The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-05-18
he had hcaro or MIN.

u iact, rs you call 1t, you have 10 fen r
OF any investigation that may make ?''
have no fear OF any truths TINT
you might unearth. I nm only afraid
Of your blunders."
wen, then, In order to avoid nv
piundering. would you be willing tn
reply to few questions which. II
truthfuIy answered. might prevent
my slipping into error"
III you can convince me of your
good faith, would"
And what do you mean by my good
faith?" s'0
! Il Will tell you frankly. II you are
| trying honestly to unravel the mystery
OF my fathers death, I will assist yor,
to the extent Of my ability. IL. how.
ever. you are merely piecing together
evidence upon which you hope to
prove my own guilt, why, am not
such an ass as to help you"
NO. Of course not. Well, then, Mr..
Morton, can assure you of my good
faith. am honestly trying to find the
real murderer. Will you answer NV
Questions?
Mr. Barnes called him Mr.. Morton
TO note the effect Of his words, and he
was satisfied, for, though the detect
I've did not act rs though aware OF
naVing used wrong name, but con-
tinued SO that one might readily have
tnought 1t a chance slip OF the tongue,
Mora started perceptibly, bit his LID
and strained every muscle In his body
IN his effort to preserve his self con-
troll. All Of this Mr.. Barnes saw, and
he considered that his maneuyer had
succeeded.
Mr.. Mitchell, closely observing both
men, also comprehended the intent OF
the detective as we'll as its effect, but
he decided that Mr.. Barnes had made
grave error. 1t seemed more than
probable that Morton was an alias of
the man before them. and so much
had been proved by taking him by sur.
prise. But at the same time he was
now on his guard and could better
prepare his defense, especially rs Mr..
Barnes could not play his trump cards
at once. The situation. therefore, to
Mr.. Mitchell was increasing In interest.
Il Will answer whatever you choose
to ask" presently came Mora's reply.
You have suggested, Mr.. Mora. that
the murderer Of your father took your
plaid suit Of clothes and wore them
over his own when leaving the house.
DO you still adhere to that theoryY"
Il never said that I believed It," was |
the answer.
e You did not claim to believe IT."
exclaimed the. detective, thoroughly
a astonished.
NO." said Mora coolly. LET me ex-
plain. I think 1t was you who nd
theory that because a man in
pinid suit was seen Mt our house it
stood proved that I was there. TO
parry your attack I suggested theory
equally tcnablc, which agreed with my
claim OF innocence as well as your
theory sustained your charge Of guilt.
But you catnn9Qt elt n9Quf ufipaa itrlcu III coulu
hink Of others equally good. perhaps
better, for that one had flaw In 1t
which I was surprised to see passed
lnnoticed."
.rerhaps you would not mind telling
me the flaw in your own proposition"
snid Mr.. Barnes. with a slight sEeer.
"With pleasure" answered Mora,
the tone Of sarcasm. 1T Is
very evident. II the watchman was to
be relied on when he said that lie saw
the plaid suit come out Of the house. lie
must have been equally right In say
ing that he saw It go In. Seer"
He laughed in n tantalizlng manner,
and Mr.. Barnes was annoyed. Mr. !
was startled little to hear |
Mora using the Identical argument ad- I
vanced by Preacher Jim. Yet Mr.. }
Barnes thought the latter insane, while !
here was IN important point, over |
looked by himself, though clear to two
others.
"You said that you could advance
other theories agreeing with your plea
of innocence, yet explaining the fact
about the suit Of Clothes" said Mr..
Barnes. determined to press this mat
ter. II would like to hear one-one
without flaw this time"
Nothing easier. Let us suppose
that the murderer stole the suit before
committing his crime. instead Of after
ward, and there you are. The watch
mans story is true. and yet am not
in 1t, to use slang phrase-not In the
suit, I mean. What do you say to
thatV
II asked you for a theory without n
fiaw," replied Mr.. Barnes.
"And where Is the flaw In this"
"If your clothing had been stolen,
you would have complained Of the
loss," said the detective.
mot II the theft occurred on the
night OF the murder and was therefore
unknown to me at the time"
mot good enough. Mr.. Mora. No one
entered that house that night but your.
self and the murderer, IL indeed there
were two. No thief went In earlier in