Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-06-19

III IS true that ! was the last person
with my father and that | can't prove
that wasn't there when he was killed,
and you bet that hurts like the dick
ens!v'
1T does not prove that you killed
him." remarked the lawyer, land the
burden Of proof rests upon the state"
YES" broke in Bruce. with rising
scorn. II like the idea Of going on for
weeks This way in the position of the
police not being able to prove that I
killed my father! l want them to
prove who did it-not me to prove that
l didn't or anything else"
well, | suppose they are trying as
hard as they cam" said Mr.. Hurley.
"They seem to be busy enough"
"Oh. yes. they're busy" Argyle
laughed grizzly. Every time they
have a spare man around headquarters
they send him up to bother me or
Mary and get us to tell everything all
over again. Mary is nearly distracted.
l suppose they'll be charging her with
the murder in the newspapers pretty
soon, and then I'll commit a murder
that won't be any mystery!"
NOW. Bruce, don't excite yourself"
counseled the lawyer. But he seemed
uncomfortable at the mention of Miss
Mazuret. The truth may be unpleas-
ant, as you say. but it can never do
any harm"
Argyle made an impatient gesture.
1t can DO some real harm to Mary if
she breaks down under all this-this
'unpleasantness,' as you call it." he re-
torted. Il suppose this thing of the
will is bound to be made public, and
then there will be all sorts of new and
nastier stories about the whole lot of
u.s."
1T can hardly be avoided. conceded
the lawyer regretfully. II think, N.Y.
self. that the newspapers are allowed
too much license in this respect, but
that is better than a crippled and ham,
pered press"
Argyle frowned at the floor and the
lawyer played with a pen and waited.
At last the young man looked up ap-
parently Gained by a private resolve.
WELL" he said. with a grim under
current Of threat in his voice, "Ill give
the police-you have so much faith in
them-a day longer. and then I'll take
charge myself"
The lawyer threw him a swift, keen
glance. what are you planning to
dog he asked.
Never mind!" The young mans
lips came together. you and your
friends. the police. have had nearly a
week at this and haven't got anywhere
excepting to make a lot Of trouble for
people who have trouble enough as it
is. ! am going to get action"
"You had better do nothing without
consulting me-" advised Mr.. Hurley
earnestly.
II have consulted you" retorted Ar
gyle. "All you can advise me to do is
wait and trust to the police. | have
done both for a week. If they haven't
got something by tomorrow morning
IIl"-
He cut himself off and Mr.. Hurley
eagerly demanded. What will you do?"
We'll. you'll see. There isn't any
particular reason why l shouldn't tell
you. and l will as soon as 1 decide. but
when l do the investigation is going to
be carried on under my directions"
And with a nod to the lawyer he
walked out.
On the way home he bought the
final edition Of an evening paper. His
eye ran over the headline and he gasp
ed and swore. 1t read:
argyle Murder Motive Found! Aged
Millionaire Planned Change Of Will!
Adopted Daughter Now Sole Heir!
Son Disinherited!'
There followed a detailed story Of
his reconciliation with his father-of
his fathers plan to put him back in
his will as joint heir with his adopted
sister and of the fact that the murder
left him penniless and his adopted
sister one Of the richest %heiresses in
the world.
Find the person whom the crime
most benefits" said old Papa Taba-
ret. the greatest detective in fiction.
1 dpd 1dDitItt WAS great UeCduSe uS
was human and made mistakes. He
nearly made a terrible mistake in fol-
lowing this axiom relentlessly. though
he proved in the end that it worked
out unfailingly. The weakness Of it is
the difficulty of ascertaining the num-
Der of persons who are benefited by
the crime and the precise degree of
gain to each. Thus it happens that a
number of persons may be benefited in
different ways by a murder. These
persons may not know of the existence
Of each other, and the one who COM
mits the crime may be deriving great
benefit. but may also at the same time
be benefting others in a lesser and
even greater degree. So here is anoth-
err weakness Of the axiom-that the
one most benefited need not necessari-
" have guilty knowledge Of the crime.
But in this case that weakness could
be eliminated. as the newspapers SUBJ
tly pointed out. Miss MaZuret knew
the innermost secrets Of the old mans
mind. She knew Of his Quarrels with
his son. She probably knew that the