Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-02
BURTON E. STEVENSON khor 0f "The Holladav Case"l
4 Story o Manbaf1on

phrase. It's not only complete; US consummately perfect. Not link Is missing. He was on the spot; his re- volver is found near by with blood on 1t; button from his coat is in the dead mans hand; when he returns to the house he is visibly disturbed; at the moment of his arrest he was pre- pairing to escape; he refuses to ex- plain where he was at the time the crime was committed; he's involved in steel speculation and presumably needs ready money"
 "Welly'
 Well" said Godfrey earnestly, 'that very, perfection is it's greatest weak ness. It's too perfect. Any one of those things might have happened; perhaps any two of them; but that they should all have happened out rages the law of probabilities. That every link of the chain is complete means that it has been artificially pro duced, like a stage storm, where the lightning flashes at just the right in- stant The fellow who arranged 1t wanted to be too sure. He overleaped himself"
 That may all be true," I said slow ly, after a moment "but 1t would be worse than folly to use that argument with a jury. To say that a man isn't guilty because the evidence against him appears to be conclusive"-
 Were not going to use it to jury. We're using it between ourselves, in an effort to find a working hypothesis. And here's another argument which would carry no weight with jury, yet which with me, personally, is conclu- sive: know Jack Drysdale. I've known him for long time, and l know that it's utterly impossible that he should have committed such a crime. He's not a very original fellow, not at all a genius. He's never done any thing, perhaps. which either of us would think really worth doing; but he's kind and honest and gentle and honorable. I repeat that crime like this is as far beyond his horizon as 1t is beyond yours. farther, I'm sure. than 1t Is beyond mine, and yet l don't be- lieve you'd think me guilty, no matter what the evidence against me seemed to be-"
 q shouldn't" I said, "but if Drys- dale isn't guilty who is?"
 If Drysdale isn't, there's only one other person who can be-that's Ire maine. As I'm sure Drysdale's not guilty, I'm correspondingly sure that Tremaine is."
 But then." I objected. you've just said that there's no evidence against him."
 'I said apparently there wasn't"
 And Delroy says he didn't leave the house."
 "Delroy must be mistaken-must be. mind you! And while there isn't any direct evidence, there's some pretty good indirect We know that Ire maine is a criminal, and, therefore, capable of this crime. We suspect that he needs money, and the necklace would place him out of need for a long time to come. We know that he was within reach of the spot where the murder was committed, If he could get away from Delroy for an hour or so. In other words, we have motive and the physical possibility of guilt. l may add that think we shall find he had some reason to injure Drysdale-Pm sure we shall. in fact"
 But the button-the pistol-Drys- dale's unexplained absenceT
 Those points can only be cleared up by a personal investigation of the prem ises. That's why we're going to Edge mere"
 Godfrey" I said, there seems to me to be one great objection to your theory that Tremaine killed Thompson. If Miss Croydon saw him do 1t. would she consent to associate with him? Wouldn't her very knowledge of his crime give her a greater hold on him than he has on her sistcrg7
 He paused to turn this over.
 "Yes." he admitted at last; ''it would: but a woman might not think of that"
 "A desperate woman would think of everything" said. "and if your theory Is right. both she and her sister must be very desperate"
 He nodded without answering. and sat staring before him, his brows knitted In perple1ity.
 There was one conclusive objection l might have urged, had known of It. but I was not yet possessed Of the story of the house party. If Tremaine was the husband of Mrs. Delroy. how could he propose marriage to her sis terl That was a rock. as yet unseen by us. which loomed ahead-which we could not avoid-upon which our theory must inevitably be dashed 10 pieces.
 The train flashed past two or three big hotels. then the brakes were ap piled
 Here's Babylon said Godfrey. rous- ing himself from the profound reverie into which my question had thrown him. Wen look In upon the prisoner first and cheer him up bit"
 The jail was only a short distanes from the station. and a i've minutes' walk brought us to 1t
 We're here In behalf of Mir. Dryr daIe.- Godfrey explained to the jailer. This Is Mir. Lester of Graham & Royce of New York. who have been retained to defend him I suppose we may see hfmT