Oxford Democrat., 1906-12-25
"ihry arr Join I2.Je;t brys,.a.e's.
ijc:roy in Il low voice.
CHATTER XIX.

StOou lOOklnS Go"u Ut tuc
E pistol in his hand without
$x0 speaking. but his face hard
ened and grew stern, so far rs lay In
the power of a countenance so rubi-
cund.
T t'Ink shall have to see Mr.. Drys-
dale before l 60 back to Babylon" he
said. But first let US try to account
for tie presence Of tbs pistol In tat
boat"
How can 1t be accounted for" de-
manded Delroy impatiently. Good
heavens! I tell you Jack Drysdale
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 left
it I'm the boat by mistake. How else
could 1t have got there? The murderer
wouldn't have put it there"
"Nobody's used tn boat, sir" said
William.
How do you know t'ati" asked the
coroner sharply.
Because, sir, I tied It t the buoy,
an | know my knot. It's tn same
one jest unfastened."
Nobody went out except Mr.. Drys.
dale" spoke up Thomas. II was In
th' vestibule till nearly midnight, when
Mr.. Delroy told me T. go to bed"
"YOu saw Mr.. Drysdale come in?'
"Yes, sir, an I never saw anybody
50 worked up an nervous-like."
"Do you remember what outer gar
ment he wOreY
"He wore his raincoat, sir. helped
him on an off with It,"
Where are tie raincoats kept"
"They usually hang on the rack in
IT, vestibule, sir. That's Mr.. Drys-
dale's coat that Mr.. Delroy has on
now."
"Yes," said Delroy, looking down at
It; Il didn't notice. I snatched 1t down
In such hurry
He stopped, staring down at the
coat, his face suddenly livid.
The others followed his glance.
The top button Of the coat was miss.
ing. 1t had evidently been wrenched
away with violence, for the cloth was
badly torn.
Amid a silence strained. absolute,
the coroner took from his pocketbook
the button he had found In Graham's
hand.
II believe Mr.. Drysdale will find 1t
difficult to explain tbs, gentlemen he
said. his face glowing more and more,
and he held against the place the but.
ton he had found.
1t fitted exactly; the button matched
the others OH the coat; the shred OF
cloth was of the same color anu ma
terIal as the remainder Of the garment.
It was proof there could be no dis
putting.
"Let us 90 up to tie house and have
talk with Mr.. Drysdale," said the
coroner.
They followed him in silence from
the boathouse and up the broad gravel
path.
"Shall have Drysdale called
DOWN. asked Delroy as they stepped
inside.
mo" said the coroner; "I'd prefer
to see him in his ROOM
every we'll" the other acquiesced
and led the way through the still
deserted hall and up the stair.
At the top, Tremaine turned to the
coroner.
"If YOU don't mind" lie said, "Ill
20 on to my room. I'm feeling pretty
we'll used up"
The others went on to the next door.
Delroy knocked.
who's there's? quericd Drysdale's
voice.
"Open up, Jack" called Delroy.
"Weve got to see you on some rather
important business"
"Important business" Drysdale re-
peated, and they heard him cross the
room. Then the door was flung open.
"Come in-why, what the deuce Is Ill
this about, DickieY"
"Come in and shut the door. jack
replied uelroy quietly. This gentle
man is Coroner HeffelDower OF Baby
lon. He wishes to ask you few
questions"
Drysdale answered with a stare OF
amazement, but he stood ASIDE ana let
them pass into the room.
"I was packing, Dickie," he SAID
1--WE got TO 30 back to New York
today, to look after some investments.
I'd like to stay, old man. but l really
can't
Something in the faces OF his audi