The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-01-09

stage storm. where the lightning flashes
at Just the right instant. The fellow
who arranged 1t wanted to be too sure
he oVerleaped himself"
That may all be true | said Slow
~, after a moment, "but 1t would be
worse than folly to s . that argument
with a jury. To say that a man isn't
guilty. because the evidence against
him appears to be conclusive
We're not going to use It to a jury:
we're using 1t between ourselves, In
me EFFORT to find a working hypothesis.
And here's another argument which
would carry no weight with a jury, yet
which with me, personally, is conclu-
sive: know Jack Drysdale; W
known him for a long time, and I
know that it's utterly impossible that
ne should ave committed such q crime.
He's not a very original fellow; not
at all q genius; he's never done any
thing, perhaps, which either OF US
you'd think really worth doing; but
he's kind, and honest, and gentle, and
honorable l repeat that a crime like
This is as far beyond his horizon as 1t
Is beyond yours-farther, I'm sure, than
1t Is beyond mine; and yet, I don't be-
heve you'd think me guilty, no matter
what the evidence against me seemed
to bes"
II shouldn't" / said ..qb1t if Drvs-
dale isn't guilty, who is?"
III Drysdale isn't. there's only one
other person who can be-that's Ire
maine. AS I'm sure Drysdale's not
guilty, I'm co~rrespondingly sure that
Tremaine is"
But then" I objected, you've Just
said that there's no evidence against
him."
T said apparently there wasn't"
And Delroy says he didn't leave the
house."
"Delroy must be mistaken-must be.
/ mind V0nIHAAn nd white thor1 S,~,+ ,-,,
direct evidence, there's some pretty
good indirect. We know that Ire
maine is a criminal and, therefore,
capable OF this crime; we suspect that
ne needs money, and the necklace
would place him out Of need for a long
time to come; we know that he was
within reach of the spot where the
murder was committed, If he could get
away from Delroy for an hour or so.
IN other words, we have a motive and
the physical possibility of guilt. I
may d that I think we shall find he
had some reason to injure Drysdale-
I'm sure we shall, in fact"
But the button-the pistol-Drys-
dale's unexplained a~bsence?"
Those points can only be cleared up
by a personal investigation of the
premises. That's why we're going to
Edgemere."
Godfrey" l said, there seems to
me to be one great objection to your
theory that Tremaine killed Thompson.
II Miss Croydon saw him do it, would
she consent to associate with him?
Wouldn't her very knowledge of his
crime give her a greater hold on him
than he has on her sister,"
He paused to turn this over.
yes he admitted at last; at
would; but a woman might not think
of that
"a desperate woman would think of
everything" | said; and if your theory
is right, both she and her sister must
be very desperate"
He nodded without answering. and
sat staring before him, his brows
knitted in perpleXity.
There was one conclusive objection
might have urged, had I known of it
but was not yet possessed of the
story of the house party. If Tremaine
was the b of Mrs. Delroy, how
could he propose marriage to her sis
ter? That was a rock, as yet unseen
by US, which doomed ahead-which we
could not avoid-upon which our the
DRY must inevitably be dashed to
pieces.
The train flashed past two or three
big hotels, then the brakes were app
piled.
Here's Babylon" said Godfrey. rous-
ing himself from the profound reverie
into which my question had thrown
him. Wen look in upon the prisoner,
first, and cheer him up a bit"
The Jail was only a short distance
from the station, and a five minutes
walk brought US to it.
We're here in behalf of Mr.. Drys-
dale" Godfrey explained to the taller.
This is Mr.. Lester. of Graham &
Royce, of New York, who have been
retained to defend him. l suppose we
may see him?"
III take in your cards." he said, aft
er looking US over. IF Mr.. Drvsdale
wants to see you, it's all right, but
you'll be the first ones"
He disappeared into an inner room;
we heard the rafting Of keys and the
changing of an iron door. He was back
again in a moment.
step this a gentlemen" ne said.
Drysdale was sitting on the bunk in
his little cell. He came forward with
hand outstretched as soon as he saw
Godfrey.
This is mighty kind of you, JIM"
he said.
TIL have to lock you in, gentlemen"
broke in the jailer. How soon must
l come fer your"
Godfrey, looking at his watch. Then
he turned back to US as the iailer's
steps died away down the corridor.
Jack" he said, this is Mr.. Lester. of
Graham & Royce, who've been taine
to look after your case"
MY vast. WHO eldlne IhGT1?
81 did. 1 scarcely supposed you we're
going to let yourself be convicted with
Out lifting a finger"
Drysdale smiled bitterly.
They won't convict me. lust the
same. I'm glad to see you, Mr.. Lester"
and he held out his hand. Il shall, Of
course. need some legal advice"
I'm glad you ad1nit thai much" re-
torted Godfrey, with sarcasm. 81 un-
derstand that you haven't condescended
as yet to prove an alibi?"
NO answered the prisoner quietly.
The fact is, l can't prove an alibi."
You ant" and Godfrey's face
paled a little.
No, when l left the house that night,
| went down to the pier and had a lit
tie talk with Graham; then IL wan
dered around the grounds until the
storm ann up, when l went pack to
the house and up to my room. No
body saw me; / spoke to nobody after
left Graham, until 1 returned to the
house. There's only my own word for
1t. What was the use Of telling the
police a story like that?"
Nc use at ALL" agreed Godfrey
M ~