Catoctin clarion., 1897-10-07
CHAPTER VI.
MYSTERIOUS NOISES.

In pursuance of the directions left by
Mr.. Barnes and communicated to him
by Burrows, Squire Olncy impaneled
jury, taking them to the Lewis farm
and allowing them to examine tho
corpse, where it lay in tho position as
when discovered. He then adjourned
tho inquest until the return of the ab.
sent detective. Meanwhile he ordered
DR.. Snow, competent surgeon, to
make an autopsy, placing tho corpse III
an upper room and in charge Of the
physician.
The jurymcn and assembled neigh
bors dispersed slowly, as though loath
to leave tho vicinity. Burrows mixed
with them, hoping to extract some clew
by conversation which might prove of
value to him. In this he failed entiro-
ly. The greater number apparently sus-
pected that Walter Marvel was impli
Gated, and as he was general fayorite
they feared to speak with the detective
lest they should compromise their
friend.
One man, however, voluntarily ap-
proachcd him and said:
"They tell mo as how you're the de-
tective."
"You are quite right" said Burrows
hopefully.
my names S|eno," said the other,
Josiah Skeue, station agent down to
Lee Deepo'. hearn bout this here in
quest an tho't I'd run up an 500 how
you're gittin on. Anybody 'rested?'
"Well, hardly" answered Burrows.
with smile. "We have only been at
work few hours, you know"
"Well, that only goes to show. al
ways tho't as how them stories in the
Borston papers wuz kinder farfetched.
They make outs though you detective
fellcrs wuz quickcr'n creased Eghtnln.
guess you amt no smarter than other
folks. / guess / could put you up to
snuff in this case anyway" Mr.. Skene
took his long chin whisker i'll his left
hand stroked it once and then turned it
up so that he readily bit the end, tho
while looking at Burrows through the
corner of his eyes, his head turned part
Iy away, as though he were contemplat-
ing something OH the distant horizon.
"Do you know anything?" Burrows
spoke with little anxiety. He recog-
nizcd that the man was an eccentric
and feared to do or say something that
would antagonizc him. After long
pause came the reply:
"Mebbe." Only this one word, NUT
tered without removal Of tho whisker
from his mouth. Burrows waited for
more, but was forced to continue the
conversation himself
"Mr. Skene, this is dreadful busi.
ness, and if you can help us to unravel
1t am sure you will do SO. -
"Ain't that what I'm up hero for?
D'you s'pose tramped up here for cx-
ercise? Not much. But the joke is that
you should need me to tell you any
thing. You're Il detective from Bors.
ton. tho't Us how you fellers wuz so
cute like that you jest looked at the
| dead man an rested the murderer
| straight off; saw his likeness in tho
corpse's eyes or suthin. I've read that
| in books but guess you reel detectives
amt 30 darned smart as all that, hay!'
mo, am afraid not We are no
smarter than other folks, only we make
| business of putting two and two to-
gether, that's all. You could tell that 1t
| would make four as easily could. But
you have your railroad business, Mr..
6kene, and have to look for criminals.
That ig the only difference. Burrows
tried a little conciliatory fiattery, and it
operated to make Mr.. Skene more COM
municatiye.
"By Jehosaphat! You hit it square
that time. kin smell rat but it amt
my place to hunt him down. So guess
I'll tell you who killed Lewis ali let
you ketch him. Only seems to me you
oughtn't to git all the glory, hay?"
you give ME the clew. Mr.. Skcnef