The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1895-08-08

this stage report any progress which
would satisfy 50 eXacting a person us
you, inspector, / know / am neither los
ing time nor making any steps back
ward. -
"Then you have some definite theory
about the theft?'
81 have. But it is not in form yet
which will bear discussion. If 1 put
you in possession of my theory
Il thought you didn't deal in such
things, interrupted Inspector Briggs,
smiling.
Il don't put my theories into shape
until L am certain they are capable of
demonstration. As ] was saying, if
laid my mind open to you now it might
possibly hamper you in your search for
the murderer. "
Anyhow you will pardon me for cor
recting you. There has been no murder,
and therefore there is no murderer to
unearth
"You need not bo so precise about
your terms with n pal, said Goringe,
u little nettled at Briggs interruption.
II should, of course, have said your
search for the man who attempted to
murder Mrs. Davon. "
But there is neither a murder nor
an attempt to murder 1t is a relief to
find you tripping, observed Briggs
with laugh.
"You mustn't let the absence of a
murder discourage you, said Goringe
Il know it is an unpleasant thing 10
find out that IA murderer has been rude
ly snatched from your grasp just as You
felt you had the barnacles ON him, but
you must bear in mind that if IA thief in
the act Of committing a theft seeks to
! chloroform IA person who is afterward
proved TO have died IA natural death he
aggrayates his oiicnse very considerably
and rises to somewhat high rank in
our criminal brigade. Didn't / warn
you iii the beginning that this murder
business was full Of pitfalls?"
"The warning hasn't helped me
much, aid Inspector Briggs, gloom
lily.
Base ingratitude, sir, said Detect
i've Goringe, with a sigh. II sympa-
thize with you, am sure. ! know tho
state of your feelings now, Something
like the French ideal of an Englishmml
one who wants to go out and kill
something YOu are eager now to 20
out and arrest somebody for murder.
All this disappointment comes of taking
violent interest IN people who commit
capital offenses-a class of people upon
whom il is difficult TO place the least
dependence. My lesser delights in track
ing thieves-who are usually as sane as
company promoters-haye, after all,
their corresponding advantages. What
ever you do, inspector, please don't lose
your temper with me. "
"Il try not to--but this isn't any
time for chaif We shall get into a reg
ular stew here if we don't look sharp.
Here is Vickery arrested on his own CON
fession, which he sticks to. And here
are Steinworth and the young medical
both at large, with no protecting eye
upon them. Now if none of these il
really connected with the job we're in
laundering mess, and if the two mer
mt large, or either of them, prove TO b,
mixed up with the affair, and if eithel
or both of them hook il right away
! VIC II iall III lbi HtNtlt NthnuAt
Are they aware your lynx eye is moi
directed upon them?"
II suppose they are -
Have you no lingering suspicion
now of LeclercY He was prime favor
ite with you for short time.
Just a trife, said the inspector
III Steinworth and Vickery are ont o
it he would still, TO my suspicion
mind-that is, if the robbery busines
, hadn Z been handed over 10 yOu-stan'
) a good chance of being run in. "
Miss Rodney, Of course, being il
your suspicious mind the accomploe-
the locker Of the doors. and 50 furthy
observed Goringe, giancing fxedly a
the finger nails Of his left hand
! "Well, yes, said the inspector, afte
a pause. 'The young man seemed Z
be all eyes and ears for DIR. Perciyal
evidence. But tell me one thing-di'
I you know from the beginning that Mrs
( ID, wasn't killed by the chloroformf''
II Inferred from conversation hal
with DR.. Perciyal that he had othe
views -