The Washington times., 1911-10-07

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% er's attitude" said Mr.. Hunt. !
cannot think shc had anything
to do with the crime. but l DO
think she is Withholding information Oh
some sort. But ] must go now, ana
will return this evening. Then. you
please, Mr.. King. would like to dis.
cuss matters more at length with you.
When Mr. Hunt came back that even
ing he found me with Mr.. Maxwei III
the study. Although / did not wish 10
pain the old gentleman with more ue.
tails than were necessary, yet wanleo
him to know as nearly as possible now
matters stood; and, too. | wanted the
beneft Of his sound judgment and gooo
adivce i,
Come in, Mr.. Hunt. come IN;
said to the detective. Let DIS tnres
see what may be best to do next
l closed the doors in order that We
might feel more free to speak IN tohes
which Mr.. Moxwell could hear easily,
and then I left 1t tC Mr.. Huht 10 opei
the conversation.
''first." said the detective. i would
like to know Nj. MaXwelis opinion OF
Miss Leslie's testimony.
Il have just been rea1ing II. said
Mr., Maxwell. 81 did not hear 1t clearly
when Mr. Billings read IT, SO l asked
permission 10 read the paper Elyself. l
do not know Miss Leslie very WELL put
she iInpresses me as nothing more OF
less than 4 merry, light-hearteo' lnnoI
cent girl. Coauettish. perhaps, but l
think the depths Of her nature are
honest and sincere"
Now, we have all agreed that her
testimony regarding the inkstand and
very nature of things be true testi-
mony For ink spilled on carpet Will
remain there, and bronze horses cannot
get up on a table by themselves.
PERSONALLY, then. / am forced to the
opinion that Miss Leslie's mind is af-
fected-temporarily only, trust.
But surely there Is no other expla-
nation for her strange statements. Ana
granting this, may II not be possible
tnat her whole story Of the man in
of her diseased brain?"
1T is possible" said Mr.. Hunt, but
they tell me that Miss Leslie is so
cIear-headed and rational in her con-
believe her story of the intruder"
Nor do I ask you to- said Mr.. Max
well. Il only want to call your atten-
ton to the logical point that such grave
might argue doubt in other directions.
Il have a logical mind. but have
none of what is often called the de-
tective instinct That is why wish TOD
put this whole anair enurelY IN the
hands OF an able detective.
And again of a detectives ability I
do not consider myself a Judge II you
think, Mr.. Hunt, that you can take care
Of II successfully, have sufficient con-
fdence In you to give you the entire re-
sponsibility. Or. should you prefer to
call in an assistant or an expert from
the city, am quite willing you should
do So
Il don't want to seem egotistical, Mr.. |
h-axwell," said Mr.. Hunt, but ! can't
help feeling that Mr.. King and I can
take care Of this thing. Mr.. King. !
though not a professional, has what |
you have called the detective instinct |
to a marked degree And II he will !
help me, / would prefer his assistance |
to that of a stranger"
Then we will leave 1t that way" said |
Mr.. Maxwell Il shall be glad to have |
Mr. King for my guest as long as he !
will stay, and you may consider your |
selves authorized to make such inveaG- !
cations as you see At.
Il do not presume to advise you, but |
/ want to ask you to take an old mans |
and be sure of your proofs be- |
fore you act upon them. Clues are |
often misleading; evidence may be false. !
But there are certain kinds of facts
that point Enthusiastically TO the truth. /
Those facts you must discover. and |
then follow where they lead, irrespec- |
tive OF whom they may implicate and |
oblivious to any personal prejudice"
/ couldn't help wondering IL Mr.. Max |
we'll shared my faint but growing sus-
picion that either Mr.. Crane or Miss |
Gardiner, or both, knew more about the