Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-01-25


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 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 artificially pro-
duced, like stage storm, where the
lightning flashes at just the right in
slant. The fellow who arranged it
wanted to be too sure. He overleaped
himself"
"That may all be true" said slow
~, after moment, "but it would be
worse than folly to use that argument
with jury. To say that 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, vet
which with me, personally, is conclu-
siye: I 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 very original fellow, not at
all 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 crime like
this Is as far beyond his horizon as it is
beyond yours, farther, I'm sure, than
1t is beyond mine, and vet l don't be-
lieve you'd think me guilty, no matter
what the evidence against me seemed
to be-"
II shouldn't" 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 Drysdales not
guilty, I'm correspondingly sure that
Tremaine is"
"But then" objected, you've just
said that there's no evidence against
him"
II 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 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, If he could get
away from Delroy for an hour or So
In other words, we have a motive and
the physical possibility of guilt. 1 may
add that think we shall find he had
some reason to injure Drysdale-Im
sure we shall, in fact"
But the button-the pistol-Drys-
dale's unexplained absence?'
''Those points can only be cleared up
by personal investigation of the prem
Uses. That's why we're going to Edge
mere"
Godfrey" said, "there seems to me
to be one great objection to your theory
that Tremaine killed Thompson. If
Miss Croydon saw him do it, would
she consent to associate with him?
Wouldn't her very knowledge of his
crime give her greater hold on him
than he has on her sister?"
He paused to turn this over.
"Yes," he admitted ut last; lit would;
but 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 brow.s
knitted in perplexity.
There was one conclusive objection I
might have urged, had known of it
but was not yet possessed Of the
stcay of the house party. If Tremaine
was the husband of Mrs. Delroy, how
could he propose marriage to her sis
ter? That was a rock, as yet unseen
by us, which doomed ahead-which we
could not avoid-upon which our theory
must inevitably be dashed to pieces.
The train flashed past two or three
big hotels, then the brakes were APP
piled.
Here's Babylon" said Godfrey, rous-
Ing himself from the profound reverle
into which my question had thrown
him. Well look in upon the prisoner
first and cheer him up bit"
The Jail was only n short distance
from the station, and five minutes
walk brought us to it.
''We're here in behalf of Mr.. Drys-
dale" Godfrey explained to the jailer.
I:Ihis is Mr.. Lester of Graham & Royce
Of New York, who have been retained
to defend him. I suppose we may see
him?'
"I'll take in your cards." he said,
after looking us over. IF Mr.. Drys-
dale wants to see you, it's all right but
you'll be the first ones"
He disappeared into an inner room !;
we heard the rattling of keys and the
changing of an iron door, He was back
again In moment.
"Step this way, gentlemen" he said.
Drysdale was sitting on the bunk in
his little cell. He came forward with
hand outstretched MS soon as he saw
Godfrey.