The Washington times., 1911-03-04
CHAPTER XII.
Down the List.

- more pure amusement than re-
spect, the latter with a little more
pure respect than amusement.
The smiles did not escape Barker. He
turned and looked hard at Burton.
Privately, perhaps, he had begun 10
entertain what was not exactly high
esteem of that gentleman's capa bilitiCS;
but these two knew him, and had work
ed with him and there was a real ele-
ment OF respect in their two express
sions. Burton might have made that
last statement merely for effect; his
whole demeanor might be no more than
pose, but Barker began to suspect that
at some time in the past his bizarre
methods might have brought results.
What relation do you think these
three complete disappearances have to
the death, then, Mr.. Burton?' he asked.
Hey? None whatever Burton stated
fatty.
Then what do you make of them?''
don't make anything of them at
Rll!' the detective said rather indig-
nantly. Il haven't considered them
Gray's smile had grown tolerant.
suppose we begin with the foundation
before putting on the roof" he Sug-
gested ''These things may all have
may be Independent of the other. CO.
iDcidences are the most misleading
things in the world, Mr.. Barker" lie
looked closely at the lawyer. Just what
Forbes part?''
I'm blest if I can tell you thatw'
What was his main notion, them
That his uncle had been murdered, Of
course"
Was he, Mr.. Barker?" Gray asked
What? Certainly notv'
What led Forbes to the helief?'
His COMPOUNDED imagination. coupled
with the fact that Mr.. Deston was
found dead in this room, sitting bolt
upright in the chair you are occupying
at this moment, with an unfinished note
before him and couple of wine glasses
at his side"
The note-ah, yes. You said that il
contained some reference to warnings
that Mr.. Deston had received And
there was strange caller, who re-
mained unaccOunted for?''
Yes, If you put any value" Bar
ker began impatiently.
In a case of this kind. Mr.. Barker
Gray said significantly, everything has
q value of some kind. And Forbes was
convinced that a plot was still afoat
10 injure Mr.. Deston's descendants-a
strong notion that, whatever the plot
were to be visited upon the children,
too?"
He was convinced-yes! But no sane
Not so fast, Mr.. Barker" Gray
smiled. Some of our most brilliant
men are frequently accused of being
lunetics. If we had Forbes here now
and could talk with him, we should
find that he had some pretty solid basis
for his idea
NONSENSE"
Not at ALL" the detective said
quietly. "As 1 understand the matter,
the young mans self-cOntrol probably
gave way; he could not refrain from
uttering the gist of his ideas; but know
ing perfectly that any arguments he ad-
vanced in serious support Of them them
arguments"
quite right, Gray! My view exactly"
Burton supplemented.
the IeWver smiled, II know it."
Then do you know the owner OF the
face which, / believe, both Forbes and
this silent Mr.. Deston saw at the win
dOw?'
Personally, I don't believe there was
any face. If there was, it belonged to
one OF the servants. Willis, the second
man here. has told me since that 1t
was probably a chauffeur from one OF
the other houses here, who comes to
see one of the Deston maids"
I'D like to see that maid minute
Mr.. Barker"
PeII came in response to the ring
which Barker gave with rather a mar
fyr-lilIe air. Some two or three minutes
later a trim and scared-looking maid
entered and glanced at the quartette.
Gray looked questioningly at Barker, |
and the lawyer smiled:
Yes, this is Katie"
IAN right. Katie. Katie, a young
man came here Monday evening to
A hearty blush rewarded him and:
Yves, sir!
where is he noT?
''In New York, sir. The family went |
back Tuesday"
"Cshauffeur, 1 understand? All right |
Do YOU happen to remember what time |
he went homer
yes. sir. 1t was about five minutes !
before & He had to be back at sharp, |
Tor he was going to take down one of
The cars and one Of the young gentle |
men with 1t, to the city"
"Are you perfectly sure about the
Yes, sir. for he stayed till the last
minute" the girl said, as the blush
surCed up anew. when he ran
straight across the place here, through
the rose gardens"
.'where are they, Barker?" Gray de-
manded. >,
so that If the young man was In 4
hurry. he was not on this side OF the
"He was nowhere near this side Of
the house, sir the girl said, positively. !
That's all, Katie" Gray remarked.
And as the girl departed he smiled |
little at Barker. Process of elimina~ |
tion. 1t wasn't the chauffeur"
Nor was ii anyone who" the |
lawyer said impatiently,