The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-07-15
:oera,oAI. 1897 BY o.e puTMANs soMs,.

> 1917 BY O., pUINR9o ooNSs
mans, Judging from the size"
"Then you think the woman came
here to meet some manp'
Eyes, and, Furthermore, the man ar
rived first, for his footprints, or at least
those leading in, are moro obliterated
by the falling snow than are hers. Sim
ilarly, arguing from the impressions
which they have left for.ou examina-
ton, it is evident that they separated
here, for the woman plainly walked off
toward the river, whereas the man re-
turned, as he had entered, through the
little gate yonder."
"Mr. Barnes, as there seem to be so
many sets Of impressions, would 1t not
be we'll to make d drawing Of the
grounds and the general direction Of
the tracks, for convenience as well as
reference?'
"a good suggestion. We will act up
on itat once. But wait here a moment.
There is man going along the road. I
will question him about last nights
snow" Mr.. Barnes hurried over to the
fence, where he found the man await
ing him, having been attracted by a
call from Burrows.
"Good morning, friend. Do you live
about here7"
Eyes, jest over the bridge"
'"Then perhaps you can tell me about
what hour it stopped showing last even
ing. It may seem trifle to stop you
about, but have a good reason for in
quiring and hope you won't mind my
troubling you."
"No trouble tall, not the least in
the world. Le'me see, don't know as
I kin tell you for sartin, cause went
ter bed airly last night. But stop
minute. Come ter think, I kin find out
purity nigh an kin give you some notion
myself"
II shall be much indebted, and hope
you can fix the time as near as posi-
ble."
"WeN, as I said before, went ter
bed airly-7 o'clock, in fact. Twas
snowin hard then, an I lowed 'twould
keep up all night. I slept purity sound,
but was walked up by the noise my girls
made comm in from visit ter a neigh
boris. You know how tits when a
mans woke up. He's kinder crusty an,
more AN all, can't tell whether he's
slept ten hours or ten minutes So, as
the girls went by my door, growled
out, Amt you purity late gittin homer
No, pop; it's just 9 O'Clock, come the
answer. Seem as how had good
nights rest before me, I felt leotla
mite pleasanter, an in a. easier tone I
said, 4 s'pose the SHOWS purity deep,
amt it?' Not very, says one on 'em. 1T
stopped awhile ago, an the moons out
now. That's all was said. But you see
that shows it didn't snow after 8,
though, eff you want it nearer, mebbe
ken find out from the girls"
II should thank you to ask them.
Will you please give me your name?'
"Jef Harrison's my name, an any
one'll show you my house eff you care
ter come up an speak ter the girls your
SELF"
II am much obliged, Mr.. Harrison,
and perhaps I'll accept your invitation
to CALL"
"I'll be glad ter see you. But, say,
there amt nothin wrong, is there?
Nothin speshul, hay?'
"No," replied Mr.. Barnes, not deem
ing it wise to tell Of the death of Mr..
Lewis, lest he be kept from his investi-
cation by further talk.
"You ain'tgot track Of young Marvel
yet, is your"
'Not yet"
"Well, good day ter you. Hope ter
sec You up ter the house by an by
JEFF Harrison walked off slowly, EVIL
IDENTIFY reluctant to leave. As he passed
on he muttered to himself: "Guess he's
the detective they told about down ter
Lee Depot. Guess he's cute one. Amt
much Of a hand at answerin questions.
A doggoned sight better at askin 'em.
Wonder why he wants ter know when
the snow stopped. Them fellers kin
make a mighty sight out of burned lit
tie, that's what think" And so he
trudged on, still wondering at the pres
ence Of the detectives and what it all
portended.
Mr. Barnes rejoined Burrows, and
they followed each set Of footprints
thoroughly, the elder choosing his and
assigning the others to his companion.
Then the two men returned to the par
lor, where Mr.. Barnes tore off half
sheet Of paper from some which lay Oh
the center table, and upon it made a
careful drawing. This completed, they
discussed the situation.
"Well," began Burrows, "now that
you have finished your map Of the move
ments Of the several parties who were
about these premises last night, what
do you learn from it?"
ave found four sets of tracks," said
Mr.. Barnes, "besides the dogs, which
latter may prove Of value. Two Of these
we think were made by women and
two by men. For convenience I have
numbered them 1, 2, 8 and 4. I will
consider number A first. "
"Why not take them in the regular
order?"
"That is what / mean to do. But,
whereas / have numbered them in rota-
ton as I discovered them, will trace
them in the order in which they were
made"
"You don't pretend that you can do
that?" said Burrows incredulously.
II think so and commence with num-
Der 4. This was made by woman.
Unfortunately can find no distinct con.
tinuation of any Of the tracks outside
the gates, for passing teams have oblit-
Grated them. We find the first Of num-
Der at the little gate. Tho woman
went directly to the summer house and
into the northern side (M). That she
was the earliest on the scene is evident,
because the tracks which she made 60
ing in are almost entirely destroyed by
the snow which fell since. even got
SO far as to venture tho opinion that
this woman suspected meeting and
came to this spot as all eavesdropper.
"Now you arc going rather fast, are
you not?' asked Burrows sarcastically.
II will give you reasons for all my