The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1910-08-05

"Not l.. Weakness of mine as you
know. Most people look to novels or
plays for entertainment; l find mine
in the real drama. unfolded every day
in the courts Of Justice"
John Steele watched young lad APP
proach outside. He waved a paper in
his hand and called with easy famili-
arity to a housemaid in an open win
dow above:
Telegram from London. MISS"
The silence that followed was again
broken by Captain Forsythe's voice:
There are one or two features in this
German affair that remind me Of an
other case some years backbone Of
our own-that interested me-
"Ah?" The listeners tone was only
politely interrogatory.
"A case in London-perhaps you
have heard Of It? The murder Of a
woman. once well known before the
footlights, by one time champion of
the ring-the Frisco Pet. l think he
was called. l once puzzled bit over
that one; investigated it somewhat on
my own account. don't you know"
I'm what way?" Steeles manner was
! no longer Indifferent.
"Then it attracted you. too, as an
Investigator murmured the captain
in gratified tone. For your book.
perhaps?"
! mot exactly. But you haven't yet
! told me-" in d keen. alert tone, why
you looked into it on your own ac-
count 1t seems simple, obvious"
\ THAT is just it." said Captain For
sythe, rising. 1T was perhaps little
too simple. too obviousv'
you attended the trial of this fell
low"
1.-THE last part of it; wasn't in Eng
land when it first came on, and what
! heard Of 1t raised some questions
\ and doubts in my mind. However, |
didn't think much more about the case
! until good many months later. when
chance alone drew my attention more
closely to it. Was down in the coun-
. try. when one night happened to
= get on this almost forgotten case of
\ the Frisco Pet, whereupon the land
" lord of the inn where put up inform
\ ed me that one of the villagers in this
\ Identical little town had been land.
lady at the place where the affair oc-
n cured
x 1.-THE woman who testified no one
had been to her place that night ex-
. cept''- John Steele spoke sharply
n This fellow? Quite So" Captain
:. Forsythe walked up and down. Now
X I'd always had a little theory. Gould
never get out of my mind one sentence
:" this poor, ignorant fellow uttered al
4 the trial. Seems as If | could remem
a Der a mans face, strangers, tina,
x looked into mine that night, your lord
ship, but l amt exactly cocksure.
Amt exactly cocksure,'" repeated
Captain Forsythe. That's wha
caught me. Would man not telling
I the truth be not quite 'cocksure.' Of
! would he testify to the face as fact?'
HIN. Very interesting, Forsythe
Very ingenious. Quite plausible"
1.-THE landlady's testimony excludes
I the face, made it Pigment Of an imag
ination disordered by drink" Captain
Forsythe waved his hand airily.
J You went to see this woman?"
"Out Of curiosity, and found she was
! indeed, the same person. She SCENE,
I quite i'll and feeble. talked with he
) about an hour that day. Tried il
r every way to get her to remember sh
a had possibly let in some other person
N that night, but
a "But"
w "Bless you, she stuck to her story,
4 laughed Captain Forsythe. "Couldn'
n er's arms fell to his side. his han,
n closed hard. ''Quite bowled over m.
TX little theory, don't you know. o
A course l told myself it didn't matter
w The man convicted was gone-drown
a ed"
a A shrill whistle smote the ali. Steele
* glance turned to the window. TIL
n boy. having delivered his message
IL had left the door. With lips puckere
II to the loud and imperfect rendition O
A popular street melody he was max
b. ing his way through the grounds. In
A voluntarily the mans look fingered o.
VI him. "a telegram from London? Flo
n whom?"
A beg pardon!" A footman stood 4
* the doorway. "Sir Charles compl
4 mcnts to the gentlemen, and will the
V be good enough to join him in armor
A hall?"
:" John Steele turned quickly to tn
a servant, SO quickly close observe
N might have fancied he welcomed tn
a fnterrlDtiOn "CaDtain Forsythe's an
TX Mr.. Steele's compliments to 81
A Charles" he said at once, land say
a will give them pleasure to comply"
X AS Steele and his companion, togeti
q er with Jocelyn Wray, who had joine
K them, entered the armory hall sound
q of raarritnant and annlauSa greeted th