The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-17
CHAPTER XN.
PREACHER Jlm's LAST SERMON

Mr.. Barnes wished that he were bacl
- Boston. but As that was impossible hi
curiosity urged him TO accept Mr.. Nit
ehers invitation, and conse equently he en-
tared the cab.
II presume that you are aStonished Il
and me wearing a suit of Matthew Mora
clothing" said Mr.. Mitchell. opening The
conversation.
Il am not surprised that Mora should
nc that method, for he has done IL be
fore" said Mr.. Barnes. but that you
should consent TO be his dummy I confess
does seem strange to me-"
"Ah Now you are allowing your cha .
g1in TO cloud your Intellect You know
me better. am no mans dummy. II
Dose OF my own
"Well, let II go that way. I would like
- know what purpose OF your own is of
SUFFICIENT Importance to justify your aid
ng In the escape OF a murderer"
None. But have done that?"
'Unquestionabi Mora had taken pas
sage in ship sailing for Europe early
this morning fear now that II will be
too late for me to stop him..
Il sincerely hope so"
Then you admit that your ruse was TO
lead me astray and so prevent my ar
resting this NAM"
II admit that much Yes
prison offense?"
mo. What statute specifies that In
reference which prevents q usually as
tufe detective from maying an ass Of
himself by arresting an innocent man is
punishable by imprisonment
Mr.. Mitchell, your words are insulting"
They are not meant extensively, Mr..
Barnes. Sometimes II Is az necessary TO
use strong language to bring a man To his
senses as II Is TO administer drastic drugs
to an iii pa tent You have been troubled
throughout this case with an affection of
your mental eyesight which he's contorted
all forms into a single image. Seeking
the murderer Of old Matthew Mora. you
have been able TO recognize no one as
possibly guilty except the son. You have
persistently followed your ancient meth
DDS Of spying upon the suspected man.
and you have converted every act of his
into one thread OF your fabric OF evi-
dence. Let me direct your attention right
here To the great fallscy Of such a course
II you watch q man. any man. all acts
Of his not intellisible to yourself become
criminal. this fact Is more conspicuously
true. II, moreover. he knows that he is |
watched. his very efforts to escape from
constant espionage only emphasize the |
probability Of your preconceived theory.
But you overlook the important fea ature
that. though man may be a criminal. |
ne Is not necessarily guilty Of the special |
crime for which the detective is seeking |
him. So II Is with young Mora. He has
acted criminally. but nevertheless he did l
not kill his father"
''All that you say is true In theory. Mr. 1
Mitchell. but be assured IL is only theory
In this instance. 1t does not apply to |
Mora For once In your life YOU have
hlundered. The man did kill his father
have indubitabe evidence OF that fact"
"Oh, II you are so certain. OF course
must listen to you'll IT will be the short
est way. Proceed with your evidence.
How do you prove your charger"
'Since last saw you have discovered
several important facts In the first place.
father and son on that very night at
Apollo hail.
II know that"
You do" exclaimed Mr.. Barnes, cur
prised. He had counted upon this as a
telling point However. he added: well.
did you know that the two men came To |
blows; that this exemplary son. whose
cause you espouse so warmly. struck his
father a blow which knocked him
down.
NO" admitted Mr. Mitchell. 1T did not
know that"
~ have two competent and trustworthy |
witnesses to that fact. After striking his
father Mora then returned to the dane |
ing hall. while the old man went OF /
breathing vengeance and swearing that /
he would kill his sor II the latter should |
dare 70 return home. What do you say 10 |
that?''
"of course a quarrel is frequently the
sntecedent 90 killing. but the bare fact
that there has been quarrel does not
prove that murder was consequent re-
suit. From your own statement II was
the father who uttered the threat Had |
the son S,een killed your evidence would
have more point"
You are not easily made 10 Weld nm
your own opinions Let me give you my
best proof. You recall the valet who put
on his masters clothing In order to
tempt me to follow him.
mo. no. Mr. Barnesl Give the devil his
due. The clothing was put on the valet
merely as pretended ruse You were ex-
pectsd to detect this and to deduce
that the master himself did
not wish TO be tracked. As was planned |
you did not follow the valet, and there.
fore ne was enabled TO carry out his mas
ter's wishes
ihat - VI no consequence now.
have learned that this maa is himself a
well known crook"
Il know that"
You seem 10 know everything" said
The detective testify. but YOU cannot
know this--I have had that man arrested
snd detained as a witness In this case. lie
has given important evidence"
Against whom
Against Mora. Of course. lie declares
that he was aroused by the noise NJ the
struggle between Mora and his father
and that. hurriedly dressing himself ne
reached his masters room Just as the
latter returned TO II. Mora was much
sgitatcd and was attired only I'm his |
shirt and undergarments. This accounts
Tor the blood upon his wristband and.
you see. fts very well the theory sd-
vanced by your crank. Preacher Jim"
Very well indeed" said Mr.. Mitchell.
more7'
The valet further declares that ne as-
listed Mora 20 dress again and saw him
cave the house attired in the plaid suit
'xactiy IN accord with the story told by
he watchman. What do you say now OF
rour friend7;
That am glad he Is out OF reach OF