The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-02-07

AeA1y tis'e ~ I tHS PSN'NSNs
The boys story helped me to arrive
Mt 1T. He had been awakened by that
violent thunder clap. but for the first
moment he had found himself unable
to move-aiz2y. as he explained 1t"
But how did you know where to
look for it?" | asked.
Well, l knew that no expert
enccd criminal would keep about him
a bottle that had contained chic
form. The odor clings to it for
a Ion time. I committed the mistake,
at first. of supposing that he had hid
den 1t in the boathouse. l should have
known better. Naturally he would
throw II into the bay. There was a
single chance against me. If he had
thrown 1t in u%ncorked. 1t would prob
ably have sunk That was a point he
didn't think of. and by just that much
he fell below perfection. I think he
probably administered the chloroform
by pouring 1t upon one corner Of the
sheet and throwing it over young
Graham's face. No doubt the odor
would have been perceptible next morn
Ing had anyone thought to look for it.
There was only II point in the whole
case" he added thoughtfuly, that
was utterly at variance with my the
ory-and it worried me badly for q
time"
What was that?" I asked.
That was the story the jailer told
us-that Miss Croydon believed Drys-
dale guilty. But you have seen how
naturally that was explained. I knew
then. In that instant, that I was on
the right tracll-that nothing could de-
feat me. But let us go baclS to the
be~ginning-and I'd like you to point out
any flaws you see in the story"
VERY well.' I said, and settled back
In the seal to listen.
had two very powerful
motives for the commission of this
crime" began Godfrey: 'he needed
money and could take no more from
Miss Croydon, since he was trying Sc
riously to win her affection; he was
determined to get Drysdale out of the
way under circumstances as discredit-
able as possible, confident that, in that
case, he would himself win Miss Croy-
don. Which," he added, in a thought-
full aside. from what you've told me
of him, I don't think at all impossible.' .
Not In the least" l agreed. II be-
lieve Tremaine could win any woman
he really set his heart IN"
AT any rate, he learns of Drysdale's
jealousy n Of Miss Croydon's promise
to explain things. He sees that at any
ton. Monday morning he comes to
town With Delroy. and the latter tells
him that he intends giving the necklace
the saltwater treatment. You'll re-
elnb 1t was TremaiEe who original
ly proposed this, though he could
scarcely at that time have foreseen
what would come Of it."
Mere chance" I nodded.
Well, Tremaine takes the early train
back to Edgenere and lays his plans
He writes the note''-
But you really haven't any evidence
that he did" 1 objected.
For answer Godfrey cook from his
pocket he blotter he had founu in Ire.
maine's room.
II told you that these letters aren't
in ~Trelnaine's hand" he said; but ii
you'll compare them with the note
Miss Croydon's. Again, they are only
capital BIS. G's, n Is, which are the
only capitals used in the note. That's
pretty good circunlstantial evidence
Tremaine. of course. burnt the piece OF
paper he pfacticed on; out he didn',
THINK to burn this blotter. 1t was only
the freshest line at the bottom of thu
paper that left these marks"
but did Tremaine have q sample o.
Miss Croydon's writing?"
There's no reason to think III didn'1
have; but IL he didn't, he could nc
among Drysdale's things. He's prob
ably an adept at forgery as well as al
most other branches of crime"
"All right; go ahead" l said.
"Tremainc writes the note and leave.
IT In Drysdale's room," continued God
frey. Then he opens the trunk ant
secures the revolver. Perhaps he knew
didn't. If.he hadn't found 1t, he'd prob
ably nave taken something else belong
Ing to Drysda1e for a weapon.
Having secured the revolver, he re
turns to his room by way of the bal
cony. What passed in the early par,
nf thu aUnnjnp lH,, 49,
dale goes to keep the rendezvous at tn.
pergola. starting early. because tn,
house with Trelnaine in It. has becon1,
u~nbearable to him. He stops for ,
chat with Graham. which the latter,
son o~verhears. and then goes on to tn,
psrgoia, "h1ch Is quite at the other enc
OF the grounds from the boathouse.
Meanwhile, Tremaine has spent tn,
early part of the evening talking viii
Delroy and Miss Croydon. At last h,
goes to his room on the pretense O
writing letters. gets the revolver, set,
nl1nsel1 Gown by the vine. n start!
for the pier. He enters the boathous,
softly, feels his way to the cot. who's,
position he has already seen. and care
fully administers the chlorofornl. Th,
dose was no doubt nicely calculated anf
the boy would probably nave awakened
naturally in q few hours.
THAT done. Trcmaine walks boldl,
out upon the pier. Old Graham see:
him: perhaps challenges him: but n
course allows him to approach as 500,
as he recognizes him. They talk to
gether for a moment: then Tremaine
swift as lightning. knocks the othe
down. Graham probably fell withcu
crying out. l fancy I can see Tremain
pausing to make sure his victim i
dead before he goes on to the end O
the pier to get the necklace"
I shivered: / could sec him, too, bend
ing over In the darkness. with a nor
rible calmness.
''Tha. throwing Of the pistol into tn
boat" continued Godfrey. was one o
those flashes Of Inspiration which com
to q man sometimes. It was superb
1t proves that our friend is really al
artist. Not n man in a thousan,
would have thought of it. He mus
have laughed with sheer satisfactio,
when he heard it clatter safely Int
the boat"
He paused for a moent to think o
It. to turn it over, to taste it.
WELL" he continued. at last, "he Sc
cures the necklace, throws away tn
bottle, and probably goes down to tn
waters edge to wash his lands"
Did he take the necklace with hir
to the house?" I asked.
NO." said Godfrey decidedly. 'Ther
was no reason whatever for him to ru
that risk. He a doubtless picked out