The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-10-15
BQhind
@BY EDMUND DOwNEY. -
AUNtoR or ~
W. 0g}
Copyright. 1884, by Tillotson & Son.
CHAPTER VIII.
INSPECTOR BRIGGS THEORY.

INSPECTOR BRIGGS THEORY.
The two men returned to the back
parlor and resumed their seats.
II smell tobacco here" observed De
tective Goringe. Il will light a pipe
while l listen to your version of the
business. You don't smoker
''No," answered Inspector Briggs
CURLY.
You seem a trifle ont of sorts, said
Goringe, filling q brier root pipe.
IF that window wasn't opened from
outside, it disturbs my calculations, and
that is quite enough to put me ont of
sorts. Anyhow, / feel a bit puzzled for
the moment
Now, look here, said the detective,
lighting his pipe, Il want to make a
compact with you this evening. You are
a general practitioner. I am a special
list. I have no taste for murder or muir
derers. To me murderers are uninter-
esting people. They are either, as a en-
eral rule, lunatics or savages. I am a
civilized being, with fixed ideas about
portable property, and what l like is a
good thief, q clever forger-in fact, any
thing really good i'll the prigging or
swindling line. There I feel l am deal
ing with SANE men. / am on sound
ground. The murder business is too full
Of pitfalls for my taste. Now, Briggs,
you haven't started any special fad just
yet. I'll give you the murderer, and
you'n give me the thief. That's a fair
bargain, isn't it:'
"a very fair bargain, but doesn't it
mean the same thing: Whoever killed
Mrs. Davorn stole the notes"
"Do you think that is quite certain?'
us there any reasonable doubt about
it,
"A considerable mount. For instance
to give you a tip to start with-Dr.
Percival is not confident that Mrs. Da-
worm died from inhaling chloroform."
The deuce! Isn't he? He left no such
impression IN my mind this morning.
Did he tell you this
Not likely. He is too cautious to run
the risk Of giving himself away, but I
formed my own conclusion after a very
short interview with him. But do l I'M
derstand it is a bargain about the divid-
ing of the spoil?'
Certainly
Then make a clean breast Of all your
suspicious, opinions and conclusions.
You were first in the field after your
Jealous, and, l must say, very Intelligent
officer, 204Y. You know the neighbor-
hood. You have, l take it, fair general
knowledge of the people. You are all
there, or rather all here. If you aren't,
you ought to be. Help me in every way
you can to find the thief, and I'll help
you i'll every way I can to find the muir
derer. / haven't been idle all day, but l
will admit / haven't struck lie yet.
All I can offer you at present is the ben
eft of my criticism"
(Which is worth 3 great deal more
than anything I can offer you in re-
turn"
"All right. We shall probably both
get at the same result in the end, but l
want to start with my mind fixed en-
tirely on the coin-in short, as city folk
say, to make it a strictly cash transac-
ton
1T must seem a small cash transac-
ton to you
Il never quarrel with the amounts. l
take as much interest-nearly-in track
ing a flyer as I do in tracking five and
any amount of naughts. Come, begin"
"Of course I am only too glad to do
anything you suggest. / am bound to
disclose everything to you. SO far Ihave
done So"
Il don't think you would be bound to
disclose your private opinions to me.
We are in a kind Of way partners i'll this
job, but you have Il private estate III
your very inner thoughts. We are both.
70 pat IL another way, on the outer edce
of a circle, each Of Us lent On arriving
at the centcr.'
And You to travel alOne:'
well, pretty much %. / want to
have the honor and glory Of finding the
coin and leave you the honor and glory
of tracking down your bigger criminal. y
"Who Is the same person.
POSSIBLY Anyhow, as an earnest OF
our bargain let me have YOU views. II
Will help you TO piece your case tOgeth,
or for the coronSr's court-Saturday,
isn't it,
Eyes; Saturday, at II a. m, in the
vestry hall. Well, here are my views
They are a bit raw yet, and that win
dow sash Is i'll my way"
Never mind about that until we ge
to it."
After the two dodgers, Steinwortl
and Nickery, went to bed last night,
began Inspector Briggs, setting himsel
well back in his chair, and pressing tn
palms OF his extended hands together
G. %