Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-04-07
And l suppose he didn't.


had a bad night He awakened vague
ly wondering whether he should live
| long enough to bring the murderer of
Constance Craig to justice, and If not
to whom he should leave the legacy of
his hate and his determination when
| he died
| What would he do?
He would do something very quick
| ly. He would procrastinatc no longer
He breakfaSted hurriedly. In an hour
after leaving his bed he was in the
office of Walter Aldrich.
Good morning." said the latter gen.
tleman, looking up as the detective en-
tered. l doubt whether he was glad
to see Mr. Prier. His coming to Boom
vile was too closely connected with
his own severe disappointment to make
his presence pleasing.
| Mr. Prier drew q chair close to the
desk of the lawyer and seated him.
self. without waiting for an invitation.
| Il have come to ask yOu 4 few very
plain questions" he said. abruptly.
Aldlch looked up quickly, but with
no trace of agitation in his face.
"Very we'll" he replied, Il am ready
to listen"
They relate to the Craig case"
Aldrch smiled.
Il suppose So he said quietly: mo
one at all versed in the ways of the
hot
you came back to Boomville for pleas
ure."
No? Really l think you underrate
the charms of Boomville. l believe it
is generally understood that l reside
here for pleasure"
Aldrich shrugged his shoulders.
Perhaps so,' he said; lat any rate
you may have your own way. You
wish to ask me some questions re-
gardng the matter of the murder of
your half-sster?"
Il do
Il have already told all 1 know, in
court, and under oath"
Have you?"
II have"
"Will you kindly tell me where you
spent the Sunday before the murder?'
Aldrich flushed, but he looked the
detective in the eyes as he answered,
and his voice did not tremble or falter.
Il understand the motive of your
question. / know the sort OF reckless
statements which have undoubtedly
reached your ears. wonder you have
not been here with that question long
before this. And now-I will tell you.
l spent Sunday ten miles from Blank
ford, in the opposite direction from
that in which Mrs. Craig lived"
But
Il can prove it, if you DESIRE" said
the lawyer, quietly.
You were Mrs. Craig's lawyer, were
you not?"
Certainly"
when did you last see herr"
Il was at her funeral. Do you not
remember me? I remember you well"
Il didn't mean that. When did you
last see her alive?"
About one week before her death"
"When-when-"
THE afternoon of the Monday of the
week before the one when she was
killed"
And why-Why-
"On business" was the curt inter-
ruption.
THAT was not my question. l had
not finished. Why did you say about
one week before her DEATH"
Because l am not at all satisfied
that she died Monday night"
DO yOu-do you-know-
Il know nothing about it. l never
suspected that Mrs. Craig died other
than natural death until after the ar
rest of Gil-Of Mr.. Sem. But now,
doubt ASK Miss Webb how long she
was away from home?"
The same advice again. A third time.
Once in the letter. Once from Rev.
John Kane. And now from Walter
Aldrch.
Thank you. WILL" said Prier,
gravely.
And that will prove whether
whether-' began Aldrich, and then
paused.
| "WeI?"
whether l was a fool or a knave
when l cleared Mr. Semi"
A fool or a knave? l do not under
stand"
why. you know Sem must have
been guilty if-if the discrepancy in
the time can possibly be accounted for.
There was never SO strong a case OF
before. Was I a fool in not asking
this woman that simple question, or
only Il knave in trying to clear such
rascal as | feel Sem must be-"
| You think Sem is guilty them"
Guilty beyond Il doubt"
And YOU hate him for that, 1 pre-
sumo. uuite as much as you do for his
act in marrying Elsie Barron?'
"Certainly not
Il am astonished at that | should
not have taken you 10 De d Hckle Hail.
Il do not understand you, Mr.. Prier.'
Don't you? Were you not engaged
to Mrs Craig at the time of her
DEATH"
NO. sir"
Had YOU and she not recently made
up a qlalrcl--a lovers quarrel"
NO. sir
Were you not engaged to her be-
fore she married Mr.. CRAIG"
No. sir Those stories were all lies,
wicked and malicious lies"
| Indeed" said Mr.. Prier.
| wicked and malicious lies repeat
ed the lawyer
Good morning." said Mr. Prier, as
lhe hurried from the room.