The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-09-29

BILE light ON this mysterious affair. /
intend to follow, as far as I can, the
different tracks before US from begin
ming to end That will at least show
me the ground travelled over by those
| who have been here, even though it tell
but little of the object or personalities
of the visitors. -
'tWelI, since you say you will trace
these footprints from beginning to end.
we can commence here, for this seems
to have been the point of departure for
| two people. See.'' Burrows pointed to
the ground before them. Mr.. Barnes
stepped down from the piazza, being
careful not to destroy any of the i'm
pressions already IN the snow. He ex-
amined the footprints closely minute
and then said: Gas you say, here are
two tracks. Which would you trace
frst?''
''The smaller answered Burrows,
after little consideration.
"Why?"
Mainly because it leads to the sum-
mer house, which is what we intended
to examine when we started out. Then,
again, noticed that these two sets Of
footmarks are very different. One is so
large it must be that of man, and
equally the other is so tiny none but a
woman's foot could have made it.
s3And you would follow the woman's
footsteps first, eh? What did you say
awhile ago about not considering sex?
But shall tell you what you are think
ing:''
Burrows looked up inquiringly, and
Mr.. Barnes proceeded impressively:
.sTom, you are making great mis-
take, one which cannot too much warn
you to avoid now and all through
life. You have already formed your
opinion of this case, and unconsciously
perhaps you are ready to fit to your
theory any evidence that turns up. !"
Burrows attempted to disclaim any
such intention, but Mr.. Barnes con-
tinued:
ST don't blame you exactly. You
have youth and ambition as your ex-
cuse, and I am sorry to say I have
known older and more experienced men
drop into the same error. They are so
anxious to discover criminai-a GRIM
inal; mark the words -
stBut really, you are mistaken. You
misjudge me. p
81 am afraid not. I dom t wish to
stay ycur zeal either, but In cases like
this it is wisest to make haste slowly,
as the proverb has it. Now let me show
you what you have done in your Swn
mind First, you find hole in a pane
of glass, and because you can weave
enough evidence to show that it is of
recent origin you conclude that the ia
tai shot passed in that way. The fact
is, all that evidence proves is that a
bullet passed through the glass last
night. Anything further is merely a
matter of circumstantial possibility, or
pehaps in this case might go SO far as
to say probability. Second. you find a
woman who is certainly acting suspi-
ciously. don't say you actually accuse
her, but you incline to such ipdg-
ment Third, these footprints. Having
in your theory settled that the shot
came from without and deeming it pos
sible that certain woman committed
the crime, you would examine the wo-
mans footsteps first and if possible
prove thereby that the woman whom
you would implicate was in the position
to fire through the window. Thus you
would strengthen your theory"
Burrows seemed confused, as though
detected in a mean act. In truth, he
was to himself considering the chance
of discovering the murderer by MS own
individual efforts, thus, if possible. fore
stalling the man with whom he was
working. He was therefore not little
astonished at the accuracy with which
his companion had read lis thoughts.
.'I am afraid you hit the nail on the
head" said be, "and / am ashamed to
be forced to confess it. But tell me,
which of these trails do you decide on
tracing irst?''
ttThe same as you selected, but for
this reason: Notice that here the dlrec-
tion is toward the summer house, as
you just now said, while on this side
the point of the toe shows that the own
er Of the foot returned to her starting
point. Unless we fnd another trail
leading from the house we have here
proof conclusive that this party has re-
mained within doors.
"How so? don't see that.
"Yet it is simple. Notice that the
steps away from the house are very in
distinct, while those coming toward US
are. on the contrary, clear and sharply
defined. The woman left this spot while
it was yet showing, so the snow filed
up the tracks somewhat. Wherever she
went, and that we shall find out per-
haps by following the trail, she did not
start for home, or, to be accurate, she
did not reach here till the snow had
ceased falling, as the clear marks tes-
tify."
"Mr. Barnes, you are genius. Why,
all we have to do is to find out when
q