Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-02-06
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THE STORY OF MONDAY NIGHT
Not until the regular click-c,ick q,
the wheels told me that we were wen
under way did I open my mind to Cod
frev: hen I spoke with what I deemed
81 necessary franknexs.
My dear Godfrey" I began, Two
watched you all day. smelling bottles.
examining scratches. trying to read
faint Ink MARKS On a blotter, puzzlinE
over > broken cane. and doing var
iOus other eccentric things from which
you seemed to draw conclusions utterly
Invisible to me. I've heard you assure
both Drysdale and Miss Croydon that
the former will be cleared Of suspicion
az tomorrow's inquest. and that the
real culprit will be pointed out. You'll
pardon me IL I confess to some curl
osity as to how all this Is to be &C
complished."
Did Q see her face 90 she came
Q that door. Lester?' he asked.
staring absently at the seat in front Of
us. Il tell you. 1t warmed the heart
OF even an old reprobate like me. And
to thtnk that we did It," he added. \
think that we did It"
You did It," I corrected. Il was In
the chorus today-you had the center
OF the STAGE
but you don't mind. Leseer7 Z
couldn't help 1t. you know"
"Of course you couldn't-that's
where you belong. But now that the
curtains down. and we're alone to-
gether with plenty of time to talk, I'd
like to understand -
and you shall-down to tho min
utest detail. Let's see-this is tho
smoker. isn't It? Well, suppose we
light up-1 can think more clearly
when I'm smoking"
All right; fire away" I said, as soon
as the cigars were going.
We'll" began Godfrey. las I pointed
out to you this morning, for good and
sufficient reasons, / started Out in this
Investigation with h assumption Of
Tremaine's guilt"
"Of course" I observed. you know
Il - the duty Of every jury to start out
, with exactly the contrary assump-
ton"
Certainly I know that; but a deteo-
tive has to work with some definite
END IN view. or he gets any
wnere. IN other words. a detective,
after carefully studying the details Of
any crime. must form a theory con-
corning It. and must work along that
theory. AS soon as he discovers any
tact that fails to at with his theory,
he u modify It or form another;
n he must keep on doing this until
he finds the theory which agrees with
all the facts-not all but one or two.
but with every one. A good many de-
tectiyes fall into the mistake OF being
satisfied with the theory which fits
most OF the facts-a serious error. for
h right theory must, Of course. in.
evitably fit them all. That's the scien-
tiac method n the only safe n
When g detective hits upon q theory
which hts all the known facts. he's got
as much right to assume It's truth ~
an astronomer has OF Q physicist, who
way"
bat that's a dimcult thing 70 do.
remarked. ITO hnd . theory that 0ip
all the facts" d.
.E~xceedingiy dimsuit sometiun-
asaented my companion, ''becausS
facts often appear to be entirely conS
Trajectory. Really. facts are nevSe
contradictory-truth 10 always truth
the trouble 10 W can't alwayu tan
what 70 fact and what % action. ~
hardest part OF . detectives work r.
to stft the wheat from the cha1-to
get at b meaty, essential facta
Wen. - you know. ! started out
With the theory Of Tronalne's euilt.
More than TINT, I was morally oer.
tain that he wa guilty. Knowing vhse
! knew Of h man. And first OF m
u was evident to mo that NO criminai
a. careful ~ he % would run the mr.
OF gueng through that boathouse ana
committing q murder OF the pler out-
side with young Graham sleeplne On
Q cot Q few feet away. tharofneo
deduced this bottle. smell OF ifa
He uncorked it ana haad q ~
my o
lCsseinusd Iasxs Wsak3
II ~ ~