The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-06

soiutely certain thing that Walker was
not Killed In the way they imagine But I
don't think this will get Guide of scot
free. There's too much other circumstan-
tial evidence against him. OF course
you'll do your best. but
II would be more than a toss-up fl
could avoid a con fiction. Quite so. We
must find out more. The question is. How
was this wound made? Was there a third
man in it7'
Guide may have jabbed him from be-
hind with some other instrument, and aft
erward thrown it out OF the window
" Yes said l, but that is going on the
assumption that Guide did the trick. which
l don't for moment think is the case.
Besides, II he did throw anything ouf Of
the window, it would most assuredly have
been found. They keep the permanent
way very thoroughly inspected upon the
Metropolitan. No, Barnes There is some
other agent in this case, animate or IMAM
innate. which so far we have overlooked
completely; and an innocent mans life
depends upon our raveling 10 out
Barnes lifted his shoulders heplessly.
and took another sandwich. I don't see
what we can do
% Nor J. very clearly. But we must
start from the commencement and 20 over
the ground inch by inch
so wrapped up was ! in the case by
this time. that / could not fix my mind TO
anything else. Then and there l went out
and set about my enquiries.
with some trouble | found the com
paTtment in which the tragedy had taken
place. but learned nothing new from it.
The station and the railway people at
Addison Road. Kensington, we're similarly
drawn blank The ticket inspector at
Shaftesbury Road. who distinctly remem-
bered Guides passage, at first seemed in
clined 10 tell me nothing new. till |
dragged IT out OF him by a regular emetic
Of questioning.
Then he did remember that Guide had
been carrying in his hand a carpenters
wicket. He did not recollect whether he
had mentioned this to the police didn't
see that it mattered.
thought differently, and with a new
vague hope in my heart, posted hack to
the prison. / had heard no word Of this
hand baggage from Guide. 1t remained TO
be seen what he had done with Ii.
They remembered me from my previous
visit. and let me in to the prisoner with
out much demuT. Yes he said. I had
some few odd tools to carry from home.
and as / couldn't find anything else handy
to put them in ! used the old carpenters
bass. l had an iron eye to splice on to
the end Of windlass rope. a job that |
like to do myself TO make sure it's done
safe. l never thought about telling you
OF that bass before, sir. / didn't see as
how it matered.
Where is the bass nowY
In the Left Luggage Office at Shaftes-
bury Road station. Name Of Hopkins I've
lost the ticket"
Where did you put your basket on en-
he a.
on the seat, sir. in the corner by the
window
And with that ! left him
Now, thought |. I believe l can find
out whether you murdered Walker or notl'
and drove back to Hammersmth.
Il enquired at the cloakroom. Yes. the
carpenters bass was there. beneath a dus-
ty heap of other unclaimed luggage There
was demurrage to pay on it, which | offer
ed promptly to hand over but as / could
produce no counterfeit bearing the name
Of Hopkins. the clerk. with a smile. said
that he could not let me have it. However.
when he heard what | wanted. he made no
objection to my having an overhaul
The two Tugs Of the bass were threaded
together with hammer / took this away.
and opened the sides. Within was a ball
Of marline. another Of spunyarn, a grease
pot. and several large iron eyes. Also a
large MARINE spike. It was this last that
fixed my attention. II was brand-new
with bone handle and bright brass fer
rule. Most of the iron also was bright, but
three inches Of the point were stained
with a faint dark brown. From a casual
inspection I should have put this down to
the marllne spike having been last used TO
make a splice on tarred rope; but now my
suspicious made me think OF something
else.
Il raised the stained point to my nose.
There was no smell Of tar whatever. On
the bright part there was the indefnable
odor Of iron; at the tip. that thin coat Of
dark brown varnish had blotted this scent
completely away.
Il think my fingers trembled when l
turned to the bass again.
Yes, there. opposite to where the point
Of the maTline-spike had been lyiDg-it
was tilted up over the ball Of spun yarn
was a closed-up cash in the side of the
bass. The spike had passed through there
and then been withdrawn. Round the cash
was a dim discoloratiOn which l knew to
be dried human blood.
In my minds eye | saw the whole
CHASTITY accident clearly enough now. The
two men had been standing up struggling
Guide had gone down under a blow knock
ed senseless. and Walker had stumbled
over him. Pitching forward face DOWN
wards on to the seat before he could re-
cover, his head had dashed violently
against the carpenters bass. The sharp
marline spike inside with its heel resting
against the solid wall Of the carriage, had
entered the top of his skull like a bayo-
net No human hand had been raised
against him. and yet he had been killed.
i kept my own particular ramblings in
this case remarkably quiet, and in court
led up to my facts through ordinary cross
AT the proper psychological moment
called attention to the shape of the punct-
ure in Walkers skull. and then dramati-
cally sprang the bass and the marline |
spike upon them unawares. After that as
the papers put it. there was applause in
court which was instantly suppressed
oh, the conceit of the men" said |
D Malley, laughing.
Grayson laughed too Well" he said, |
Il was younger then. and / suppose / was
a trine conceited. The Crown didn't throw
up. But the jury chucked US Not guilty
without leaving the box and then leading
counsel for the other side came across and |
me on having saved Guide |
from the galIows Now I'd have bet any |
thing on hanging that man.. said he |
rutIife Hyne. in New York Evening Post. |
AN ANCIENT GRAVEYARD.