The Washington times., 1911-02-27

y us duty lay right here He shud-
dered as he passed the spot
where Norman Deston had been
found and hurried lightly into
the library.
And he seemed to have entered rath-
er too lightly, for two rather startled
faces were turned toward himN at the
creak of his step on the sill. Deston
and Willis. his second man, had been
speaking; and now:
go on, Willis the former said
HC'ly.
"Well-"
II have no secrets from Mr.. Barker" ."
The second man Redeemed slightly.
"T understand, sir. And still
He stopped, and the flush deepened.
lie glanced at Barker, and the lawyer
returned the gaze wonderingly and then
faced Wilkes with interrogation In his
eyes.
A faint frown of annoyance came to
pcston's face.
Go on with your story, Willis! What
was it,"
"Well Mr.. Deston-Mr. Barker" the
.cond man said desperately. You
Won't either of you ever say anything?'
"EhY" Barker stared. Certainly
not. What's the mystery"
IFS only this" Willis looked at Des-
ton. II guess I let you swear to
Il lie this afternoon, Mr.. Wilkes.
"Eh?"
when you identified that pistol at
the inquest, sir!'
The two men started suddenly.
What do you mean by that?
iGfI of oil
sir!''
But. Willis" Deston began, almost
angrtly.
NO, it wasn't, sir" the second man
put in doggedly, with a glance toward
the door THAT was Mr.. Gera'ds own
pistol
For fully ten seconds, the room was
silent as the grave itself Barker broke
the uncanny spell suddenly with an
angry:
What put that idea into your head,
Nillis?"
1t isn't only an idea. sir. Its-it's
something l was going to tell Mr..
Wilkes alone, because 1 thought he
ought to know. Is the pistol here, sir?''
Barker mostened his lips.
Yes. Dr. Fitch put it in a drawer of
that desk, Willis
Look and see if the rubber handle is
cracked half way across on the left
hand side, sir
An instant the lawyer hesitated; then,
with an impatient jerk, he crossed to
the desk and opened a drawer He step
ped forward quickly with the srisly
relic in his palm and, after a momen-
tarv inspection. said:
Yes. It's cracked
Then it's Mr.. Gerald's pistol"
The second man looked at the lawyer
for an instant. "Thats-all. l thought
Mr.. Deston ought to know"
He backed away, and Barker's eyes
followed him curiously to the door: and
as he reached there the lawyer called
softly:
Just a minute. Willis. Come back
here
The second man halted.
Come over here" Barker pursued. Il
don't know, Willis, whether it is my
imagination or whether that exception
ally honest face of yours declines to lie,
butt fancy that isn't all,''
Wills flush returned and Destons
OiCNS toitL dtltu IN Il DuEEltu SCOWl.
IF YOU came here to tell ME alone
more than YOU have told, Willis, by all
means let US hear the rest" he said
crisply. There is no reason for hest
taiinC because of Mr.. Barkers presence.
Go nn'''
I'm only thinkin' of Mr.. Gerald, SIR
burst from the second man.
"Hey?' Barker cried softly.
Yes sir! If he'd only come back"
He will be back at any minute now.
What is it, Wilis?''
Deslon's deep tones were vibrating
command. Willis looked at him for an
instant, half frightened. and his voice
dropped to a hoaTse whisper
Il know it's Mr.. Gerald's pistol, be-
cause ! take care of the guns and |.
things, you know, and Mr. Norman's |
automatic pistol has been lying in his |
desk with a broken handspring this last
month! 1t is there now, for I looked!