The Washington times., 1911-03-03
CHAPTER XII.
Facts and Conclusions.

~ ARKER turned in some astonish'
II ment to Deston.
Then, his gaze shifting quickly
to Barrows, his eyes opened a
little.
Il don't think l ever saw you before
but there certainly is something famll-
lar about you, Mr.. Barrows!' he said.
The newcomer smiled slightly.
That is easily explained. I was one
of the coroners jury here last Tues
day
"Eh?" Barker scowled. Il thought
Fitch escaped him.
DIR. Fitch has known me all my Gfe
Mr.. Barker, is it nOt?" He faced the
lawyer, quietly and significantly. He
will vouch for my discretion. ne ne
brought me here because he knew my
intense interest in-unusual matters.
The Youngest of the three visitors
took a chair beside the others and
waited. Barker, hesitating, thinking;
for moment reused himself and
snapped the key in the lock. He went
10 the desk and drew the big chair
little from it, and sitting there, began
earnestly:
don't know the etiquette of your pro-
fpssion very well, but-there is nothing
TO prevent your working together, all OF
"Eh?" I don't mind-I don't mind"
Burton said, absently. What Is the
nature of the case, Mr.. Barker
we have worked on the same cases
before" BarrowS smiled.
GRAY merely nodded assent, ana the
LAWYER cleared his voice.
YOU are going to undertake, from the
standpoint of unprejudiced and unim-
nassiOned outsiders, of course, what
seems to us the blackest kind Of mys-
terry. suppose that this is purely a
business proposition to all of you.
v.ant 70 make it clear at the very be-
ginning that money has absolutely noth-
ing to do with the Case-that you are
not to consider expense, whether II is
81 or 100000, so that there Is even q
chance at getting at any fragment Oh
the truth
He glanced at Deston. The surviving
brother nodded grave acquiescence..
Il will begin at the beginning,
me as much as you choose and ask any
and every question that occurs to you.
] will begin with the finding of Norman
Deston's body, and"
My dear Mr.. Barker" Gray pro
tested. You must begin at least two
or three days before that"
"Or possibly twenty or thirty years
before that" Burton murmured grimly.
Barker began slowly and carefully,
and save for his low voice gravelike
stiffness settled on the room.
1t was, to the very last extreme, a de-
tailed recital of the facts. AS concerned
the interest of the three investigators,
Il seemed to begin with Gerald's highly
nervous condition on the night before
the tragedy. Gray halted the narrative
there and asked questions unending, un-
til Barker was nearly breathless with
the rapidity of his answers. Burton
put in a query or two, entirely irrele-
want, 1t seemed. to the main issue, and.
having received the few minute details
desired, settled lower and lower into his
chair and fixed the unwinking and
rather disCOncerting stare upon the law
yer. Barrows, all attention, seemed to
CLEAN what he deemed necessary from
GrayS sharp examination.
The finding of Norman was dwelt
upon at length, and in the very finest
particulars, and questions came afreSh.
And through IT all, Wilkes DestOn sat
silent and without a trace Of emotion on
his enigmatic face
Afternoon waned. Dusk deepened and
dcepened. A rattle at the knob re-
minded Barker that they were sitting
there almost in darkness: and, talking
steadily in the low tones, he switched
on the lights and regained his seat-to
talk on.
Professional interest. Barker observed
some time before coming to the end of
his story. certainly had been stimulated.
RarrowS' face was intent and animated
The cold quality had left Gray's ex-
preston altogether: he was leaning for
ward, cheeks slightly flushed, drinking
In every word, and, here and there,
shooting a pointed query at the narrator
and waiting tensely for the answer.
BurtOn' coming in Unexpectedly with
questions farther and farther removed
from the chief concerns, ha selected
some certain point upon the ceiling and
was regarding it with an unwinking
steadiness which eventually set up IN
Barber an uncomfortable wonder, as to
whether Burton was actually in a nor
NAL mental state.
And then, when all track of time had
heen lost the strange story came to
an end, and Barker settl~d back rather
weakly in his chair with an exhausted:
~ think that covers everything"
The trio glanced at one another. Bur-
ton still seemed to be elsewhere. Bar
rows with an inclination Of his head,
deferred to Gray, and that gentleman
considered for a moment before begin
ming:
You surely have given us a very re-
markahie proposition, Mr.. Barker-or a
series of them"
do you consider them connected,
sir?'' Deston interposed, somewhat to
their astonishment
Il don't consider them anything at ali
just yet Mr.. Deston," smiled the detec-
tive. "We~know all the mere effects,
ord seem 70 OH YI,o