the efficiency expert-第24章

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〃I've　had　enough　to　make　any　man　nervous；〃　retorted　Bince　irritably。　　〃I　can't　get　over　this　terrible　affair；　and　in　addition　I　have　had　all　the　weight　and　responsibility　of　the　business　on　my　shoulders　since；　and　the　straightening　out　of　your　father's　estate；　which；　by　the　way；　was　in　pretty　bad　shape。

〃I　wish；　Elizabeth；〃　he　went　on；　〃that　we　might　be　married　immediately。　　I　have　asked　you　so　many　times　before；　however；　and　you　have　always　refused；　that　I　suppose　it　is　useless　now。　I　believe　that　I　would　get　over　this　nervous　condition　if　you　and　I　were　settled　down　here　together。　I　have　no　real　home；　as　you　knowthe　club　is　just　a　stopping　place。　I　might　as　well　be　living　at　a　hotel。　If　after　the　day's　work　I　could　come　home　to　a　regular　home　it　would　do　me　a　world　of　good；　I　know。　We　could　be　married　quietly。　There　is　every　reason　why　we　should；　especially　now　that　you　are　left　all　alone。〃

〃Just　what　do　you　mean　by　immediately？〃　she　asked。

〃To…morrow；〃　he　replied。

For　a　long　time　she　demurred；　but　finally　she　acceded　to　his　wishes；　for　an　early　marriage；　though　she　would　not　listen　to　the　ceremony　being　performed　the　following　day。　They　reached　a　compromise　on　Friday　morning；　a　delay　of　only　a　few　days；　and　Harold　Bince　breathed　more　freely　thereafter　than　he　had　for　a　long　time　before。

Mr。　and　Mrs。　Harold　Bince　entered　the　court…room　late　on　Friday　morning　following　the　brief　ceremony　that　had　made　them　man　and　wife。　It　had　been　generally　supposed　that　to…day　the　case　would　go　to　the　jury　as　the　evidence　was　all　in；　and　the　final　arguments　of　the　attorneys；　which　had　started　the　preceding　day；　would　be　concluded　during　the　morning　session。　It　had　been　conceded　that　the　judge's　charge　would　be　brief　and　perfunctory；　and　there　was　even　hope　that　the　jury　might　return　a　verdict　before　the　close　of　the　afternoon　session；　but　when　Bince　and　his　bride　entered　the　court…room　they　found　Torrance's　attorney　making　a　motion　for　the　admission　of　new　evidence　on　the　strength　of　the　recent　discovery　of　witnesses；　the　evidence　of　whom　he　claimed　would　materially　alter　the　aspect　of　the　case。

An　hour　was　consumed　in　argument　before　the　judge　finally　granted　the　motion。　The　first　of　the　new　witnesses　called　was　an　employee　of　the　International　Machine　Company。　After　the　usual　preliminary　questions　the　attorney　for　the　defense　asked　him　if　he　was　employed　in　the　plant　on　the　afternoon　of　March　24。　The　reply　was　in　the　affirmative。

〃Will　you　tell　the　jury；　please；　of　any　occurrence　that　you　witnessed　there　that　afternoon　out　of　the　ordinary？〃

〃I　was　working　at　my　machine；〃　said　the　witness；　〃when　Pete　Krovac　comes　to　me　and　asks　me　to　hide　behind　a　big　drill…press　and　watch　what　the　assistant　general　manager　done　when　he　comes　through　the　shop　again。　So　I　hides　there　and　I　saw　this　man　Bince　come　along　and　drop　an　envelope　beside　Krovac's　machine；　and　after　he　left　I　comes　out　as　Krovac　picks　it　up；　and　I　seen　him　take　some　money　out　of　it。〃

〃How　much　money？〃　asked　the　attorney。

〃There　was　fifty　dollars　there。　　He　counted　it　in　front　of　me。〃

〃Did　he　say　what　it　was　for？〃　〃Yes；　be　said　Bince　gave　it　to　him　to　croak　this　fellow〃nodding　toward　Jimmy。

〃What　fellow？〃　asked　the　attorney。　　〃You　mean　Mr。　Torrance；　the　defendant？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃And　what　else？　　What　happened　after　that？〃

〃Krovac　said　he'd　split　it　with　me　if　I'd　go　along　and　help　him。〃

〃Did　you？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃What　happened？〃

〃The　guy　beat　up　Krovac　and　come　near　croaking　me；　and　got　away。〃

〃That　is　all；〃　said　the　attorney。

The　prosecuting　attorney；　whose　repeated　objections　to　the　testimony　of　the　witness　had　been　overruled；　waived　cross…examination。

Turning　to　the　clerk；　〃Please　call　Stephen　Murray；〃　said　Jimmy's　attorney。

Murray；　burly　and　swaggering；　took　the　witness　chair。　　The　attorney　handed　him　a　letter。　It　was　the　letter　that　Murray　had　written　Bince　enclosing　the　supposed　I。W。W。　threat。

〃Did　you　ever　see　that　before？〃　he　asked。

Murray　took　the　letter　and　read　it　over　several　times。　　He　was　trying　to　see　in　it　anything　which　could　possibly　prove　damaging　to　him。

〃Sure；〃　he　said　at　last　in　a　blustering　tone　of　voice。　　〃I　wrote　it。　　But　what　of　it？〃　〃And　this　enclosure？〃　asked　the　attorney。　He　handed　Murray　the　slip　of　soiled　wrapping　paper　with　the　threat　lettered　upon　it。　〃This　was　received　with　your　letter。〃

Murray　hesitated　before　replying。　　〃Oh；〃　he　said；　〃that　ain't　nothing。　　That　was　just　a　little　joke。〃

〃You　were　seen　in　Feinheimer's　with　Mr。　Bince　on　MarchDo　you　recall　the　object　of　this　meeting？〃

〃Mr。　Bince　thought　there　was　going　to　be　a　strike　at　his　plant　and　he　wanted　me　to　fix　it　up　for　him；〃　replied　Murray。

〃You　know　the　defendant；　James　Torrance？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Didn't　he　knock　you　down　once　for　insulting　a　girl？〃　　Murray　flushed；　but　was　compelled　to　admit　the　truth　of　the　allegation。

〃You　haven't　got　much　use　for　him；　have　you？〃　continued　the　attorney。

〃No；　I　haven't；〃　replied　Murray。

〃You　called　the　defendant　on　the　telephone　a　half　or　three…quarters　of　an　hour　before　the　police　discovered　Mr。　Compton's　body；　did　you　not？〃

Murray　started　to　deny　that　he　had　done　so。　　Jimmy's　attorney　stopped　him。　〃Just　a　moment；　Mr。　Murray；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　will　stop　a　moment　and　give　the　matter　careful　thought　I　am　sure　you　will　recall　that　you　telephoned　Mr。　Torrance　at　that　time；　and　that　you　did　it　in　the　presence　of　a　witness；〃　and　the　attorney　pointed　toward　the　back　of　the　court…room。　Murray　looked　in　the　direction　that　the　other　indicated　and　again　he　paled　and　his　hand　trembled　where　it　rested　on　the　arm　of　his　chair；　for　seated　in　the　back　of　the　courtroom　was　the　head…waiter　from　Feinheimer's。　〃Now　do　you　recall？〃　asked　the　attorney。

Murray　was　silent　for　a　moment。　　Suddenly　he　half　rose　from　his　chair。　　〃Yes　I　remember　it；〃　he　said。　〃They　are　all　trying　to　double…cross　me。　I　had　nothing　to　do　with　killing　Compton。　That　wasn't　in　the　deal　at　all。　Ask　that　man　there；　he　will　tell　you　that　I　had　nothing　to　do　with　killing　Compton。　He　hired　me　and　he　knows；〃　and　with　shaking　finger　Murray　pointed　at　Mr　Harold　Bince　where　he　sat　with　his　wife　beside　the　prosecuting　attorney。




CHAPTER　XXVIII。

THE　VERDICT。

For　a　moment　there　was　tense　silence　in　the　court…room　which　was　broken　by　the　defense's　perfunctory　〃Take　the　witness〃　to　the　prosecuting　attorney；　but　again　cross…examination　was　waived。

〃Call　the　next　witness；　please；〃　and　a　moment　later　the　Lizard　emerged　from　the　witness…room。

〃I　wish　you　would　tell　the　jury；〃　said　the　counsel　for　defense　after　the　witness　had　been　sworn；　〃just　what　you　told　me　in　my　office　yesterday　afternoon。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　the　Lizard。　　〃You　see；　it　was　like　this：　Murray　there　sent　for　me　and　tells　me　that　he's　got　a　job　for　me。　He　wants　me　to　go　and　crack　a　safe　at　the　International　Machine　Company's　plant。　He　said　there　was　a　fellow　on　the　inside　helping　him；　that　there　wouldn't　be　any　watchman　there　that　night　and　that　in　the　safe　I　was　to　crack　was　some　books　and　papers　that　was　to　be　destroyed；　and　on　top　of　it　was　three　or　four　thousand　dollars　in　pay…roll　money　that　I　was　to　have　as　my　pay　for　the　job。　Murray　told　me　that　the　guy　on　the　inside　who　wanted　the　job　done　had　been　working　some　kind　of　a　pay…roll　graft　and　he　wanted　the　records　destroyed；　and　he　also　wanted　to　get　rid　of　the　guy　that　was　hep　to　what　he　had　been　doin'。　All　that　I　had　to　do　with　it　was　go　and　crack　the　safe　and　get　the　records；　which　I　was　to　throw　in　the　river；　and　keep　the　money　for　myself；　but　the　frame…up　on　the　other　guy　was　to　send　him　a　phony　message　that　would　get　him　at　the　plant　after　I　got　through；　and　then　notify　the　police　so　they　could　catch　him　there　in　the　room　with　the　cracked　safe。

〃I　didn't　know　who　they　were　framin'　this　job　on。　　If　I　had　I　wouldn't　have　had　nothin'　to　do　with　it。

〃Well；　I　goes　to　the　plant　and　finds　a　window　in　the　basement　open　just　as　they　tells　me　it　will　be；　but　when　I　gets　on　the　first　floor　just　before　I　go　up…stairs　to　the　office；　which　is　on　the　second　floor；　I　heard　some　one　walking　around　up…stairs。　I　hid　in　the　hallway　while　he　came　down。　He　stopped　at　the　front　door　and　lighted　a　cigarette　and　then　he　went　on　out；　and　I　went　up…stairs　to　finish　the　job。

〃When　I　gets　in　Compton's　office　where　the　safe　is　I　flashes　my　light　and　the　first　thing　I　sees　is　Compton's　body　on　the　floor　beside　his　desk。　That　kind　of　stuff　ain't　in　my　line；　so　I　beats　it　out　without　crackin'　the　safe。　That's　all　I　know　about　it　until　I　sees　the　papers；　and　then　for　a　while　I　was　afraid　to　say　anything　because　this　guy　O'Donnell　has　it　in　for　me；　and　I　know　enough　about　police　methods　to　know　that　they　could　frame　up　a　good　case　of　murder　against　me。　But　after　a　while　Miss　Hudson　finds　me　and　puts　it　up　to　me　straight　that　this　guy　Torrance　hasn't　got　no　friends　except　me　and　her。

〃Of　course　she　didn't　know　how　much　I　knew；　but　I　did；　and　it's　been　worryin'　me　ever　since。　I　was　waiting；　though；　hopin'　that　something　would　turn　up　so　that　he　would　be　acquitted；　but　I　been　watchin'　the　papers　close；　and　I　seen　yesterday　that　there　wasn't　much　chance；　so　here　I　am。〃

〃You　say　that　a　man　came　down　from　Mr。　Compton's　office　just　before　you　went　up？　What　time　was　that？〃

〃It　was　about　ten　o'clock；　about　half　an　hour　before　the　cops　finds　Torrance　there。〃

〃And　then　you　went　upstairs　and　found　Mr。　Compton　dead？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃　〃You　say　this　man　that　came　downstairs　stopped　and　lighted　a　cigarette　before　he　left　the　building。　Did　you　see　his　face？〃

〃Yes；　I　did。〃

〃Would　you　recognize　him　if　you　saw　him　again？〃

〃Sure。〃

〃Look　around　the　court…room　and　see　if　you　can　find　him　here。〃

〃Sure　I　can　find　him。　　I　seen　him　when　I　first　came　in；　but　I　can't　see　his　face　because　he's　hiding　behind　the　prosecuting　attorney。〃

All　eyes　were　turned　in　the　direction　of　the　prosecuting　attorney　to　see　Bince　leap　suddenly　to　his　feet　and　lean　forward　upon　the　desk　before　him；　supported　by　a　trembling　arm　as　he　shook　his　finger　at　the　Lizard；　and　in　high…pitched　tones　screamed；　〃It's　a　lie！　It's　a　lie！〃

For　a　moment　longer　he　stood　looking　wildly　about　the　room；　and　then　with　rapid　strides　he　crossed　it　to　an　open　window；　and　before　any　one　could　interfere　he　vaulted　out；　to　fall　four　stories　to　the　cement　sidewalk　below。

For　　several　　minutes　　pandemonium　reigned　in　the　court…room。　　Elizabeth　Compton　Bince　swooned；　and　when　she　regained　consciousness　she　found　herself　in　the　arms　of　Harriet　Holden。

〃Take　me　home；　Harriet；〃　she　asked；　〃take　me　away　from　this　place。　　Take　me　to　your　home。　I　do　not　want　to　go　back　to　mine　yet。〃

Half　an　hour　later；　in　accordance　with　the　judge's　charge　to　the　jury；　a　verdict　of　〃Not　guilty〃　was　rendered　in　the　case　of　the　People　of　Illinois　versus　James　Torrance；　Jr。　Mr。　Holden　and　Jimmy's　attorney　were　the　first　to　congratulate　him；　and　the　former　insisted　that　he　come　home　with　him　to　dinner。

〃I　am　sorry；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃I　should　like　to　immensely；　but　there　is　some　one　I　must　see　first。　If　I　may　I　should　like　to　come　out　later　in　the　evening　to　thank　you　and　Miss　Holden。〃

Jimmy　searched　about　the　court…room　until　he　found　the　Lizard。　　〃I　don't　know　how　to　thank　you；〃　he　said。