The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-11-28

way in. He had scrap of transparent
paper in his hand, and pencil,
81 would like permission to take
the stains" he began, eagerly. " Also -
to me il you viii kindly .ah your
finger with pin-needle-anything-
"If you don t keep out of this, - the
conductor said savagely, q will do
some .jabbing myself. As for you,
sir" he turned TO me. ] was abso-
lutely innocent, but [ knew that ] pre-
sentcd a typical picture of guilt; | was
covered with cold sweat, and the
pounding in my ears kept up dizzily.
AS for you, sir
The irrepressible amateur detective
made quick pounce at the pillow and
pushed back the cover Before our in
credulous eyes ho drew out a narrow
steel dirk which had been buried to
the small cross that served as Il head.
There was chorus Of voices around,
n quick surging forward of the crowd.
So that was what had scratched my
hand! l buried the wound in my coat
pocket.
"Well," I said, trying to speak nat
urally, "dOesn't that prove what /
have been telling YOU? The man who
committed the murder belonged TO this
berth, and made an exchange in some
way after the crime. How do YOU
know he didn't change the tags so I
would come back to this berth?' This
was an Inspiration; I was pleased with
it. "Th&t s what he did, changed the
tags | reiterated.
There was murmur of assent
around. The doctor, who was standing
beside me, put his hand on my arm,
IF this gentleman committed this
crime, and / for one feel sure he did
not, then who is the fellow who got
away? And why did he go?"
"We have only one mans word for
that the conductor snarled. 81 we
travelled some in these cars myself, and
no one ever changed berths with me. "
Somebody on the edge of the group
asserted that hereafter he would travel
by daylight. J glanced up and caught
the eye Of the girl in blue.
''They are all mad,' she said. Her
tone was low, but [ heard her distinct
| ly. "Don t take them seriously enough
TO defend yourself"
''I am glad you think T didn't do
It, - [ observed meekly, over the crowd.
- Nothing else is of any Importance. -
The conductor had pulled out his
notebook again. 'SYour name, please, -
he said grufhy.
" Lawrence Blakeley, Washington. )"
''Your occupation. "
Attorney. \ member Of the firm
of Blakeley & Mcknight"
Mr.. Blakcley, You say you have
occupied the wrong berth and have
been robbed. Do you know anything
Of the man who did it?H
I answered. ''These clothes,
'"They fl, YOU he said with quick
suspicion. "Isn't that rather coin
cldcnce2 You are 2. large man.
"Good heavens,n [ retorted, stunp
into fury, edo I look like a man who
would wear this kind of necktie? {?
Do you suppose [ carry purple and
green barred silk handkerchiefs? Would
shoes full size too small2D
The conductor was inclined to hedge
You will have to grant that ! am in
a peculiar position, - he said "I have
only your word as TO the exchange Of
herths, and You understand / am merely
doing my duty. Are there any clues
in the pockets?n
For the second time l emptied them
Of their contents, which he noted. els
that all?" he finished, ''Thcrc was
nothing else9N
"Nothing,N
THAT'S not all. sir,'' broke in the
porter. stepping forward. "Thcre was
small black satchel." "
"That' s so, l exclaimed. :" I for
got the bag, | don't even know where
it is
picious again. I've grown so accus-
toned to reading the faces Of n jury,
seeing them swing from doubt TO be
lief, and back again to doubt, that
instinctively watch expressions. / saw
that my forgetfulness had done me
harm-that suspicion was reused again.
The bag was found couple Of seats
away, under somebody's raiucoat-an-
other dubious circumstance. Was l
hiding itl IT was brought to the
berth and placed beside the conductor,
who opened it at once.
1T contained the usual travelling i'm
pedimenta-change of linen, collars,
handllerchicfs, a bronze-green scarf,
and a safety razor, But the attention
of the crowd riveted itself on a 1at,
| Russia leather wallet, around which a
| heavy gum band was wrapped and
which bore in gilt letters the name
Simon HarriDgton.'