we've got the man that killed
Argyle."
Mr. Hurley was paler than usual,
nnd any one looking for signs would
have notlred that inoro of the scant
eolor left his face.
"Well, well," he began slowly.
"Sit down," Interrupted Kayton with
a hospitable wave of his hand toward
the chair where Mrs. Martin had sat.
But Mr. Hurley did not Immediately
avail himself of the offer. His lips bad
gone dry, and he moistened tbem be
fore he asked:
"Ah! Who la It? Who la Itr
"Sit down and I'll tell you." replied
Kayton lightly. Tbe lawyer slowly
ssnk Into the chair, never taking bis
ns off Kst ton's face. Tbe latter
swung bis chair around so aa to direct- -ly
face bis visitor.
"Mr. Hurley," be Inquired pleasantly.
did you ever try a lawsuit?"
Mr. Hurley started and stammered
slightly as he answered:
"I'm er I'm an office lawyer."
"Oh!" murmured Kayton. He eyed
the lawyer, and tbe lawyer stirred un
easily.
"Mr.. Hurley ,i' asked the detective
quietly, "when did It first occur to you.
that Mr. Argyle was out of his mind?"
Mr. Hurley raised his eyes and met
the detective's squarely.
"I don't get you," be aald Blowly.
"You will." was the grim assurance).
'You surely didn't think you'd interest
a man tn bis position a millionaire
in a scheme for promoting counterfeit
ing if he was in bis right 'mind."
Mr. Hurley was silent for a moment,
but he no longer looked disconcerted.
He knew now why be bad been,
brought to Kayton's office. He gripped
himself to tight for bis life.
"Any busluess affairs that Mr. Argyle
Intrusted to me were private and con
fidential," he said, very deliberately.
"I can't discuss tbem. Mr. Kayton,
you forget that I am a lawyer."
"I don't forget It-I don't believe It,"
retorted Kayton.
Mr. Hurley achieved an excellent ap
pearance of righteous anger suppressed.
"What do you mean?" be demanded.
Kayton handed him the last page of
tbe fake confession.
"Do you know thut signature?" be
Inquired. With a band that trembled
not the slightest tbe lawyer adjusted,
his eyeglasses and studied the docu
ment. "As you saw In the morning papers,"
continued Kayton grimly, "before yon
packed your bag, we arrested your
friends last night and confiscated all
their counterfeit money-all except tbe
$100 bill that had been left with Mr.
Argyle. I advised Mrs. Martin to do
what she could for herself by making
a complete statement of tbe facta as
ahe knew them, and you'll be sorry to
bear that her confession of what oc
curred between you and Mr. Argyle la
the library that night charges you wltb.
murder."
Aa If he bad paid but scant attention
to Kayton's words, tbe lawyer tossed
tbe paper back on to the desk.
"It's a He!" he said coolly. "Thata
all a fake to protect herself."
"Then you mean to say that Mrs.
Martin was responsible for the death,
of Mr. Argyle?" demanded Kaytoa
swiftly.
"That's exactly what I mean to say,"
returned Mr, Hurley. "I bad no con
nection with these people whatever,
except professionally for Mr. Argyle.
I was retained by bim" be hesitated.
"For what purpose?" demanded Kay
ton. , .
"For a perfectly legitimate purpose,"
replied the lawyer. "This woman
thought she had a claim on Mr. Ar
gylcshe was trying to get money" ;
"Claim?" Interrupted Kayton. "What I
aort of a clultn?"
"1 don't know."
CHAPTER XV.
The Case Is Cleaned Up. ,
A YTON laughed-a short un
pleasant laugh nnd stepped
quickly to the anteroom door.
"Mrs. Martin." he called, "I'll
have to trouble you to come In here
again.!' In obedience to the summons tbe
woman slowly entered the office and
paused when she saw Hurley. Before
they could more than exchange
glances Kayton said abruptly:
"Mrs. Martin. Mr. Hurley has just
s ild that you murdered Mr. Argyle la
an attempt to obtain money from bim."
"What!" she gasped, and Hurley
winced for the first time before ber
blazing eyes. "You, you!" Then she
pointed her, finger at bim and turned
to Kayton.'
"It's a He," she aald with quiet in
tensity. "Ho killed him!"
"I believe you!" exclaimed Kayton,
with a grim heartiness and a passing
gleam of triumph In bis gray eyes.
But Mr. Hurley was not beaten yet
"Mr. Kayton," he said contemptu
ously, "there's nothing whatever to
tonnect me with tbe murder, and yon
know It."
"Oil. yes, there Is!" Kayton contra
dicted 111 in and there was a new and
nasty ring In his voice. "There are
several things. You came to my of
fice to ask about that 'N. M.' personal
and then Immediately tipped off Mrs.
Mnrtin "
"All In my professional capacity," de
clared the lawyer doggedly.
"As ii counterfeiter?" Inquired Kay
ton. with light scorn.
"As a lawyer."
Kayton leaned toward bim and bis
eyes snapped.
"It was as n lawyer, then, that you
advised Krelsler last night to cease tbe
practice of his profession until condi
tions were safer-for counterfeiting?"
The last vestige of color left tbe
man's face, and Knyton could Bee that
his forehead was moist.
"I don't recollect having given any
such advice." he declared. He tried to
maintain the contemptuous note, but
there was a sudden hoarseness that he
could not control.
"I was ufrnld you wouldn't." aald
Kayton grimly, picking up the sheaf of
typewritten dictograph notes. "Tbnt'a
why I reminded you." He glunced at
one of the pages. "It was as a law
yer. I suppose, that you exclaimed.
'This Is a plant!' when you heard that
I had put Miss Mazuret In the house?
As a lawyer, you laughed and said, 'So
he's using us to throw the real crim
inals off their guard?' As a lawyer,
you .'nncenled from me that Mrs. Mai"
tin bad a claim on Mr. Argyle. As a
Inwyer. you ersuaded her to go to Mr.
Argyle the night of his death to use
her Influence for vour own purposes!"
(Coutinuod on page 12.)