Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-09-28

dale before go back to Babylon" ht said. But first let us try to accoun for t'e presence of t'is pistol in t'a, boat" How can it be accounted forT' de manded Delroy impatiently. "Good heavens! 1 tell you Jack Drysdalt never killed that man. Perhaps he was boating yesterday. No; he was in New York yesterday-well, Sunday, then and had the pistol with him and lief, it in the boat by mistake. How else could it have got there? The murderer wouldn't have put it there."
 'Nobody's used tn boat. sir," said William.
 How do you know tut?" asked thu coroner sharply.
 Because. sir. I tied it t the buoy an I know my knot. It's tn same one I jest unfastened."
 Nobody went out except Mr. Drys. dale,' spoke up Thomas. "I was in tn vestibule till nearly midnight, when MT. Delroy told me t go to bed"
 You saw Mir. Drysdale come inY'
 "Yes. sir, an 1 never saw anybody so worked up an nervous-like."
 Do you remember what outer gar. ment he wore?"
 He wore his raincoat, sir. helped him on an off with it."
 "Where are t'e raincoats kept?'
 "They usually hang on the rack in tn vestibulc, sir. That's Mr. Drys- dale's coat that MT. Delroy has on now."
 "Yes," said Delroy, looking down at it; T didn't notice. I snatched 1t down in such hurry
 He stopped. staring down at tho coat. his face suddenly livid.
 The others followed his glance.
 The top button of the coat was miss ing. It had evidently been -wrenchod away with vis,lence, for the cloth was badly torn.
 Amid a silence srrameu, ausorute, the coroner took from his pocketbook the button he had found in Graham's hand.
 'T believe MT. Drysdale will find it difficult to explain t'is, gentlemen" he said, his face glowing more and more. and he held against the place the but ton he had found.
 It fitted exactly; the button matched the others on the coat; the shred of cloth was. of the samei color and ma- terial as the remainder of the garment. It was s proof there could be no dis putting.
 "Let us go up to t'e house and have a talk with Mir. Drysdale," said the coroner.
 They followed him in silence from the boathouse and up the broad gravel path.
 "Shall have Drysdale called downf' asked Delroy as they stepped inside.
 '.No," said the coroner; "rd prefer to see him in his room" 7snW 2!ae9
 "very we'll" the other acquiesced, and led the way through the sdll deserted hall and up the stair.
 At the top, Tremaine turned to the coroner.
 'If you don't mind," he said, 'T'll go on to my room. I'm feeling pretty well used up."
 The others went on to the next door. Delroy knocked.
 "who's thereT queried Rrysdale's voice.
 "Open up, Jack" called Delroy. we've got to see you on some rather important business"
 Important businessw Drysdale re- peated, and they heard him cross the room. Then the door was flung open. "Come in-why. what the deuce is all this about, Dickief"
 Come in and shut the door, Jack" replied Delroy quietly. This gentle man is Coroner Heffelbower of Baby Ion. He wishes to ask you a few questions"
 Drysdale answered with a stare of amazement, but be stood aside and let them pass into the room.
 'T was packing. Dickie," he said. "T've got to go back 10 New York today. to look after some investments. I'd like to stay, old man, but I really can't'-
 Something in the faces of his audi tors stopped him. and he changed color.
 ''Sit down. Mir. Drysdale." said the coroner solemnly, himself taking chair. "Our business may take some little time. You own a revolver, believe"
 "Yes." said Jack, a Smith & wes- son I was just looking for it When I opened my trunk just now missed it.
 How long has it been since you sawsitr
 Tcan't say-tvo or three days. per. haps."
 'Did you have your revolver last nightr
 "No: I haven't seen 1t for a day or two. I tell you.-
 '1ss tis your revoiverr asked the coroner. producing the weapon
 Drysdale took it and looked at 1t with an air of astonishnent
 why. yes" hs said- ~where did you get itr
 And iss tis your raincoatr
 sYes; but vhaf--
 You wore it when you went out iast nishtr
 -Ys: but I insisf--
 Nr. Drysiale.- asked the coroner