The Washington times., 1911-03-05
CHAPTER XIII.
For the Common Good.

r MI. Barker eyebrows haQ a hablt
OF rising when unbelief fitted
i through his mind, the trick was un-
conscious.
1t was, however, none the less marked
and Gray smiled suddenly.
''All tommyrot, eh?'
i've been the personal attorney for
this family and certainly one of its most
intimate friends for the past twenty
years" said Barker. docs it appeal 10
you that. if there had been a mysterious
and bloodthirsty plot lowering about in
the atmosphere, 1 might possibly have
gained an ihkling of it?''
Mr.. Deston received threatening let
ters"
His son Norman didn't" Barker
stated.
You could go into court and make
that positive assertion. under oath,
could YOU, Mr.. Barker?'' Gray chuckled.
"Well-'
'As a matter of fact, from what
judge this Norman's character to have
been, would he have been likely to have
about ominous epiStles in which he took
no stock whatever
"As a matter of fact" the lawyer con-
fessed, with a rather unwilling smile,
Il suppose Norman would have torn up
ten or ten thousand letters and never
have mentioned, il they were of the
generally vague sort that many mil
liOnaires receiver
so that. with Normans lips sealed
forever, you see how much we actually
KNOW about that phase, Mr.. Barker"
Gray hummed softly for a moment
Just now we are merely feeling around
in the dark. I think we're very much
justified in trying to get track of pos
sible plot. Was there any one partiCu-
lar-Or a dozen particular-cranks who
ton?" tor ?'''eU III ''''S - ''' ''
Barker thought for moment.
Il know that there were three of
them"
Ever take any steps against them?'
"Only to have them investigated. One,
] think, is in an asylum now. The other
two were harmless"
''Everything's harmless until it proves
to be otherwise!" the detective almost
snapped. Are there any Of their old
letters around?"
There may be some among Norman's
effects. l don't know"
But YOU could ascertain before to-
mcrrow?"
Il suppose So"
Gray arose.
Then will you please do just that Mr..
Barker, and see If you can't give us a
few samples of crank letters tomorrow"
He glanced at the other two. Il think
we'll let everything rest as 1t Is for
tonight?''
Burton nodded assent.
"Oh yes. Yes. Wen go into the
matter Of the nephew and the father
and daughter tomorrow" he said, with
the air of man who has settled at
last one difficult problem end has
clear mind for the next.
Barrows, too, was on his feet.
There is one thing I'd like to ask
before we CO. he said. These serv
ants, Mr.. Barker-Pell in particular.
They have all been with the family for
Nears?"
the girl Katie is the newest acquis-
ton, and she must have been with the
household for five years"
And they are absolutely devoted?'
"Oh-absolutely!'
Y, SO devoted, in fact Barrows pur-
sued, that II this Pell, say, knew any
thing unpleasant about any member
wild horses would never drag it out of
him?'
ideas that had not stirred into being
in his own mind, long familiar with the
Destons and everything that concerned
them.
rection," he haZarded.
TT isn't necessarily a shot IN any
ones direction" Barrows smiled. Il
was merely wondering whether it
wouldn't be a good scheme to corral
these devoted servitors, one by one.
and-sweat them" -,
Gray, who had been watching the
younger man, shook his head.
Not necessary" he commented. mot
now, at any rate. II that old chap
has anything to tell, II will come out of
itself. Later on. If we have to d. 1t,
we can give them a treat to the third
degree-but we won't have to"
mot at all, Burton agreed, with
the utterly positive quality to which !
Barker was growing accustomed. |
"This Mrs. Fiske has nothing to tell, I
or she would have gone straight to |
Mr.. Barker here in private and ad- |
vised him. This Pell. I take it, would |
have gone straight to Wilkes Deston |
and told whatever he had to tell Since |
he did not he had nothing to reveal. |
The young man Willis has already