The Washington times., 1911-03-13

~ TO shuttle!
"Once more, please, Barrows?
he said.
81 don't want any of that hundred
thousand dollars. 1 drop out Of the
case right here"'
'But-why?'
II can't make head or tail of it,"
the. younger man said. Il see all the
facts and all the indications, one way
and the uther-and / can't believe in
them sufficiently to form any conclu-
sions at all!'
well, one way and another the
facts are pretty plain, my son." Gray
said. Just at the moment, it seems to
me that the young men had quite a bit
OF trouble, that the young lady was
she is putting all possible ground be-
tween herself and the job of testifying
against Norman Deston."
II don't believe it."
She lef: town before any notice OF
Norman's death appeared-Ihat's all
Il can't see it,"
Nor IT, Burton muttercd. Nor l."
Gray laughed a little.
Are you really serious, Barrows?" he
asked.
Il am. 1 can do nothing more here.
I'm all in a haze, and the haze grows
thicker every hour. drop out"
The chance Of having to accuse a
supremely beautiful young woman OF
completely in a murder has nothing to
do with it, of course?" The elder man
inquired slyly.
Barrows Redeemed little in the gath
ering dusk.
Possibly he confessed.
"Heigho." said Mr.. Gray.
They were at the gates when he spoke
again.
haven't-pardon me but YOU haven't by
accident stumbled upon something you
don't care to share with us in the way
of informatiOn?''
y have not BaTows said, hotly.
ON my word of honor. l know no
more about this business than you do,
and I'm not even convinced of half the
things that you believe and that seem
plain. I'm done with the case-that's
air.
The younger mans tone had grown
savage, and he stopped and faced the
pair with angry eyes. Nor was Gray's
tone particularly dulcet as he said
IF you want to drop out, BarrOws,
that is, of course, up to you. ! confess
that / cannot at all understand it. But
!ince You drop out, you do drop out!
Understand?''
what does that mean?"
1T means that, about the time Burton
and l have put together and submitted
some convincing proof you're not going
TO return in time to help collect for it,
as per original agreement Gray said,
harshly.
When I try trick like that"
Barrows began, furiously-
"All right. We want TO have ii thor
oughly Observation-Disclosures ALL. For
ward march," grinned Mr.. Gray.
Going to the village BarrOws snap
Certainly"
I'm going to take a stroll the other
wayH'
''Very we'll" chuckled Gray.
The younger man, hands IN his over
coat pocket and breath coming rapidly,
stood still as they turned and Mr.. Bar
rows feathers were distinctly ruffed!
Just one thing more he called
somewhat blusteringly.
And that is-?" Gray said suavely.
I'm out of this case! But if I should
choose to have anything more to do
with It, please remember that you have
no connection with it, Barrows con-
cluded as he turned on his heel.
He stalked away toward the open
country. Burton, squirting through his
glasses, glanced after him over his
shoulder.
''Too-too bad he got mad" he COM
mented blandly. 'Um-where was I?'
Thinking" Gray said dryly. Come
along"
The veranda of Stedmore Inn was
chilly and deserted at this time of the
day and the year Gray, striding to
Inc angie Illdl gave d view III PlintT
direction, dragged up a wicker rocker
end settled down, and Burton, having !
kicked chair TO place beside him, !
followed the example.
Some ten minutes went by without a
word. Then Gray looked up with an
annoyed, sharp:
Burton. I don't like this murder-sui- |
eide theory a little bit-this fight idea |
There's nothing in it-nothing what |
ever the spectacled one said calmly. !
Lot f-!
the motive of love. which ! honestly be- /
ueye is at the bottom of the whole af- |
fSn. There's Forbes crazy state on
the night of the trouble. There's |
An Nina complete disappearance
DO you suppose young DestOn could |
have gone to bed and then walked up to !
find Forbes leaving"
He was, fully dressed. you know"
Burton smiled, tolerantlv
Il know, but-weIl, we know nothing
from Barker's description of Deston's
bed, do We? The covers were in dis
order and the pillow crushed, and he
suppose that he was lying down and
heard Forbes starting out and iumned Il
up in hurry don't know" GRAY
shook his head: I'm hanged If know.
He found a cigar and lit it, He turned
up his collar and stared at the row of
inCandescents overhead.
Burton, ! wonder what there is n,
that notion of plot, after aIl?''
81 don't believe that there is anything
in that, either"
Taken along with this doubt as to
Amato's identity, there might be much
in it II we could sift it," Gray meditated
aloud. THAT letter OF the old man re-
garding warnings-this holy terror Of /
Forbes7-which must have had some
more basis than they think-the face
at the window-the stranger who called
on the old man on the day of his
death"
Burton said nothing.
DO you suppose that the elder Des-
ton was murdered?Y Gray asked.
'.Eh?' Burton stared. How the
deuce do ] know? I'm not thinking
about the elder Deston. I'd discarded
the plot theory long ago"
well, I haven't l want to know
more about that" Gray rose. IF there
Is any doubt on the subject of his
death, I'm going to work on the idea
that there was some sort of conspiracy
afoot. I'm going to find six or seven
just-right men and put them on that
Job alone"
"Ah?"
,"If there is any doubt" Gray pursued.
''Richford was the old mans doctor, l
believe He must he back now. Let's
go and call on him.
Mr.. Burton shook his absorbed head. |
"You go alone, Gray
Helpful colleague, l will go alone!' !
Gray said. briefly. "a