The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-12-12
CHAPTER VIII.
THE HAND OF THE. LAY

i tink ] shall have to see Mr.. Drys-
GALE before 1 go back to Babylon" he
SAID. But first let us try to account
Tor tie presence of It's pistol in tat
boat"
How can It be accounted for?" de-
handed Delroy impatiently. Good
Cod! l tell you Jack Drysdale never
Killed that a Perhaps he was boat
ing yesterday-no. he vas in New York
yesterday-well, Sunday, then, and had
the pistol with him and left 1t in 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
coroner sharply.
sir, I tied 1t t. the buoy,
an know my knot. It's tn same
n Jest unfastened."
You mean that BOAT hasn't been
away from the buoy since you tied it
there?" asked Delroy.
Jest that, sir"
it?" se ~
Delroy and Heffelbower looked at
zach 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. Il should
pe 1ery glad to hear it. if you have
Why, yes" answered Tremaine
slowly, "a possible explanation occurs
10 me. However, it's only a theory,
And SO may be worth nothing, but it
S,eems to me after committing a crime
IKE lha.. the urdere would seek in
Stantly to dispose of the weapon with
Which 1T was committed. What better
hiding place could he ask thar the wa
lers OF the bay? He would hurl the
plstol far out-only, by a strange chance
instead Of falling into the water, 1t fell
anio the boat. or course, he added, in
Gnother tone, II fully agree with Mr..
i,elroy that Mr.. Drysdale could not
nave committed the crime. The pistol
no doubt passed from his possession
some time ago.. He car explain that
alton.
Yes" he said; "I.l ask him about
1T. I'm sure your t'eory is the correct
one. Mr.. Tremaine. I present you my
compliments. You yourself did NOT
ieave tie house yesterday EVENING""
.Mr. Delroy can tell you"
NO, Delroy, Mr.. Ire
maine did not leave the house yesterday
evening""
Nobody went out except Mr.. Drys-
uale.. spoke UP Thomas. II was in IN,
vestlpnie till nearly midnight. when
Mr, Delroy told me to e. to bed"
You saw Mr.: Drysdale com fn?"
81 nes, SIT, an ! never saw anybody
worried up an nervous-like."
DO o remember what oIIter oar.
ment he wore?'
He Wore his %raincoat, sir; / helped
MIN on an off with it,"
Mnere are te %raincoats kept?"
Ihey usually hang on the rack in
$ .v%estibule, sir. That's Mr.. Drvs-
now" Dos mas Oh
Yes" said Delroy. looking down at
-, = didn,t notice; 1 snatched it down
IN such a hurry"
He stopped, staring down at the
coat, MS face suddenly livid.
Inc others followed his glance.
Inc top button Of the coal was miss
Ing. 1T had evidently been wrenched
n,way With violence, for the cloth was
Amid silence strained. absolute.
the coroner took from his pocketbook
Inc button he q found In Graham's
hand.
= believe Mr.. Drysdale will find 1t
valid. his face glowing more and more,
and he held against the place the but
ton he had found.
1t fitted tt 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
he no disputfng.
Heffelbower slowly replaced the but
ton in his p~ocketbook.
May trouble you to take off tie
Soat. Mr.. Delroy?" he said; and when
soelroy complied. he threw it over his
arm. "T'ere's just n more question:"
added. II suppose Mr.. D~rysdale's
financial condition ISIS good2'
Why, yes" answered Delroy. "I
always SO considered It,"
20 rNh nVo go ., - !. NeNSA = -. -, -.
ner which Heffelbower noticed.
"Yoi, mean you do not so consider
1t at It's moment? Don't try to shield
him, Mr.. Delroy. IF he ISIS innocent
he. VIII have no difficulty In proving 1t;
u ne ISIS guilty, he should be punished"
Wei, then" said Delroy, with a
Kind of desperate calm, 1--WE already
told you that / heard he'd been specu-
iatlng in steel. There was a crash.
Saturday. o know; but for how
much he was caught. or whether he
was caught at all. / don't know. YouIl
have to ask him about that
you for your franlsness," said
the coroner. Frankness never vet
hurt an fnnoccnt man. / t'ink tat ISIS
all we can do here. Let us go up to
t,e house and have a talk with Mr..
They followed him in silence from
The boat house n up the broad
gravel path. Thomas opened the door
Shall I have Drysdale called DOWN.
tsksd Deiroy. as they stepped inside.
to see him IN his room"
Very we'll" the othor acquiesced,
q led the way through the still de-
serted hail and up the stair.
AZ TOP. Trcmaine turned to the
II y0u don't mind" h said. I'm.
go on 10 my room. TN feeling ,,,ettv