The San Francisco call., 1906-09-09


Suppose Kerris must have given the
soots to Mickey on the l4th Let me
see the date ot the crime"
On examination she found that the
murder had been committed on the
night OF the 18th of August and that
Kerris had been arrested on the 18th.
Here Hagar came 60 full stop and
reflected If Rersis had been iu Jail
on the i4th-as from the report in the
paper he undoubtedly was-he could
not have given the boots to Miclky on
that tay. Yet the Irish lad had con-
fessed TO receiving the boots at Mar
low, and had given a ti:ae which. as
reckoned oat by Hagsr. corresponded
with the l4th of the month. But on
that day the nan who owned the boots
was under lock and key.
There's something wrong here" said
Hssar to herself, on making this dis
covery. Perhaps Kerris is innocent in
spite of the evidence of the boots.
What am I to do?"
It was dificult to say Certainly the
accused rnaa Gid not assert his inno-
cenee- a fact whica was rather aston
ishing Oh the fact or II. No one would
let himself be hznged for murder which
were guilty he must have had an ac-
conpliee. else how could the boats have
been given to the irish tramp when
their owner was in prison? The man,
thought Hagar. might be innocent after
all. in spite of his strange silence. Still,
not knowing all the circumstances of
the case-saye the ssrhled sad bare
report in the newsp2per-the girl did
not, and could not. make up her mind
in the matter. At the present moment
her sole course was to write and state
that the boots had been pawned. This
Hagar did at once, and the next day re-
ceived a visit from the detective who
had charge of the case.
He was called Julf. a lean, tall, dark
and solemn creature, who went very
cautiously to work-especially in cases
of murder. He had a conscience, he
said. and would never forgive himself
did he hang the wrong criminal. JuIf
knew how often circumstantial evil
dence helped to condemn the innocent;
how likely even the most acute detec-
tive was TO be deceived by outward ap-
pearances, and how intricate and dark
were the paths which led to the discov-
cries of mysterious crimes. Hence he
was slow and circumspect in his deal
ings
On arriving at the Lambeth pawn
shop he examined the boots, asked-Ha-
gar a few questions and then sat down
with her to thrash out the matter Juif
saw that the girl was shrewd and clever.
from the remarks she had made anent
the pawning of the boots, so he was
quite willing 10 discuss the affair freely
with her. In contrast to many self,suf-
fcient detectives, Julf always believed
that two heads were better than one,
especially when the second head was
that of a woman. He had great re-
spect for the instinct of the weaker
sex
I'm afraid the mans guilty, right
enough he said, in his solemn way
He had quarreled with Sir Leslie over
this girl and had been dismissed for in
science Besides. he was seen coming
out of the park at 10 o'clock-just after
the MURDER
Had he his gun with him?9
mo, but that's no matter. Sir Leslie
was shot through the heart with a pis-
tol. Now Kerris had a pistol, but that
can't be found either. You didn't have
a pistol pawned here. did your"
Nothing was pawned but the boots"
said Hagar, and Kerris could not
have given them to Micky; it seems
that he was in prison the day that the
lad got them"
That's true enough. We must find
this boy, and learn who gave him the
bsots on that day. But If Kerris is
innocent, why doesn't he say so?"
1t is mystery" sighed Hagar
You say that Kerris pistol cannot be
found?"
NO, not in his home; so 1 daresay
he flung it away after killing Sir Less
lie"
oh, no." said Hagar, shrewdly, then
the weapon with which the murder
was committed can't be found either"
But the pistol is the same: Kerris
used it, and then got rid of it"
Why don't you search for it?"
We have searched everywhere but
il cannot be found"
Have you drained the pond near
which the crime was committed?y
Why, no. said Julf, meditativeIy.
I'VE haven't done that It's a good
idea.'
Hagar sighed impatientIy II wish
] had this case in my own handsi"
she said sharply; Il believe I'd find
the assassin"
we have found him." replied the de-
tective stolidly "Kerris killed Sir Les
lie"
Il don't believe it,"
Then why doesn't he deny it?"
Il can't say. Is Kerris much in love
with this Laura Brenton?' asked Ha-
gar. turning her large, bright eyes on
Julf.
Il should think so. He's madIy in
love with her"
And she with him?"
"Oh, l don't say that" replied Julf:
that is quite another thing. I fancy
from what ! have heard that she gave
far 800 much encouragement to that
young baronet. Kerris evidently had
cause for jealousy, so l do not wonder
he killed Sir Leslie
You have yet TO prove that he did"
BAH said Julf, rising to take his
leave. He quarreled with the baronet;