The Virginia enterprise., 1908-12-11

until the shot was fired. The lodge
has been getting it's imitation made at
Burpee's drug store, where clerk by
the name of Wilbur Paget, who is a
member Of the lodge, grinds it up on
the quiet as we need it. On the
afternoon Of the initiation he had made
up quantity. Doc. Smith dropped
into the store about half-past five, and
Paget gave him the powder wrapped
up in a package. As far as I can find
out nobody but Paget and Doc handled
it or saw it,
Don't you suppose the clandestine
meeting he had with Mrs. Williams
this morning had something to do
with it,"
Now look here, who has leaked ,"
angrily exclaimed Darling.
you have leaked, my dear Mr. Oar
ling" answered Clarke. 1T was a
chance cast and I'm surprised that an
old hand like you should have taken
the bait. But you may rely upon our
discretion, and trust you will pardon
my lucky stroke and give US your full
confidence"
Clarke's good humor seemed par
TALLY to mollify the angry officer, but
l could see that the shot ranked.
When we entered his cell DR.. Smith
was seated upon the board which did
duty as bed. He was quite my ideal
type Of typical physician.
During the conversation / could see
the eyes of the doctor constantly re-
verting to those of Clarke as if he
found there some irresistible fascina.
ton. Then Clarke suddenly broke in
Whom are you shielding?' he
cried
mo one," fairly shouted the doctor.
Who are you that you should come
here to catechise me-"
I'VE have all the information we
shall get here" said Clarke as he
| took my arm and beckOned to the
chief who had watched the interview
through the small glass-covered aper-
ture in the door.
The drug clerk, Wilbur Paget, cor
roborated all the chief had said re-
garding the fake powder, but by far
the most important piece of informa-
tion which he was able to give us was
that on the afternoon he gave the pack
age to DR.. Smith he had also handed
the doctor small purchase which
Mrs. Williams had ordered by tele-
phone, asking him to leave it at Dr..
Williams home, which he must pass
on the way to his own.
| We'll, Mr.. Clarke, what do you
think by this time?" I ventured
Here is the case. DR.. Smith did not
commit that murder There was no
more surprised person in the lodge
room when the pistol went off. He
gave himself up for two reasons. First
to shield the woman ne loves and
whom he believes to be guilty. Sec
! ond. he feels that he is technically
guilty because his hand did the act,
and his mind has exulted over it,
Wilbur Paget, the drug clerk, might
have committed the murder He has
for several years been desperately and
hopelessly in love with Mrs. Williams,
and has cherished secret hatred for
her husband. Thus the motive was
there. The only reason he is not guilty
is that the idea did not occur to him.
will show you the opportunity later.
Her motive was double one She suf-
fered in silence the constant abuse Of
a drunken husband. She loved an
other. Thus she had the strongest
motive which can actuate a woman
to murder, the desire to rid herself Of
a man who was running her life and
to be free to marry man she loved.
Now for the opportunity which
you doubt. When Dr. Smith stopped
at the Williams home to deliver the
package from the drug store Dr. Will
liams was out. Common courtesy de.
manded that the wife ask DR.. Smith
into the house, even had her heart
not prompted her to snatch every mo-
ment with him that she could.
! Now for the opportunity. When
DR.. Smith left the house he did not
take the powder with him. Whether
it was connivance. intent, or merely
Observation-Disclosures I cannot say, but !
incline toward the latter At any rate.
the imitation powder was in the pos
session of Mrs. Williams for some
little time. She knew it's purpose"
mo. no. you are all wrong" I ex-
claimed. Il would have to lose all my
faith in womankind before l could
credit it. I would rather believe it of
the Doctor
After breakfasting the next morning
Clarke and set out to fulfill our ten
tative appointment with Mrs. Will
Jams.
Mrs. Williams" he began in his
whirlwind fashion, II will ask you
what passed between yourself and Dr..
Smith at the early morning meeting
you had with him yesterday. Wait a
minute. Is it not fact that Dr..
Smith called you to the back door be-
fore the neighbors were up and while
! the watchers were all in the front part
of the house with the body, and con-
fessed to you that he had executed
the fatal change in the powders?"
Did DR.. Smith tell you that?" she
asked in tense voice, while she con-
vulsively clasped and unclasped her
hands
"Dr. Smith has told me nothing. It
is fact, is it not?'
| Yes"
But despite his confession to you
and the fact that he gave himself up
to the police, you believe him to be
innocent ."