The Washington times., 1911-03-18

1t must have been fifteen minutes
II couldn't have been no more sir. He
came in the window and locked II after
him. He walked out of the library after
he'd switched off the lights, and by that
time was back behind the door. Then
he walked toward the front of the house
and l couldn't see him. / just heard Mr..
Norman say What have you done,
Wilkes?' and
Say WHAT"
He said. What have you done,
Wilkes as if he was scared, sir, and
then Mr.. Wilkes went upstairs, for |
could hear him. | don't know whether
he answered anything or not. 1t was
about two minutes later that l heard
shetland Mr.. Wilkes didn't come down
any more, though he must have heard
A mighty sigh shook PelI
And now I've gone and done IT,
haven't !. sir?' he mumbled.
You have done exactly the right
thing. II that is what you mean" Gray
said crisply. What did you do when
you heard the shot?'
Il ran TO my room. sir. as fast as l
could go and go into bed and shook
there till daylight, prayin that | might
he able to keep a close mouth till the
day l died. II couldn't do 1t. sir! I've
been seein' Mr.. Gerald's ghost all
around the house. I've been wondering
why they didn't find him and not daring
nov he's come back"
His voice chokcd. Gray laid a SYM
pathetic hand on his knee.
Il understand" he said. That's
enough"
And what are you going to do, SIR
I'm going to see that you don't suf-
fer for this, Pell," Gray said earnestly,
''Ill get you out of there and get you
into a better place, for one thing. Are
You willing. If necessary, to go into
court and testify TO what you have
told?"
1t was with tremendous effort that
the butler finally faced him.
Yes, sir! I'm willing, sir, if it has to
be done"
He staggered to his feet.
And now I'd better get out OF Sted-
more" he said forlornly. "Tll-TI tell
YOU the address when I find a room.
sir"
Have you--got money!" Gray asked,
uncertainty.
I've got a bit of money, sir, yes"
"Well-see here, Don't use 1t. ! want
You TO go back to the house and stay
there for little"
After this >" PeI gasped.
After this Gray smiled. And it is
just possible that l may never ask you
even to refer to the subject again in
any way! Will you goT'
II had some trouble getting out,
sir. There's local policemen about the
place this morning"
"Well-here!" Gray produced a per
sonal card and his fountain pen, and
sCrlbbled something. IF any one holds
you up, say-say that YOU came down
here on an errand for me. If there's
more trouble, take them 10 Barker and
tell him-hcre! Tell him that | asked
YOU to come down here early this morn
ing. and that when YOU got here | said
didn't need you, after all. I'll attend
to the rest And-Pell!'
Yes, sir?'
You're perfectly sure you have told
Yes, sir. Its nearly killed me, but
i haven't.
Gray took his hand and shook it and
held 1t.
You say nothing at all. and leave
everything to me. Pell. You've done
the one right thing and saved some one
else from suspicion, perhaps. Pull down
that hat and keep your collar turned
up. If you can get back unseen, so
much the better. If MOTT doesn't mat
ter much now. Good-by."
For many minutes after the buffers
departure, the two men could no more
than stare at one another! Then, at
last, Gray burst out with one terrihc:
We'll, old psychologist
Burton did not smile.
What are you going to do, Gray?
Let me get my mental wind back.
and l may be able to tell you: ex,
claimed the other Thunder and Mars!
Is It my duty to arrest the man.
In the interests of justice. unques-
tiona bl$!'
the true solution of the whole business,
not to send him TO prison! Our rela-
tions are supposed 10 he confidential |
and all that sort Of thing, I'm in his
employ and-Lord! Somehow or other,
/ knew that an eyewitness would turn
up"
dozen times before:
We'll, suppose I'll have to do just
There he stopped. Some one had |
terlng unceremoniously and Gray cried |
sharply:
Never mind attending to the room
IT have no intention of attending to
the ROOM" Mr.. Barrows said suavely, |
as he closed the door. How de do?N
Mr.. Gray considered him for a little, |
and Burton as well. Barrows seemed TO
have had trouble since their meeting
aarIier in the morning. His clothes
showed evidence of hurried brushing.
The sleeve of his coat, on the right arm,
" as cleanly slit, almost to the cuff. one
eye was blaCkcning. On the opposite
cheek, some two inches of gauze and
surgeons plaster appeared: Still fur
ther Mr. Barrows left wrist, hanging |
at his side was tightly bandaged!
II came straight here!' he announced. |
Z"
well, you came at the right minute
burst from Gray. We've been dis |
cussing the case at Iength!''
"Ah," Barrows smiled. Have you
reached conclusicn?'
Rather" Gray's tones were rising |
trimuphantly. "Old Burton here stated |
that there was only one solution |
FORBES committed suicide and Norman |
Deston was murdered. He
Mr.. BarrOws smiled more brightly. |
Ihat is a most interesting conClU- |
sion to have reached" he observed.
whereas I held that. in all sanity, |
FORBES was murdered and young Des- |
ton shot himself. | even made a pretty |
correct guess at the guilty party" Gray |
went on, with palpable pleasure in |
every word. And now 1 have proof |
positive"
Mr.. Barrows smiled even more
brightly.
THAT. too. is very interesting con-
cluSion to have reached" he observed.
And in spite of your bad conduct in !
the past" Gray hurried on, 'I'u give |
you advance information and"
Somehow, he stopped. before the bril-
lance of Barrows' smile. The younger |
man seemed TO have taken up his train |
Of thought at the end of his last re-
mark, for he was saying:
I'm fact, they are both very inter- |
esting conclusions. But I-me-pooT, !
little Barrows-I-" His |
voice seemed to set the whole room |
'I-have-the-goods