The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-08-07
CHAPTER TX.
AN ENpERT OPINION.

CHAPTER TX.
AN EXPERT OPINION.
Mr.. Barnes words astonished Mr..
Mitchell and aroused a train Of thought
which made him more than ever in
terested in the complicated problem
which they We're endeavoring to solve.
He could not Immediately arrive at
any definite conclusions, but these
were the points to which he attached
the greatest Importance
First, young Mora suggested to the
police that the murderer had worn his
plaid suit over his own blood stained
garments when leaving the house; sec
ond, Preacher Jim had contended that
this could not be, because if the watch
man was to be believed when claiming
that he had seen the wearer of the
suit come out of the house he should
i be credited with being equally correct
in his statement that he had seen it
on the man going in: third, Mora adj
yanced exactly the same argument and
then claimed that the suit had been
appropriated by the murderer, who
had stolen it from the Essex street
rect, here was Preacher jim peeping
from a window of this very house.
What logical deduction should he ac-
cept? Why did Mora first advance
one theory and then adopt another?
In his excitement, in the first place,
had he forgotten that the Waterman
must be believed wholly or not at all?
And was the second theory invented to
meet the occasion?
| Since Preacher Jim apparently had
access to this house, had he shown
Mora the mistake that he had made?
AS q professional crook was he coach
ing this young man through the diff
culties of his first crime? Or, if they
were intimate, as they must be accord
ing to that view. We're they accom-
plices? Had Mora committed the deed
himself, or had he secured the services
of Preacher Jim for the bloody deed?
Or, since Preacher Jim had suggested
a sufficient motive for the murder by a
professional crook, had he conducted
the enterprise himself in order to OBJ
tain the will and subsequently black
mail Mora? Had he stolen the clothes
in which he might enter the Mora
mansion. deceiving the Waterman as
to his identity, and had he then artful-
ly returned them?
Mr.. Mitchell had just formulated this
question mentally when Preacher Jim
himself emerged from the house and
approached. This action showed that
he was not afraid to have it known
that he had been in the house Mi.
Mitchell admired his holiness and was
curious to hear what he would say.
"Well, gentlemen said Preacher
Jim, nodding to Mr.. Barnes. who ac-
knowledged the salutation. and ex-
tending his hand to Mr.. Mitchell. who
took it, ''it has been an entertaining
drama, has it not? Though, pardon
me, Mr.. Barnes. | am forgetting You
missed a part of it, eh?'
Missed part of what?" asked the
detective coldly. Il do not understand
you"
"Oh. you are not so stupid as you
would have me believe, Mr. Detectives,
If you We're, certain friends of mine
would be at liberty instead of serving
the government. / allude to the lasty
departure which you arrived too late
to witness"
How do you know that?" asked Mr..
Mitchell sharply.
81 have eyes in my head and brains
in my skull. have been looking on
from the gallery, as it Were, while you,
Mr.. Mitchell occupied a private box
a N1r Ila, a,
only and at the very end of the play
too
What do you mean by the gallery"
asked Mr.. Mitchell persistently
-Four flights up; top floor, front win
dow; place empty; last tenant moved
out on account of rats and leally
roof; next tenant not yet in prospect
so my friend, Slippery Sam, who
boasts the pleasure of your acquaint-
ance and who is not very particular
about where he sleeps or how so long
as no rent is collected, has pre-empted
the place and taken up his temporary
iodgtug therein during the last few
days"
"How many days, to be exact?"
"Ah, L see. You wish to work up
our friends history. Well to be ex-
act eight days. At least, that is ac-
cording to his statement, and l rely
on it because-well, because I do not
think that Sam has the courage to lie
to Preacher Jim
"And you We're calling on him,
suppose" suggested Mr.. Mitchell.
ooh, no, not at all! L have never
before been in the house, though of
course have known where Sam was
residing ever since he moved in. That
is according to our system, which
think explained to you. But since
you seem to be curious to know how