The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-08-03
CENTURY,, THRILLING DETECTIVE STORY BY

terry is that he expected trouble that
night, and in that case, anticipating
the approach of an enemy, he would
have been sufficiently disturbed to
have forgotten to locA the door of the
cabinet again"
II could readily agree with that if
| could see any reason for thinking
that he was expecting disagseeable
visitor. What evidence have YOU of
that?"
"Oh, very good, l think. In one Of
the newspaper accounts | read that
the Waterman in his statement said
that he saw young Mora enter the
house. because he had been warned
by his master to be doubly watchful.
In fact, he had asked permission to
take the night for himself, sending
substitute in his place, but his request
was refused, and then it was that he
was cautioned to be doubly on his
guard"
THAT is very significant and quite
new to me. l wonder that Mr.. Barnes
omitted it from his report of the
facts"
ooh, You can't expect detective to
think of everything, you knoww
Here Preacher Jim laughed heartily,
while Mr.. Mitchell eyed him thought
fully, wondering at his apparent I'M
concern and his seemingly genuine
good humor. The mans manner did
not agree with q half formulated idea
which Mr. Mitchell was mentally con-
siderng, and therefore he carefully
selected his words in continuing the
conversation.
Then if this Waterman was so wide
awake" said Mr.. Mitchell, "surely it
must count against young Mora when
he swears that he saw him enter and
leave the house at about the time of
/ the murder?"
"Oh, no! The Waterman only swears
that plaid suit of clothes went in and
came out again. From that he con-
cludes that he saw young Mora, but
he might be mistaken
! ooh, then you do not accept Morals
theory that the murderer put on the
plaid suit in the house after com.
hitting the crl1ne!
! "No, l do not None but stupid off
Gals would have accepted that trump
ed up story. Why. how can you say
that the Waterman was correct in iden-
tifying the clothing of the man when
he came out of the house and dismiss
his equally positive assertion as to
what he saw going in? Mark my word
the Waterman is both truthful and ac-
curate. That plaid suit went in and
came out again."
and the man who wore it killed old
man Mora?''
Beyond all question of doubt"
/ ''Then the discovery of that suit OF
clothes should be the first care of the
police"
1T should, but the police will never
! find it. Some one else may and prob
ably will. Do not forget that the pc
lice are often credited with more thar
they deserve. The publication of all the
facts places all people on the scent
The guilty party is somewhere an6
necessarily comes into contact with
4 persons any one of whom may read his
fear in his face and report it to the pc
: lice. So those clothes are hidden, and
! at any moment they may reach the
! central Office because some one finds
them and thinks it is his duty to take
them to headquarters. After that il
ought to be plain sailing"
why should not the murderer have
burned the clothing or at least have de
stroyed them in some way?"
Perhaps he has. but it is often risky
The smell of burnt cloth will rouse a
whole tenement house full of people
Ashes found may excite suspicion per.
haps more so than the clothing itself
especially if the murderer was disguis.
ed. On the whole. and judging by what
should have done myself, l conclude
| that the plaid suit is still in existence.
Another man, though might act differ.
entity. When theorizing about human
actions, we are all apt to measure
them by our personal Standards
"And you say that if you had killed
MIR. Mora, having worn these clothes
as disguise, you would not have de
stroyed them afterwards"
II think not OF course circum
stances alter cases, and it might be
that having actually killed the man
my views would be altered 1t is sc
easy to theorize, ell, Mr.. Mitchell"
Yes, yes! You are right" said Mr.
Mitchell abstractedly. and then he