The Washington times., 1911-03-16

pected to see some sign OF
acute interest come from Mr.
Instead OF which, after half a min
ute's close inspection of the handker-
chief. Burton faced him with an un-
excited:
"The w stands for Wilkes, pre-
sume?"
'One might almost be led to suspect
that. under the circumstances" Gray
said dryly. "Its one more bit of evil
denCe, is it not? Wilkes Deston was
down there, on the mathematically
logical spot for his crime, before the
last rainstorm. The last storm was
Tuesday of last week."
rs he the only w on the place p
Burton said thoughtfulIy.
~He is the only w hereabouts that
would be carrying that kind OF hand
kerchief," Gray answered sagely, as
he returned it to bis pocket You are
not up in the value of such things?"
"The texture is very fine-yes."
"You couldn't buy a handkerchief
like that for less than one dollar,
Burton. No ope else up here combines
The pOcketbook and the initial"
And yeti doesn't actually prove
that Deston was there?"
willis stated not five minutes ago
that the linen was all mixed up," Bur
ton propounded calmly. Anyone on
the place might have dropped it, if you
come to think of that
Gray laughed softly.
You might have dropped it yourself,
BURTON he ChuCkled, and then you'd
have gone down as a suspect. No, I'm
afraid that little clues TOO strong to
sunef much from your wet blanket.
Deston was there, fast enough-and it
takes no very great stretch of imagina-
lion to picture just about what he was
doing with the handkerchief
Gray brought it forth again and
studied it capfully; he replaced it with
We'll soak that carefully and see If
the mud can be taken out without TAX
ing possible blOod-stains along with it,"
he said. Can you imagine just how it
came to be on the dry grass just outside
the summer house? Can't you see the
man wiping his hands, and then, prob
ably scared to death, throwing away the
handkerchief and making back to the
Burton's head wagged slowly.
IF this Deston was some poverty
stricken wretch without a friend on
earth, I'd say that you were building up
P circumstantiai case against him that
electric chair AS it isl don't know"
We'll, | know this!'' Gray said force
fully II know that Deston had the
motive-that he had every plan laid for
such a deed-that he's just the right
sort of mysterious mammoth to try
crime of this kind and feel sure that
he's safe-that the dagger was lying
right there on the table for him to use
and that he was down by that summer
house at pretty nearly the right time
The one great thing ! lack is the eye
witness; and If that Amato girl was a
witness well find her and bring her
back If IT has to be done in chains!' -|
~Well. ISIS there any immediate
SYSsT' said Gray, dragging the 9TH
er onward. I'm going down to the
station and send some kilograms, and
If one of my men hasn't cleaned up
this Amato matter inside of the next
fwenty-four hours I'm going on the
lob myself and stay there till 1 find
them BOTH
he walked on swiftly. He spied
nath that would cut off the longest
queen of the drive and bring them
out near to the gates, and he plunged
T And after some two or three hun
for. that person having just step
ned from behind a tree, he was face
to face with Mr.. BarroWs!
A little space they stared at one
another, then from Gray:
"It would appear So" said Barrows,
~ thought you were going to the
city last night?
~Do I understand that you haven't
dropped out of the case after all"
Mr. Barrows' smile was rather
broader. ,..,. ..-.
,oInt OF interest to be found in the
common or garden variety Of cow"
he inquired.
"She never changes her mind" said
Mr. Barrows, as he stepped lightly
onward through the trees.
GRAY chucSled as they resumed their
walk. and Burton was smiling broad |
THE youngsters sleuthing around |
stiIIp' the former observed.
persistence of youth" Burton |
grinned.
fellow for aIl-around work." Gray |
But I'm afraid he's nowhere
at all on a murder case. This whole