Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 130: what you’re looking at

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504 David continued quietly. “‘ Sure enough, you need a good rest. What you want to do is resign from this here prosecutor’s office to-night. If you don’t, you might have to take a rest fer a year or two in kind of a sanatorium—not exactly a sana- torium, y’know, but kind of a one, only with stricter rules than some. That wouldn’t be near so nice as handin’ in your own resignation, sayin’ as how you have to give up your office b’cause you’re about to move to some other town before very long. “ B’cause, if I ain’t mistaken, Noah, you're goin’ to-move from Selma jest as quick as you kin git your affairs straight- ened out. An’ I don’t think ’'m much mis- taken.” Spigot dropped his hands to his knees, his head fallen forward to his heaving chest, as if this stroke of disaster had severed every ligament in his néck. David rose slowly to his feet, looking down upon the broken man. “T guess I’ll be goin’, Noah. You'll be wantin’ to think things over a while an’ then write out that resignation, so’s it can be handed in to-night. B’sides, you got one leetle thing to attend to b’fore you go out’n office, Noata. You want to withdraw that there chargé’ against young Boom an’ ordep his release. Jest as I told you when I fust came in, I understood you was think- in’ o’ doin’ that b’fore you resigned. Y’see, he’s innercent, as you know, an’ you don’t like to see him locked up thataways.” _ He started to the door, but halted mid- way, as if he recalled an almost forgotten detail. | “ By the way, Noah, after you’ve handed in your resignation an’ have withdrawn them charges against Boom, drop in at the station an’ see me. I got a letter there I want to give you. “Tain’t of much im- portance, I reckon, but you might like to have it. So as not to put yourself out, you kin jest call fer it when you’re at the station to take the train fer wherever you’re goin’. An’ as fer that there story I told you, why, don’t pass it on to nobuddy else; b’cause other folks mightn’t see the joke of it, like you an’ me did. Well, s’long, Noah.” ‘ Ws ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. And a moment later the office door. had closed behind him. CHAPTER XIX. AMOS MAKES A BREAK. “ ERT!” . With a bound Fred was out of his chair and across the office, shak- ing Bert’s hand joyously. “Bert! How did you get out?” Bert shook his head wonderingly. “Darned if I know, Fred! All I know is that Warren came down to my—cell, a while ago and told me that I was free and that all charges against me were with- drawn. And here I am.” _ ‘‘ And how glad I am to see you!”’ cried Fred, laughing from sheer happiness. “Why, I’ve. been worried sick about you, old man. I thought they had you framed up so that you’d never get out of it!”’ “So did I,” Bert admitted. “I was scared, if you want to know it. Why, with Turner controlling everything, even the judge to try me; what chance would I have? Ugh! enough for me. I wonder why they let me out?” “It’s got me,” said Fred. ‘“ And an- other strange thing just happened. I just heard that Spigot has handed in his resigna- tion!” | cé No! ? “Absolutely. Any fool could see that his resigning and your release are connected some way. But how, I can’t imagine. Maybe Spigot and Turner split up.” ‘““ Maybe,” Bert replied. “It’s a cinch that Turner didn’t want me to get out. Do you know the whole story, Fred? How he worked out a chain of evidence against me a mile long? And—” | “I know all about-it,” said Ered. “I wrote it up in The Punch last night, and I didn’t mince my words either. I said, plain out, that it was a dirty frame-up. I don’t believe that there are a dozen people in Selma who believe that you're guilty.” “Good old Freddy!” “What gets me,” mused Fred, “is why GOnnGwoolks Two days in a cell is Colin ~- of