The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-25
CHAPTER vII.-continued.


satisfied. for. though the detective DID
not act as though aware OF having used
wrong name, but continued so that on'
might readily have thought IL chance
clip Of the tongue, Mora started percep'
tibly, bit his lip and strained every
muscle in his body In his effort 20 pre-
serve his self control. All OF this Mr..
Barnes saw and ne considered that his
manoeuvre had succeeded.
Mr. Mitchell, closely observing both
men, also comprehended the intent OF
the detective as well as It's effect. but he
decided that Mr.. Barnes had made a
grave error IL seemed more than prob
able that Morton was an ali,s Of the man
before them. and much had been
proved by taking him by surprise. But
st the same time he was now on his
guard and could better prepare his de-
fence especially as Mr. Barnes could not
play his trump cards at once. The situa-
tion, therefore, 10 Mr. Mitchell was in
creasing In interest.
II will answer whatever you choose
60 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
hts own when leaving the house DO you
still adhere to that theory"
II never said that | believed H." was
the answer.
You did not claim to believe IT," ex-
claimed the detective. thoroughly as
tonished
NO" said Mora, coolly Let me ex-
plain. think IL was you who advanced
Q theory that because man I'm a plaid
suit was seen al our house IL stood proved
that was there To parry your attack
Il Il
which agreed with my claim OF innocence
as well as your theory sustained your
charge OF guilt But you cannot find IL In
the records that j said that I believed
my own proposition. II was the first that
occurred TO me. and utilized It. / could
think OF others equally good. perhaps
better. for that one had flaw In IL which
i was surprised to see passed unnoticed."
Perhaps you would not mind telling
me the flaw In your own proposition"
said Mr.. Barnes; with slight snerr
with pleasure" answered Mora, ig-
noring the tone OF sarcasm. 1T is very
evident III the watchman was 20 be re-
lied on when he said that he saw the
plaid suit come out Of the house. he must
have been equally right In saying that
he saw IL go In. Seee'
He laughed In tantallzing manner. and
Mr.. Barnes was annoyed Mr. Mitchell
was startled a little 10 hear Mora using
the Identical argument advanced by
Preacher Jim. Yet Mr.. Barnes thought
the latter insane. while here was an I'm
portant point, overlooked by himself.
though clear 10 two others
You said that you could advance other
theories agreeing with your plea Of in
nocence. yet explaining the fact about the
suit OF clothes" sair Mr.. Barnes. deter
mined to press this matter II would like
TO hear one without flaw this time"
Nothing easier. Let us suppose that
the murderer stole the SUIT before com
mitting his crime instead OF afterwsrd.
and there you are. The watchman's story
Is true and yet am not In II. to use a
slang phrase-not in the suit l mean.
What do you say to thst?"
II asked you for a theory without n
naw.' replied Mr.. Barnes.
And where is the flaw In this?"
III your clothing had been stolen. YOU
would have complained OF the loss said
the detective.
Not II the theft occurred on the night
OF the murder and was therefore unknown
to me at the time"
Not good enough. Mr.. Mora No one
entered that house that night but your
self and the murderer. II indeed there
were two. No thief went In earlier I'm
the evening and came out again, as he
must have done 10 be seen going In we,~
ing your suit"
You are very shrewd. Mr. Detective,
but you are not omniscent You argue
from the premise that the suit was I'm
the house. whereas, as a matters OF fact
Il was not"
"Where. then was it,"
AT some rooms ! have down in Es-
sex street
The audac.ty OF this reply made Mr.
Barnes start TO his feet while Mr. Mitch
listened with redoubied interest
Then you admit that YOU have an
other home" CALCULATED the detective.
Why not. since you know it7' was the
cool re1oinder.
''Ah. then you also confess that you
call yourself Morton there and that YOU
have a wife. who
Not so fast, Mr.. Barnes. | am not
confessing any such nonsense. I had a
room there because found IL convenient
in my Summing trips To sleep down town
occasionally; also 10 have a place where
] could change my clothing To less ex-
pcnsive apparel than I usually wear
also think II safe enough 10 say that
there Is Mrs. Morton In the same house
j will 60 further and tell you that know
the lady very well and that II was she who
recommended the room TO me. When en-
gagged the place. | gave the name Nor
ton, desiring. first. to hide my own idsn-
tity. and. secondly. TO account for my
friendliness with the young woman But
no one In that house will tell YOU that
! posed as the womans husband They
believed me TO be her brother in-law. Her
husband II away somewhere"
Then there II nothing between you
and this woman"
Nothing but friendship. She often OBJ
tsined entrances for me into places where
l could study the life OF that section. but
which would have been impenttrable to
any one not known. She was useful TO me
In that way. and have the kindliest feel
ings for her. II YOU find anything sus-
picious about that, you are welcome -
make the most OF a..
Nr. Barnes began to think that ne had
made a mistake in mentioning the name
Morton. Mr. Mitchell knew It This ex-
planation, however improbable. was one
that II would be difficult TO dsprove cs-
peciaily as Mora could readily warn his
associates IN the house and coach them
60 support his story. Mr. Barnes how
ever. do not entirely despair.
Then II was from this house that YOU
now think that your clothes were stolen7"
II do rot think 90. assert a."
AT last we get 10 something tangible
The suit was Stolen from the house In
Esrex street The murderer wore IL TO
vofgr home and after killing vottr father