The Washington herald., 1913-08-10
CHAPTER ii.

On approaching the Barry's house.
built into the shelter of a hillside, Poe
was brushed aside by the half-wild girl,
who had remained silent during the walk.
She rushed on alone into the house. and
Poe followed Quickly. going directly up
rickety pair of stairs and coming out
into a room lighted by a smoky lamp.
On the bed lay the CHASTITY, gaunt form
Of Bill Barry, the sheep breeder.
The girl had already reached the room
and was holding in her hand the blood
stained sheep shears. There was an in
sane CLEAN in her eyes, and the banker
detective had a moment in which to
study her before she became aware of his
presence. Then the whole Shepard fam
lily, consisting of man and wife and three
grown children, and the two Barry boys,
came trooping into the room. They
stood aghast at the spectacle on the bed.
Poe noted that both of the Barry boys
seemed grimly contented with the sight
of their father lying dead before them.
The girl abruptly dropped the shears.
and they fell with a clatter, breaking the
ominous silence OF the room. George
Barry shouldered his way through the
awed spectators and pulled back the red
shirt from his fathers chest, he held up
the glittering sheep medal. a round sill
yer trophy as big as a saucer, on which
was engraved the name of Bill Barry and
the sheep which had won the prize for
him at an international live stock show.
bill, he always wore that round his
neck, just as you see it here" remarked
George Barry without emotion. He
was more fond of that than either of us
boys or Jenny. / guess it's been like
wife OF him since mother died. When he
first took sick We tried to get him TO let
US take il of but he wouldn't hear to 1t.
Yes" put in Shepard, as though add
ing something weighty, Il guess Bill
was more fond of that there sheep medal
than he was of his soul or his good
name" He glanced at the unsightly
sheep shears and asked, rs them the
shears that did it,
Yes we found EN- sticking into him.
remarked the younger Barry unemotion-
ally. He couldn't have done IT HIM
self, for they was on the chair clear at
the other side of the room, and II any
body had sneaked in they could have
found EN-"
what puzzles me-" put in George
Barry. SIS that didn't hear sound
except that little grunt he gave Just
after the clock had struck four"
Christopher Poe glanced up to the old
marble mantle-piece at the foot OF the
fully for a full minute, during which
every one remained silent with his eyes
fixed on the ancient Swiss timepiece.
Il was awake all night too" admitted
Jack Barry hesitatingly, Il heard that
there clock strike one. and two, and
three. and when it struck four the last
stroke sounded a little bit off. I didn't
know just what it was, but George he
noticed il too"
Yes, and just that minute I heard
the old man groan, just kind of groan.
not very loud. but it scared me and il
made me sweat" put in George.
Can you describe what was strange
about that fourth stroke? asked Christie
pher Poe with interest, glancing around
as he saw the young girl, Jenny. turn
away and start stealthily down the
stairs.
George stepped over TO the clock and
turned the hands ahead. pointing to the
hour of six. Everyone in the room
listened intently as the clock changed
once in a high, silvery, metallic tone.
1t struck again, a third time, a fourth,