Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-01-10

with a jury. To say that a man isn't
guilty because the evidence against
him appear to be conclusive
We're not going to use it to a jury:
we're using ii between ourselves, In
the effort to find a working hypothesis.
And here's another argument which
would carry no weight with a jury, yet
which with me, personally, is conclu-
sive: | know Jack Drysdale; I've
known him for a long time, and /
know that It's utterly impossible that
he should have committed such a 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. l repeat that a crime like
this is as far beyond his horizon as II
is beyond yours-farther, I'm sure, than
1t is beyond mine; and yet, i don't be-
lieve you'd think me guilty, no matter
what the evidence against me seemed
to be"
Il shouldn't" said but il Drys-
dale isn't guilty. who is?"
IF Drysdale isn't, there's only one
other person who FAR be-that's Ire
maine. AS I'm sure Drysdale's not
guilty, I'm correspondingly sure that
Tremaine is"
But them / objected. you've Just
said that there's no evidence against
him
Il 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 a criminal and, therefore,
capable of this crime; we suspect that
he needs money, and the necklace
would place him out OF need for a 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. /
may add that l think we shall find he
had some reason to injure Drysdale-
I'm sure we shall, in fact
But the button-the pistol-Drys-
dale's unexplained absence?"
Those points can only be cleared up
by a personal investigation of the
premises. That's why we're going to
Edgemere."
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 a greater hold on him
than he has on her sister,"
He paused 10 urn this over.
Yes" he admitted at last: ut
would; but a woman might not think
Of that"
"A desperate would hin of
everything" / said; and if your theory
is right, both h 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
l might have urged, had l known Of it
but i was not yet possessed of the
story Of the house party. If Tremaine
was the husband of Mrs. Delroy, how
he propose marriage to her sis
ter? That was a rock, as yet unseen
by us, which loomed ahead-which we
not aVoid-upon which our the
DRY 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 reverie
n which my question had thrown
him. Wen look in upon the prisoner,
first, and cheer him up a bit"
h Jail was only a short distance
from the station. n a five minutes
walk brought us to it.
We're here in behalf Of Mr.. Drys-
dale" Godfrey explained 10 the taller.
This is MIR. Lester, of Graham 81
Royce, of New York, who have been
retained to defend him. l we
may see him.
I'll take in your cards" he said. aft
er looking US over. IF Mr.. Drysdale
TO see you, it's all right, but
you'll be the first ones"
He disappeared into an inner room:
we heard the rafting OF keys and the
changing of an iron door. He was back
again in a moment.
step this way, gentlemen" he said.
Drysdale was sitting on the bunk in
his little cell. He came forward with
hand outstretched as soon as he saw
Godfrey.
This is mighty kind of you, Jim
he said.
I'll have to lock you in, gentlemen"
broke in III jailer. How soon must
l come fer you?"
Say twenty minutes" answered
Godfrey. looking at his watch. Then
steps died away down the corridor.
Jack" he said, this is Mr.. Lester, OF
Graham d Royce, who've been retained
to look after your case"
My case? Who retained them?"
Il did. l scarcely supposed you were
going TO let yourself be convicted with
out lifting a finger"
Drysdale smiled bitterly.
They won convict me. Just the
same. I'm glad TO see you, Mr.. Lester"
and he he'd out his hand. Il shall, OF
course, need some legal advice"
I'm glad you admit that muchi" re-
torted Godfrey, with sarcasm. Il un-
that you haven't condescended
as yet to prove an alibi?"
NO" answered the prisoner quietly.
THE fact is, ! can't prove an alibi."
You can't?" n Godfrey's face
paled a little.
mo, when l left the house that night.
| went down TO the pier and had a lit
tie talk with Graham: then IL wan
dered around the grounds until the
storm came up, when I went back to
the house and up to my room. No
body saw me; / spoke to nobody after
| left Graham, until j returned to the
house. There's only my own word for
II. h was the use Of telling the
police a story like that" n
mo use at ALL" agreed Godfrey
hastily. Tn glad you didn't tell II.
But VIA or earth possessed you to
In such a crazy fashion,"
more quietly, lis one question which
must absolutely refuse to answer"
CHAPTER vi.