Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-11-25

IL MS 6lccp1uS IOOuIs Ao pAOo0SAy
brought it in here, whatever he may
have done later. Although cleaner than
the rest Of the house, there is still con-
siderable quantity Of dust about this
room; yet 1t is not likely that l can
find out from such q source, where he
laid down his satchel. However, II he
took out the wet clothes and laid them
down, the water would have converted
the dust into mud and would have left
q distinct mark on the floor. There Is
nothing Of the kind about, 80 he did not
put them Oh the floor. What did he do
with them? What would ! do under
similar circumstances2 Burn them per-
haps. But they were saturated with wa
ter. Still 1t is always dangerous to con-
ceal such evidence, for some one gener-
ally finds the best hidden articles when
q crime Is connected with them. There
fore I should have burned them at
all cost Of time or trouble. I should
have burned the satchel with them,
building q large log fire and putting
1t with its contents Oh top Of the logs.
In this way, by the time the fire had
destroyed the satchel, the clothes would
be dry enough to burn. Then I should
have raked out and thrown away the
ashes, a point which would not strike
o criminal as quickly as deteotive-at
least, it seems that it seldom does. I
think I may as we'll examine the fire.
place"
Reaching this point in his reasoning,
he went to the chimney and found some
ashes. He carefully brushed the pile ON
to piece Of newspaper, which he took
from his overcoat pocket. This done, he
laid the whole on the floor near the
window, and then. with piece Of
stick. gradually moved the soft ashes
from the center to the side. Az he did
this he was careful to examine every
particle, searching for anything that
may have escaped combustion. 1t was
not long before his patience was re-
warded, for first a few iron buttons
and then several other pieces of iron or
metal Of some kind were separated from
the debris. The buttons, of course,
proved that something more than an or
binary fire had been made on the
hearth, and 1t was but fair to suppose
that clothing had been burned. The
other things. however, puzzled him
awhile, for, though not entirely destroy
ed. he still found it hard to tell exactly
what they were. After some thought he
concluded that the majority Of the met
al had originally belonged to the frame
work Of the satchel. One piece still re-
manned to be accounted for. This was
bit Of wire. Burrows was almost on the
point Of throwing this away, as unim.
portant when it suddenly occurred to
him that 1t must be all that was left Of
the false whiskers. There was nothing
more that he could make out Of the ash
es; still he carefully wrapped all up
and placed the package in small
satchel. which he had brought with
him. Burrows smiled as he thought to
himself: Marvel lied when he said the
locket was still in his pocket. There is
DO trace Of it here, 20 it is evident that
the one found was the same which he
had with him that night.
Burrows was now anxious to find the
pistol. He recolleoted that the squire
had told of the pistol which Marvel had
left at the house, and as he knew that 1t
bad not been found he deemed it prob
able that it was the weapon used in the
murder. This was not SO readily reason
ed out as the other matter, for, as pis-
tol could not be burned. it must be hid
den, and as there was no way OF guess
ing the hiding place there was but one
course open to him-namoly, to hunt.
This he did as thoroughly as Mr.
Barnes had taught hi1i to do, and when
be went down stairs again he felt al
most sure that the weapon had not been
concealed above. He was just as thor
ough in going over the rooms on the
lower floor and finally reached the kitch-
en- without having found it. He had
not looked long in this place, however,
before he noticed that the tiles in front
of the stove had been disturbed. One OF
the stones had been SO poorly replaced
that Burrows muttered to himself, "He
must have wanted this to be found
Removing it, he disclosed hole below,
in which was pistol. He took this out,
and another object attracted his atten-
ton. This proved to be small piece of
silver plated metal, and closer scrutiny
revealed the fact that name was en-
graved thereon. This name was John
Lewis"
e. Better and better" thought the de-
tective. How nicely the precautions Of
a criminal, as usual, serve to convict
him. This is q plate which be wrenohed
from the satchel, and the name proves
that he got that at the farm. I am not
surprised any longer that he did not dis
turb any of his own people that night,
for he did not go home at all. He OBJ
tanned change at the house Of his vic
tim. He is cool hand, to kill man
and then wear his clothing away from
the scene Of his crime"
Burrows now turned his attention to
the pistol, and at once noticed that
there were three empty chambers. He
concluded from this that Marvel must
have fired both shots found in the body.
Still looking at the weapon, he noticed
that name was engraved on the stock.
He approached the window for more
light and read, walter Marvel" At
this moment the door was opened and
Mr. Barnes and Lewis stood on the
threshold.
CHAPTER XIV.
WHEN DETECTIVES QUARREL?