The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1913-01-31
IRE Inscecter ExrlsIra
CHAPTER XIV

t ACA tA4f>t df4e YET EA1SG nave st1pl- VI
bewiltered senses. dazed By a sudden
recall to activity. took auhcnnsctoua
cogniZaHce Of a regular. persistent
pounding add eventually succeeded II
stirring ne to attention I suddenly
sat up and looked about ne. found
myself IN the deserted cottage. the
drug slave still notionless on his couch
ard the logs still smoIdering il the
fireplace.
That thgna ping quickly saw where
II came from Davis was standing over
the sleeping form Of Dodds, the con
stable, engaged in the work Of awak-
ening him by the park policeman =
rnethod-kickIng him on the solss OF
his shoes.
The process was successful The
/ constable snerted, drew ID his legs,
| rubbed his eyes and sprang to his feet.
Tt Will be daylight IN half an hour"
heard Davis tell him 4 want you
| to go and get the blackboard and drive
/ around to where Roqsers body lies.
/ Bring NE any papers you find in his
| pockets. Leave hta money and his
/ watch and keys, 90 az not to arouse
any suspicion Of robbery. As aoon az
| you have done that I want ycu TO
drive back and pick up the body be-
| fore anyone else finds it. Drive with
It TO MIlIervaIe and leave 1t there
Don't talk too much. Tell everybody
| that you found the body at the foot
Of the precfptce and impress on them
that It must have been an accident In
the dark AS soon as you can convent
emily get away. come back here. Make
| sure, though. that nobody follows you +"
Ag soon as the constable had gone,
Davis lit cigarette. turned UP his
coat collar and took a seat on a
rough bench Just outside the door
Come on out here, Harding, and
watch the sun rise" he called to me.
rose hastily from where had
been sitting gazing stupidity about me
and Joined him on the bench
There was something you wanted
TO ask me. wasn't there?" he said
pleasantly.
There were so many things I want
ed to ask him 7 hardly knew where TO
begin. but the first thing bIurted out
vas.
ia Hugh Crandall guilty."
He Is guilty only Of being In love
with Katharine Parrish against her IA
Tiers wishes" he replied.
But surely" I said doggedly, he
has some connection with the crime
Of the yellow letters. He knew
Young He knew where to find him
There are many things about his &C
tons that to my mind call for expla-
nation"
Did you notice his eyes," asked
Davis. It was still too dark for me 10
see the inspectors face, but felt
sure that he was laughing at me. He
made ne feel that way all too often.
Il didn't" I answered rather Cross
IL. but what's that got to do with
It >"
I'm afraid. Kent, as have said be-
fore. you wilI never make a good de-
/ tectlFe. You are entirely too unob-
servant n important details Do you
recall my asking early in our investi-
ga'.on whether or not Crandan had
blue eyes >"
Yea" I grudringly admitted. 4 re-
cain H."
AS soon as 7 discovered 'ha, Gran
dan had blue e5es ma, eliminated him
as fhe probable criminal
. don't sec your logic"
I've told you before" said Davis.
after pause loag enough 20 PERM,
him 70 UEst another cigarette. "tha,
there are classes q crime and types
q criminals. each strongly marked
after rs oNn sort saw right al the
start thaf fhla crime vas Of the hid
den SORT ~ he kind that includes con
f sp.racy blackmali. secret plotting
/ the kind that requires a skilful sneak
You never Ia your life found a blue
eyed sneak There are lots % blue
f eyed desperaGoes and burglars Mos
o. the notorious bad men Of the Wes'
y we're blue eyed. bg; you don't find q
man with blue eyes shooting or stab
bling a man ia the back Or kidnapping
a child or wrifiRg biackmaillug let
tera."
while I vas not a. all convinced
By his argument feit tha, q soul,
be useless for me % GsEpafs n. for
would be Invading comparatively IN
known territory. vhersas be undoubt
eddy had dozens ~ cases a. his finger
tips ready "a illustrate his theory.
decided 70 change the subject
Il recall. too" said. that yol
asked II Crandal vas left handed s.
FAR as I saw. be ia not What o. that
Is that another proof q Crandalls IN
nOoenos1"
No" said Davis. that di6ut prov,
Crandalrs inoocenoe. Il proved Rot
sers guilt In fact. 81 vas the left
handed clue that put me on the RICH
track and eventually led me 10 thi
very cottage"
For Heavens sake" said ! impa
tiently. don't talk In riddles. Go Of
and explain It"
| You're not to blame. he continue