The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1895-07-28
CHAPTER VIII.
INSPECTOR BRIGGS THEORY.

The two men returned to the back
parlor and resumed their seats.
81 smell tobacco here, - observed De-
tective Goringe. II will light pipe
while / listen TO your version of the
business You don't smoker"
"No," answered Inspector Briggs
curtly.
lyon seem trifie ont of sorts, +" said
Goringe, filling 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 bit puzzled for
the moment.
Now look here, said the detective,
lighting his pipe, II want to make a
compact with you this evening You are
a general practitioner / am a special
ist l have no taste for murder or muir
derers To mo murderers are uninter-
esting people. They are either as IA gem
eral rule, lunatics or savages. am a
civilized being, with fixed ideas about
portable property, and what l like is "a
good thief, clever forger--in fact, any
thing really good in the prigging on
swindling line There feel l ann deal
ing with sane men. i 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 II give me the thief That s fair
bargain, isn't ity'
"a very fair bargain, but doesn't it
mean the same thing? Whoever killed
Mrs Dayom stole the notes.
"Do you think that is quite certainY'
"Is there any reasonable doubt about
it?"
"A considerable amount. For instance
to give you tip To start with-Dr.
Percival is not confident that Mrs. Da-
worm died from inhaling chlorofmm.
1.-The deuce Isn't he? He left no such
impression ON my mind this morning.
Did he tell you this:"
"Not likely. He is too cautious TO run
the risk Of giving himself away, but
formed my own conclusion after very
short interview with him. But do j un-
derstand it is a bargain about the diyid-
ing of the spoilf'
Certainly
"Then make a clean breast of all your
suspicious, opinions and conclusions.
You We're first in the field after your
Jealous, and, must say, very intelligent
officer, 2O4Y. You know the neighbor-
hood. You have ] take it, "A fair general
| knowledge Of the people. You are all
there, or rather all here. If you aren' {,
you ought to be. Help me in every way
you can to find the thief and III helI
you in every way can TO find the mur'
derer. haven't been idle all day, but
will admit / haven't struck lie yet.
All can offer you at present is the ben
eft of my criticism "
(which is worth a great deal more
than anything / can offer you IN re
turn.
FAN right. We shall probably botl
get at the same result in the end, but
want to start with my mind fixed en-
tirely ON the coin-in short, as city foil
say to make il a strictly cash transac
tion.
1T must seem a small cash transac
tion 10 you.
II never quarrel with the amounts
take as much interest-nearly-in track
ing fver as do in tracking five and
amy amount of naughts. Come, begin.
"Of course ! am only too glad 70 d'
anything you suggest. l am bound Z
disclose everything 10 you. SO far hav'
done so
II don : think yon would be bound Il
disclose your private opinions to me
We are in q kind Of way partners in thii
job, but you have a private estate il
your very inner thoughts We are both
10 put IL another way, On the outer edg'
Of circle. each Of Us bent on arriving
at the center. -
And yOu want 10 travel alones'
"Weh, pretty much 80. / want 4
have the honor and glory Of finding th'
! coin aud leave yon the honor and glorl