Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-01-22
rcUNTINUED.l

II, DuttOu tTOlu HIS COdl 10 III tho
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"
"Well?'
We'll" said Godfrey earnestly, that
very perfection is its 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
RACES the law of probabilities. That
every link Of the chain Is complete
means that it has been artlicially pro
duced, like stage storm, where the
lightning flashes ut just the right in
slant. The fellow who arranged II
wanted to be too sure. He Overleaped
himself"
"That may all be true" 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 agains,
him appears to be conclusive"-
Were not going to use 1t to jury
We're using it between ourselves, In al
effort to find a working hypothesis.
And here's another argument which
would carry 10 weight with jury, yet
which with me, personally, is conclu-
sive: know Jack Drysdale. I've
known him for long time, and know
that it's utterly impossible that he
should have committed such 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. repeat that a crime like
this is as far beyond his horizon as 1t Is
beyond yours, farther, Pm sure. than
It 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"
"I shouldn't" 1 said, "but If Drys-
dale isn't guilty who Isl"
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 correspondlngly sure that
Tremaine Is"
But thsn," objected, you've just
said that there's no evidence against
him."
81 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 Il criminal, and, therefore,
capable of this crime. We suspect that
he needs money, and the necklace
would place him out Of need for long
time to come. We know that he was
within reach of the spot where the
murder was committed, II 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-fm
sure we shall, In fact"
"But the button-the pistOEDrys'
dale's unexplained absence"
"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" / said, there seems to me
TO he one great objection to your theory
that Tremaine killed Thompson. II
Miss Croydon saw him do 1t, would
she consent to associate with him
Wouldn't her very knowledge OF bis
crime give her a greater hold ON him
than he has OH her sister?"
He paused to turn this over.
yes" he admitted at last; ut would
but a woman might not think OF that.
"a desperate woman would think OF
everything" said, "and II 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 perplexity.
There was one conclusive objection
might have urged had known OF 1t
but | was not yet possessed OF tine
story of the house party. If Tremaint
was the husband of Mrs. Delroy. how
could he propose marriage to her sis
ter? That was rock, as yet unseeI
by us. which loomed ahead-which W.
could not avold-upon which our theory
must inevitably be dashed to pieces.
The train flashed past two or thre'
big hotels, then the brakes were ap
piled.
Here's Babylon" said Godfrey. rous
ing himself from the profound reveri'
into which my question had thrown
him. Well look in upon the prisoner
first and cheer him up bit"
The jail was only short distance
| from the station, and Eve minutes
wall brought us to 1t.
"We're here In behalf Of Mr.. Drys
dale" Godfrey explained to the jailer
"This is Mr.. Lester of Graham & Royce
of New York, who have been retained
to defend him. suppose we may SEX
him?"
'T'n take In your cards." he said
after looking US over. IF Mr.. Drys
dale wants to see you. It's all right. bu
you'll be the first ones"
He disappeared into an Inner room
we heard the rafting Of keys and th'
Changing of an iron door. He was baci
again In moment.
"Step this way, gentlemen" he said
Drysdale was sitting on the bunk II
his little cell. He came forward witt
hand outstretched as soon as he saw
Godfrey.
''rhis Is mighty kind Of you. Jim.
he said.
"Ill have to lock you In, gentlemen,
broke in the jailer. "How soon must
come for your"
"Say twenty minutes" answere'
Godfrey. looking at his watch. Thel
i ha turnod hack To ma ae the taller