Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-12-19
CHAPTER VIII.
THE HAND OF rHE LAW

power Of "A countenance so rubicund
~ tink 1 shall AVE to see Mr.. Drys-
GALE before j go back to Babylon" he
Salo. But first let us try to account
boat"
Flow can 1t be accounted for?" de-
manded Delroy impatiently. Good
GOD! l tell you Jack Drysdale never
Killed that man. Perhaps he was boat
ing Sesterday-no. he was in New York
yesterday-well Sunday. then. and had
the pistol with him and left ii I'm the
boat by mistake. How else could it
nave got there? The murderer wouldn't
have put 1t there"
"Nobody's used the boat. sir" said
William.
"How do you know t'at?" asked the
sharply.
Because. sir. 1 tied it t. the buoy,
an know my knot. It's tn. same
one 1 jest unfastened."
you mean that boat hasn't been
away from the buoy since you tied it
there?' asked Delroy.
Jest that. SIR"
Then how did tho revolver get in
Delroy and H%effelbower looked at
each other helplessly. Tremaine was
rolling another cigaret. and the cor
oner. CHANGING at him. noted the mean
ING smile which passed across his lips.
Have you a t'eory. Mr.. Tremaine?"
ne questioned respectfully. II should
be fiery glad to hear it. if you have"
Why. yes" answered Tremaine
slowly, a possible explanation occurs
10 me. however. it's only a theory,
aiu so may be worth nothing, but it
seems 10 me after committing a crime
IKE that the murderer would seek in
stantly to dispose OF the weapon with
when 1t was committed. What better
nIolhg place could he ask than the wa
1ers OF the bay? He would hurl the
pistol 1ar ~out-only. by a strange chance
instead or railing Into the water. it fell
another tone. Il FULLY agree with Mr..
ioe'roy that Mr.. Orysdale could not
nave committed tn. crime. The pistol
no doubt passed rom his possession
some time a3o lie Ian explain that,
alton. ' III
Yes" he said: TN ask him about
1t. I'm sure your t'eory is the correct
one. Mr.. Tremaine. 1 present YOU INV
compliments. You yourself did not
'eave tie house yesterday evening"
MT. Delroy can tell you"
NO. answered Delroy, MIR. Ire
name did not leave the house yesterday
Nobody went out except Mr.. Drvs-
daie.. spoke up Thomas. IT was in tn.
ves'lDuie TIL nearly midnight. when
Mr.. Delroy told me to e to bed"
You saw Mr.. Drysdale come imp"
Yes; sir; an l never saw anybody
80 Worke up an nervous-like."
ID o remember what oIIter .,r-
ment he wore?"
lie wore his raincoat, sir; 1 helped
him on an off with it,"
Where are tie ~raincoats kept?"
They usually hang on the rack in
:, vestibule. sir. That's Mr.. Drys-
now" " ~
Yes. said Delroy, looking down at
IT; IL didn't notice: ! snatched it down
he stopped. staring down at the
coal al ms ace suddenly livid.
The top button Of the coat was miss
ing. 1t had evidently been wrenched
away with violence, for the cloth was
badly torn. ""S
Amid a silence strained, absolute.
me coroner took from his pocketbook
the button he had found in Graham:s
hand. .
- believe Mr.. Drysdale will find It
diincuit to explain tbs gentlemen" he
salo, MS face glowing more and more.
ana ne held against the place the but
ton he had found.
1t f1tted It exactly; the button
matched the others on the coat. the
shred OF cloth was Of the same color
and material as the remainder Of the
garment. 1t was a proof there could
be no disputing.
H~ene!bower slowly replaced the but
ton In his pocketbook.
May I trouble you to take or 10
coat. Mr.. Delroy? ?" he said; and when
Delroy complied. he threw 1t over his
arm. "Tere's just one more question"
he added. Il suppose Mr.. Drysdale's
condition ISIS good?"
why. yes" answered Delroy. 81
have always SO considered It."
mere was a hesitation in his man.
ner which Hefelbower noticed.
you mean you do not so consider
4 at tbs moments? Don't try to shield
him. Mr.. Delroy. III he ISIS innocent
If he ISIS guilty. he should be punished:
Wei them" said Delroy. with q
kind of desperate calm, .Iye already
told you that ! heard he'd been specu-
iatirsg In steel. There was a crash,
sa:Irday. You know: but for how
was caught at all. / don't know. YouI
have to ask him about that"
h "Frankness never vel
hurt an innocent man. I think tat iss
All we can do here. Let US go up tc
Te y and have q talk with Mr.
They followed him in silence from
the boat house and up the broad
gravel path. Thomas opened the dool
for them.
Shall I have Drysdale called DOWN.
sskcd Delroy. a. they stepped inside.
NO" sald the coroner. "Td prefe,
to see him in his room"
Very WE'LL" the other acquiesced
M LED the wa through tho still de,
serted 2 up the stair.
At the tor. Tremaine turned to tn,
c0roner.A
re you don't mind" he said. 'T.l
30 on 70 my room. I'm feeling prett,
wen used up. NJ room - right her,
next TO Nj. Dry1dale's. II you wan
'Certainly. cir" agreed He3elbowe