Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-14
CHAPTER XIX.

S$&S9 speaking, but his face hard-
ened and grew stern, 40 far as lay in
the power of countenance so rubi-
cund.
II t'ink shall have to see Mr. Drys-
dale before I go 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 for7" de-
manded Delroy impatiently. "Good
heavens! 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 In the boat by mistake. How else
could it have got there? The murderer
wouldn't have put 1t there"
"Nobody's used tn boat. sir" said
William.
.'How do you know t'at7' asked the
coroner sharply.
Because, sir, I tied Il t. the buoy,
an I know my knot. It's tn same
one l Jest mfastened."
Nobody went out except Mr.. Drys-
dale,' spoke up Thomas. II was in
tn vestibule till nearly midnight, when
Mr.. Delroy told me t 60 to bed"
you saw Mr.. Drysdale come int"
Eyes, sir, an never saw anybody
so worked up an nervous-like."
do you remember what outer gar
ment he woreY'
"He wore his raincoat. sir. helped
him on an OF with It"
where are tie raincoats keptr
"They usually hang on the rack In
tn vestibule, sir. That's Mr.. Drys-
dale's coat that Mr.. Delroy has on
now"
EYES," said Delroy, looking down at
It; 81 didn't notice. snatched 1t down
In such hurry
He stopped, staring down at the,
coat, his face suddenly livid.
The others followed his glance. j,
The top button Of the cost was MISS
ing. It had evidently been wrenched
away with violence. for the cloth wasl
badly torn.
Amid silence strained, absolute.
the coroner took from his pocketbook
the button he had found In Graham's
hand.
II believe Mr.. Drysdale will find II
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. q
It fitted exactly; the button matched
the others on the coat; the shred OF
cloth was Of the same color and ma
terial as the remainder of the garment.
It was proof there could be no dis
putting.
LET us go up to tie house and have
a talk with Mr.. Drysdale," said the
coroner.
They followed him in silence from
the boathouse and ND the broad gravel
path.
"shall I have Drysdale called
DOWN. asked Delroy as they stepped
inside.
mo-" said the coroner; "rd 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. "A
At the top, Tremaine turned to the
coroner.
III you don't mind" he said, "I'll
20 on to my room. I'm feeling pretty
well used up"
The others went on to the next door.
Delroy knocked.
"Who's thereY' queried Drysdale's
voice.
.open up, Jack" called Delroy.
We've got to see you on some rather
important business"
"Important businessy' Drysdale re-
peated, and they heard him cross the
room. Then the door was flung open.
'Come in-why, what the deuce is all
this about, Dickie7"
.Come in and shut the door, Jack."
replied Delroy quietly. "This gentle
man is Coroner 4efkelbower Of Baby
Ion. He wishes to ask you q few
questions"
Drysdale answered with stare Of
amazement, but he stood aside and let
them pass into the room.
II was packing, Dickie." he said.
i've got to go back to New York
today, to look after some investments.
I'd like to stay, old man, but really
CAN'T
Something in the faces Of his audi
tors stopped him, and he changed color.
"sit down. Mr.. Drysdale," said the
coroner solemnly, himself taking chair.
'Our business may take some little
time. You own revolver. believe"
eyes," said Jack, "a Smith & Wes-
son. I was just looking for it. When
/ opened my trunk just now I missed
it."
GLOW long has it been since you
saw it?'
II can't say-two or three days. per
haps"
did you have your revolver last
nightY
.No; I haven't seen it for day or
two, tell you"
"Iss tbs your revolver? asked the
coroner. producing the weapon.
Drysdale took 1t and looked at 1t
with an air Of establishment.
"Why, yes" he said. ''Where did
you get it?"
"And iss tbs your raincoatY
Eyes; but what
''You wore it when you went out last