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

place W0er0 sno QaQ n1uUeu the plstOI,
especially when she knew that I had
the empty shell between my fingers:
But, as said before, she is on her
guard now, and whatever she wishes to
conceal from us we shall need all our
skill to discover She will determine
on plan of action and adhere to it. .
'.Would we not have the key to the
mystery if we could learn her reasons
for acting as she has?"
"Not necessarily, though Of course it
might be so. For example, suppose she
has committed the crime herself?''
"Why, do you suspect her already?"
"No. should not make so serious a
charge against a1woman, even to NY
self, on so little evidence. Nevertheless,
in case like this, we must consider all
things as possible. By her anxiety to
destroy clew she proves that she does
not wish the murderer to be known.
This may be accounted for in two ways:
First, that she would hide her own
guilt, and, second, that she might be
shielding some one else. "
''That some one else must be one in
whom she is deeply interested, said
Burrows, thinking over Mr.. Barnes
proposition. Then suddenly, as the idea
came to him: "What if it be her lover,
young Marvel? He would have a motive
for killing Lewis -
Mr.. Barnes smiled approvingly at his
companions quick perception of what
he himself was thinking, but he replied:
"Not so fast! We have nothing
against him yet except the motive.
Many man may have good and strong
reasons for wishing another dead and
yet not stain his hands with blood. Be
sides. remember that the same motives
which you attribute to Marvel might
equally well actuate the woman who
loves him. However, at present I do
not think that Miss Lewis committed
the crime. -
eff not she and not Marvel, whom,
then, do you suspect::''
s'I must have more evidence befs--e I
suspect any one It is different thing,
however, to think one not guilty, and
1T present believe Miss Lewis is inno-
cent. Later may find in /, the Grim
inal, but I cannot think so ,e..
"Surely you are not Influenced by her
sex; you are not going to be sentimen-
tal-you, detective:"
Mr. Barnes smiled family. He was
amused and yet little troubled at his
companions ardcr. Why should not a
detective have sentiment? Because it is
lis business to seek cut and punish the
criminal, must he necessarily be with
out heart? He could not accept such
theory, although he knew it to be one
esteemed by the members of his craft
The majority of these men hunt down
criminal as a matter Of business. A
crime committed gives them work to
do. A man found to fit the circum-
stances of that crime, and the detect
ives work is completed.
It was not so with Mr.. Barnes. He
had a heart, and this very fact though
unrecognized by his superiors, made
him the keenest man in the employ Of
the Pilkingtons. He did not work SIM
ply to fit crime on some ones, any
ones, shoulders, but rather that it
should not be fitted to an innocent man.
He sought diligently for the right man,
that the wrong man might not be made
to suffer through the accident Of impi-
eating circumstances
Replying to Burrows, he said:
"No, wcnld not think Of her sex
A true detective should consider the
evidence only. There is always danger,
however, of our n,istaking it, or rather
to what it points. The evidence itself IS
always dumb witness Of the truth. Un
fortunately our ability or skill too often
fails to connect it. Now will tell sou
why I think Miss Lewis innocent.
It is plain, from the charred condi-
tion of the body, coupled with the fact
that the fire has entirely burned cut,
that the man has been dead some
hours. If Miss Lewis had done the
shooting herself, the probability is that
she would have cleaned her pistol ear
1ier. Still, she might have been dis
turbed, and. dropping her weapon III 4
hurried flight from the scene of the
crime, she might have returned later to
recover it.
.But, while consider her a person
Of great will power-from physical
standpoint quite capable of corceiying
and executing a murder-yet, having
done the decd and accidentally having
left her weapon, doubt her having
the nerve power to return for it after
several hours had passed. She might
within short period of time, but in
that case the cleaning would have oc-
CURED then and not have been left for
the morning, for had she premeditated
the killing she would also have premed-
itated removing this evidence. But, re-
member, this is reasoning, not proof
The most specious reasoning may be-
nay, often is-disproved by the facts. "
''But you must think she has some
knowledge Of the crine:" said Burrows.
ttNfx- theorv iS thic - renlTe6 Mr.