Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-01-18


little grounl for that conviction III
had expressed SO confidently. that W
could prove our clients innocence.
was forced 10 admit that, TO look ~
Drysdale, no one would believe hin
capable Of such a crime; but then, fol
that matter, 20 look at Tremaine, who
would believe him capable of 1t? Pu
the two men before a jury and Tre-
maine would come off victor every
time. 1t becomes Instructive, i'm time
FOR a lawyer 70 try to look at his cases
with an average jury's eyes-he must
see them as those twelve men in the
box viii see them-and applying that
method now, II was very evident tt
me that the chance Of clearing oul
client was very slim indeed.
The trap came around TO the door
and i'm moment we We're off along
the sandy road. The day was warm
and bright. the air had the sharp salt
smell of the ocean. trees and bushes
were starting into life under the touch
of spring. But Godfrey did not seem
10 notice any OF these things. He kept
his eyes straight ahead and his face
was very stern. No doubt he was find-
ing the problem much more difficult
than he had thought.
But az last we swung down before
the door az EdgeHaere. A man ran out
TO hold our horse. We asked for Mr..
Delroy, and a servaut who had been
stationed IN the vestlbule took in our
cards. He returned Immediately and
conducted us to the library. Delroy
came forward TO meet us. our cards
I'm his hand, a curious look OF doubt
and perpleXity upon his countenance.
MY dear Godfrey" he began Il
didn't like 20 refuse to see you. and
yet I've declined. TO talk TO reporters
You're not talking TO one now, Mr..
Delroy," broke in my companion. I've
come down purely in Drysdale's be-
half OF course. III write up the story
IL / succeed in getting him off, but
I'll not use anything ! learn here In
that way"
oh that's all right, then" and Del
roy breatned sigh of relief Glad TO
see you. And yC /. too, Mr.. Les or"
Mr. lester IS Drysdale's counsel"
explained my companion. Between
us, we're going to see that he's cleared
OF this ridiculoIs charge"
Yes. | hope you viii. Sit down,
won't you? Ridiculous that's the word
for it; and yet" he added, passing his
hand before his eyes in a dazed way,
there are so many points of evidence
which seem unexplainable that I've
grown giddy thinking about them. It's
such a terrible thing-filY wife is quite
prostrated a little delirious at
times; her sister is almost ill-We'vc
all been terribly upset"
mo doubt" nodded Godfrey his face
Curio sly intent We're not going
tC trouble YOU much now, Mr.. Delroy;
the only thing | should like you to do
Is to give us an account of all that
happened that evening. l hope you will
do that"
Yes, I'll be glad TO do that" and
he proceeded TO t,ll in detail the story
the reader already knows
There's one ling" said Godfrey
when It was end I'd. rs IL true that
Miss Croydon seemed to believe Drys-
dale guilty.
stant she did; bu' she explained to me
afterwards tha- she thought it was
Tremaine who had been killed"
Godfreys eyes blazed with sudden
interest
"Tremaine; Then there's been ILL
feeling between them?"
'Yes-at least on Drysdale's part
He'd conceived some absurd suspicious
OF Tremaine-told me I'd done wrong
In inviting him here--acted rather
nastlly about IL, in fact"
THANK you," said Godfrey quietly
though his eyes were still shining
Now l should like your permission
70 look over the grounds and to ex-
anime the rooms which Drysdale and
Trem4ine occupied
Certainly" anC Delroy touched the
bell. "Thomas" lie said. 10 the servant
who entered, ''yod will take these
and answer any questions they may
ask you"
We went flrrt 10 the boat house
and pier and looked over the scene
of the tragedy | was struck, at once
by the change In Godfrey's demeanor:
he no longer seemed either perpiexed
or worried, his face was shining with
triumph. Evidently he haG discovered
q way out of the labyrinth.
To the boat house he gave a par
tcularly careful scruti. y. searching in
every corner, apparently for some min
ute object which he failed to find. Out
on the pier again he stood looking W
and down with thoughtful face.
"Pshaw!" he sad suddenly. Il might
have known [ was just wasting my
time in there. Come this way, Les
ter"
He hurried back through the boat
house and down to the beach Alone
the edge of Ii he walked. scrutinizing
every inch OF the sand. Suddenly he
stopped with little cry of triumph
and caught up a small bottle 1t was
quite empty He removed the cork
shifted 1t. and replaced 1t quickly
40 you mean TO say, Godfrey"
demanded in astonishment, that you
have been looking for that bottle?"
ITS precisely what I've beer
ultantly "And I've learned one thing
never TO mistrust logical deduction
Now let's go back TO the house And
Thomas" he added to our guide, take
us back by the way that viii bring us
opposite the room occupied by Mr.. Ire
maine"
"All right, sir" said Thomas. "His
room was right next to Mr.. Drysdale's
in tn east wing-there II is now. sir
tn third and fourth windows from th
end"
And the fifth and sixth windows be
long to Mr.. Drysdale's room?"
Yes, sir"
A sort OF balcony ran along the entire
wing just beneath the windows. half.
covered with creeping vines, which II
summer. no doubt. completely drapeC
it. Godfrey examined 1t with shining
eyes. Then he walked straight to the
end OF the building.
NOW Lester" he said. I'm going tC
make a prediction. / predict that wei
find the wall at the corner freshly
scratched in more than one place. All
now. see there"
The marks We're plain enough and the
cluster OF heavy vines which ran vi
here against the house also showed
signs of abrasion.
What would you say those marks
meant. Lester?" Godfrey asked.
II should say" | answered readily
enough. that someone had recently
climbed UP TO the balcony or down from
it,
Both ways. Lester; both up ant
down, Oh. this is much simpler thar
I'd expected Now take us up to tht
rooms, Thomas"
But in the vestibule he paused
is that the rack where the coat:
hang, Thomas?" he asked.
Yes. sir
And where Mr. Drysdale hung hi
coat that night?"
Yes, sir"
did you happen 10 notice. Thomas
when he came In. whether or not the
top button OF his raie-coat was miss
ing2"
Yes sir" answered Thomas slowly
II thought about IL afterwards, and it.
mighty funny. sir. but I'd swear ht
had his coat buttoned up tight around
his throat How QOllil ne n-dOne thai