The Argosy, April 1916 — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

A MYSTERY OF ROSCOE CONKLING PARK. “Is the prisoner Beverly Wayne in the room?” ‘She is here, your honor.” “Ys the prisoner Kenneth Yale in the room?” “He is here, your honor.” “Is George Greenland in the room?” ‘He is here, your honor.” This last was undoubtedly a surprise to the majority of those present. Greenland’s name had not hitherto been connected with the robbery at all. There was an uneasy movement, and the clerk sharply ordered silence. “Is Mr. Raymond in the room?” ‘“‘He is here, your honor.” Now there was a stir in the centre of the room. A big, blond man, wearing a black suit that had seen much wear, rose from his seat on a bench. “IT iss come, honorable,” he announced. A half suppressed titter surged across the room. ‘The judge looked at this courageous interrupter of the court proceedings sternly. ‘Who are you?” “Me? I iss Adolphus. dat, de lofely one.”’ The judge quickly twitched a page from the manuscript dDefore him and glanced at it. ‘“‘Are you the man who attended the pris- oner, Kenneth Yale, during the period of his delirium?’ “T don’ know vat you say mid so much words. I do chores for de laty, carry de mans up and town, make fires, so.’ “Sit down.” Adolphus plumped into his seat. For mystery and perfect self-possession, he was the man of the hour. ‘“‘Beverly Wayne,” began the judge, tak- ing up now the topmost document before him, ‘‘your story, told to the chief and De- tective Blake, is that you were attacked on Old Third Street, between Roscoe Conkling Park and the reservoir, by two men, drugged or chloroformed, that your camera was smashed, and that you were taken to a surrey that was waiting at the corner of Third Street and Higby Lane.” “That was what I told the chief, and that is what happened.” “You further stated that the surrey was in charge of two women, and that they took you away 7m the surrey.” “That is true, your honor.” “‘Now, tell in your own words how you escaped from these women. But wait a minute. Before you do that look about the She name me 59 courtroom. Is there a man here whom you can identify as one of your captors?” “Tt is no good looking around. I didn’t see the men. I could not identify them.” “How about the women?” Beverly surveyed the room carefully, her splendid calm unruffled by the rude gaze of the crowd. “T do not see either of the women,”’ she replied. ‘‘Now go ahead and tell us how you es- caped from them.” ‘Well, I just dumped them. You know, judge, I ‘have been accustomed riding since I was a little girl. I have won blue ribbons for owners of fine horses.” ‘‘T can believe that,” said the magistrate, favoring himself with a look at the violet eyes. “But this wasn’t a fine horse. It was an old skate.” “It was a big bay horse, very bony. But he had some ginger in him, even if he lacked oats. Well, I sat with one woman on the rear seat. She had taken a whisky sour, whatever that is, in a village on the way, and wags sleepy. The other was driv- ing. I jumped into the front, snatched away the whip, lashed the horse and ran him over the roughest ground I could find. And that was some rough going, judge. ‘Well, the woman who was sleeply was thrown out. Then the surrey broke down and the other one dropped and I cut loose. I mounted the horse and rode to Mr. Yale’s farm. ‘“‘Why did you choose to go there?” “For more than one reason. The place was vacant, and would serve as a hiding place for a time. And I knew that sooner or later he would come there.” “Yes, but you stated that you knew from an overheard conversation that Yale was suspected of the Raymond robbery.” “‘T didn’t suspect him, and having been a recipient of your honor’s clear- sighted jus- tice, I had no fears for him.” She looked straight into the magistrate’s eyes as she spoke. He never blinked nor blushed. “Did you see a black bag in the surrey?” “T did not.” “Did you carry a black bag into Yale’s house?”’ “T certainly did not.” ‘“‘When did you see the black bag first?” “When the chief of police brought it to the kitchen.” ‘“‘Why did you assume the name of Mrs. cComiclboool C@