The Washington herald., 1913-08-10

a fifth, and then as all stood expectant-
Iy awaiting the sixth stroke, the clock
remained silent
Must be something the matter with
thatr' remarked George obviously" she's
always kept good time and struck regu-
lar when she was kept wound" He
Jared the clock back and forth on its
antique legs and listened attentively for
that last stroke.
Must be out Of gear" said George
practically, trying his hand.
Christopher Poe's interest was divided
between the disappearance Of the girl
and the failure OF the clock to strike
the full number Of times. When the in
terest in the clock had waned and the
little group. having slightly overcome
their fear of the CHASTITY spectacle had
moved nearer to the bed. Poe stepped
forward and remarked, 1t certainly
looks as though Mr.. Barry had been
murdered. i would advise that his body
be covered with a sheet, and this room
locked SO that nothing will be disturbed
before the police arrive. Have you tele-
phoned to Them
There amt nobody to telephone to
but the undertaken" said George Barry
with finality.
Crimes like this should be examined into
by public officials" said Poe.
The Shepards coincided with his opin-
ion and finally the Barrys reluctantly
left the room as IL was. locked the
door. went down stairs and called up
the Sheriff.
Meantime Poe asked Mr.. Shepard for
the use OF his horse and buggy and
slipped away to town. He picked up
old Tom Hedges at the livery stable and
took him for a drive. During the ride
he briefly sketched the tragedy to the
garrulous old man and asked for further
information concerning the Barry family.
Tom Hedges was not at all reluctant in
giving him minuts details concerning
the three Barrys and the girl, who was
a ward of old Bill Barry, and worked
like a slave on the place.
From the mass Of information Poe re-
ceived he picked the following details
al most interesting TO him. Jack Barry.
the younger son, was in love with Jenny,
the ward. All three OF the younger
people were ruled by Bill Barry with
firm hand. They feared him and in
Tom Hedges estimation none OF them
had the courage to commit such a crime.
He explained the fact that both boys
were awake and heard the clock strike
during the night before by saying that
each of them was afraid that the other
would have some secret conversation
with their father. They lay awake to
keep watch on each other, in fear that
the old man in his diseased state Of
mind might be influenced TO make a
will in favor of one OF his children.
leaving out the other.
Tom Hedges repeated a scandal con-
corning Jenny; she was generally sup
posed to be the daughter of Bill Barry S
brother who had ran away with an ad-
ventures who afterwards went insane.
Il wonder?" asked Christopher Poe at
the end OF his conversation with Hedges,
IF / could get chance to board at
the Barry's after the funeral is over?"
Il guess you could, the boys are just
as tight as their father was and as long
as Jenny would do the work they'd like
to get the eXtry money. But what do
you want to go and get into such a
sad house for now"
''Oh, l am interested in this thing and
I'd like TO find out more about the Barry
family" answered Poe.
Well. all you got to do is to ask EN-. !"
III do that"