The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-09-22
CHAPTER II

CHAPTER II
SEEKING FOR CLEwS.
Left to themselves, the two detectives
renamed silent until they heard the
front door shut by the squire as he and
Lewis went out. Then Mr.. Barnes said:
= Well, Tom, you are in luck-a mys-
serious murder, which will, in my judg-
naent, require much skill to discover the
truth. Come, now, tell me where you
would begin2"
s.I have found clew already, /" qui-
8 ely remarked Burrows.
&: sGood!'' said Mr.. Barnes, well
pleased at his pupils shrewdness.
{ { s-That IS better than I expected. What
3 IS its:''
ST think that the murderer fred from
) the outside through this window. ;"
Burrows indicated window opening
on the lawn to the east. You see that
there is a hole through the center pane
That It is of recent origin is evidenced
{ by the broken glass on the carpet, which
also shows that the bullet came from
without, since the pieces have fallen
inward. 2
Very we'll reasoned, Tom, as far as
the time and origin of the shot co..
but yon have jumped to one conclusion
not as yet warranted /" Mr. Barnes
went to the window and examined it
closely. You started by saying just
now that the murderer fred from out
side. That is where you have gone be-
yond your evidence This pane of glass
with that hole and the fragments on
The floor probably attest the passage OF
ssa bullet, but there is nothing as Jet to
show that said bullet was fred by the
murderer. -
6 Why, who else could have fred it?''
.sI have heard that physicians make a
DIAGNOSIS sometimes by exclusion, but
it is dangerous plan for q detective
Look again, and you will note that it is
the L Her sash which has the broken
pane. Being raised as it is, the upper
sash is between it and the point from
which You argue that your pistol was
fred. This proves conclusively
That the lower sash has been raised
Z since the shot was fred, interrupted
Burrows. You see, have thought of
that Iargue this way: Mr. Lewis was
standing in the room when he was
struck by the ball. he turned and
threw up the sash, endeayoring to dis
cover the identity of his assailant.
Then he staggered from the window
! and fell few feet away, as we find
him, with his head in the fireplace. y
It is, Of course, possible. But as he
is IN shis nightdress it is curious that
he should have been in this room where
an assassin, whose presence he did not
suspect, could FIRE upon him. There is
another chance, which is that some one
has opened that window this morning.
Nov, looking out, what Go we see?''
g A summer house directly opposite, -
said Burrows. "A most convenient
place for aman to hide in and shoot his
victim as he passed in front of light
ia room at night
see, said Mr. Barnes, "what we
may be most grateful for, and that is
fresh SHOW. We must extend orr inves-
legation presently in the direction Of
the summer house and search for foot
prints
He then turned toward the body. It
vas lying ON the right side, thus plain
II exposing mass Of blood which sur
rounded the wound. The burned con-
diton of the head, owing to its proxim-
.ity to the fire, has been mentioned
There was upon one finger a massive
gold ring set with diame- Is, which
ring, Mr.. Barnes thought, would nee
.essarily be known to the dead mans
family, and besides he found the name
John Lewis embroidered upon the
nightdpess.
Evidently not the work of bur-
glar," he remarked, pointing to the
diamond ring.
No. " replied Burrows, for here on
The mantel are handsome gold watch
and chain. -
g Notice, Tom, that he is in his night
dress. In connection with later discov-
cries that may prove very significant
fact. At present it puzzles me, for I
caEnot see why man should be SO
dressed in his parlor and murdered
without a sign of any struggle. The
latter fact seems to strengthen your the
ory.''
.sThere is a door," said Burrows.
ssLet US see if it leads into his bedroom
In that event, he may have come here
for any trivial purpose and so have af-
forded the murderer the opportunity for