The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-15
CHAPTER vu-(cOntinued.)

smut must nave peen nreO al Lee. But
by whOm7 Who had any reason to
shoot him? think John Lee is the
man who must give US some inforna-
ton on that subject"
The chief spoke shortly and to the
point. John Lee started as If he had
been accused of the attempt on his
brothers life.
II? Oh, I know nothing about it.
he said, the purplish color showing
little in his face. do you suspect me?'
Certainly not But the fact remains
that some one fired a revolver and hit
your brother. DR.. Stage has been ex-
onerated by the parson. The question
is, was it the parson or the doctor who
was the intended victim?'
1T seems to me- said John. study
ing the mighty problem carefully, that
the shot must have been fired at Stage.
He may have made enemies as Firth,
you know"
But have not used the name Of
Firf1n," 1 retorted. angrily. You in
sist on that, and you are wrong"
We'll" said John, helplessly, who
is Firth. then? None OF US ever saw
the man"
I'm sure don't know"
1--WE don't seem TO be getting on, -
said the chief. Remember that time
is valuable just now. The constable
and l want TO get at some kind of a
clue IN order 70 start our search"
There might be one rnan-supposing
he had come this way, which he did
not" suggested my cousin
"Forrest?"
Yes"
John Lee and James Lee stared.
Forrest! You don't mean Bob?"
cried John. "He is IN Auburn prison.
Unfortunately. he is not" said my
cousin. He escaped"
Then the whole thing is plant" ex-
planned John Lee, Shaping his knee
with the palm of his right hand. why,
1t is as clear as a June morning. Rob
ert Forrest fired that shot
But why at Stagg? He did not know
the doctor"
John Lee looked az me and then at
the district attorney. as If comparing
our appearance
You don't look much alike he said.
Il did think that Forrest. holding a
grudge against the attorney who con-
victed him. had fired at you under the
impression that it was James"
James Lee?''
mo, James Stagg.
1T was my horse outside" said
James. but 1 tell you Forrest has been
traced the other way. He went West
from Auburn
How was he traced?7 asked the chief
quickly.
why, he and the prison guard left
at the same time. A man wearing the
guards clothes was traced as far as
Rome. and the clue came TO an end.
Another. answering 10 the description
OF Forrest, wearing a new suit of cloth
ing, has been traced almost as far west
as Chautauoua."
The chief looked at the floor studi-
ously.
Forrest could have had no reason to
shoot DR.. Stage. and Il is not likely
that he mistook the doctor for the law
yer. My own impression IS that II For
rest fired the shot he fired at Lee
But the parson was not even a wit
ness at his trial." put In my cousin.
by Jovei I've got it! James Stagg
was not thought Of James Lee was the
man whose testimony sent Forrest to
prison. II Forrest fired that shot. he
fired at Stagg. thinking he was James
Lee II was a natural mistake. II
was In the parsons library. The man
might have come here for the purpose
OF shooting James Lee Creeping up 20
the window ne saw the parson engaged
IN conversation with a young man. He
fred, thinking II was the parsons son.
Gentlemen" I said, these theories
are all very pretty, but they won't work
In the first place. I don't believe I was
the man shot at. In the second place
don't believe Robert Forrest was the
- L
with my cousin that he went West. I
saw him in Pawmuc church. and know
that Beatrice went away with him.
Now, II Robert Forrest escaped from
prison, came here 70 meet his daughter.
and planned to go far away and begin
life anew. he would not risk his chance
by committing a murder
He did IL once" said James Lee.
IT am not so sure OF that. Had II not
been for your fathers words I would
undoubtedly have been tried and per-
haps convicted on circumstential evil
dence. But we are not just now con-
cerned with that. The thing IS. that II
Forrest did not fire the shot, some enc
my of your father must have done il.
''Or yours" put IN my cousin.
I'VE are overlooking certain facts
tnterposed the chief. Let me ask you,
doctor, II anything was said IN the
church that would show you 20 be con
nected with the district Attorney"
Yes Beatrice called to her father and
SAID was James Stages cousin"
so. And you were married TO Bea-
trice against your Will and hers. Might
IL not have been a mad scheme OF his
to rid his daughter of husband she did
not like7''
Il tell you Forrest was not in this
part OF the country" said James posi-
lively. My own opinion IS that Beatrice
went away with this F1rhn. whoever ne
is."
That's a plausible theory, too" said
the chief. and Il lends itself to theor-
king better. II 1t was Firm whom she
was 10 meet, and whom she loved. II
might have been Firth who came here
TO do the shooting. He might have
been actuated by a desire &c rid Bea.-
trice OF a husband. so that he could
marry her himself"
''PreposterousP' put in. I promised
Beatrice that I would have the mar
riage annulled at once"
But you didn't"
'Firfin would not nave time to know
that"
Hold OnT said joan Lee. There are