The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-13
CHAPTER VIII.
Reckonings.

Facts that contradict each other
are not facts" pronounced Chester
Kent
Fumes of tobacco were rising from
three pipes lowered about the porch
of the Nook where Kent, Sedgwick and
Lawyer Balm were holding late coun-
Gil. A discouraged observation from
the artist had elected Kent's epigram.
Not all of them, anyhow" said
Balm. THE chore in this case is to
find facts enough to work on
ION the contrary" declared Kent,
facts in this case are as plentiful as
blackberries. The trouble is that we
have no pail to put them in"
Maybe we could borrow Len schla-
GERS" suggested the lawyer dryly.
Kent received this with a subdued
snort. ut is remarkable that the
newspapers haven't sent men down on
such a sensational case" he said
ION the contrary TO you, sir" re-
torted Balm, 80 much fake stuff has
come out of Lonesome Cove that the
papers discount any news from here-
IAN the better. The only thing that
worries me more than the stupidity OF
professional detectives is the shrewd-
ness Of trained reporters. At least we
can work this out in our own way
I'VE don't seem to be getting much
of anywhere" complained SedGwick.
complicated cases don't clear
themselves up in a day" remarked
Kent. "In this one we've got oppo-
nents who know more than we do
"Schlager?" asked the lawyer.
And Doctor Breed. Also, l think,
Gansett jim What do you think. Mr.
Balm, is the handspring of the shcrins
action?"
Money" said the lawyer with con-
xyio+iop aEa's as crooked as q snake
with the collie"
would it require much money to
influence him 2"
"As much as he could get. II the
case was in the line of blackmau, ned
hold out strong. He's shrewd."
Doctor Breed must be getting some
of it"
ION, Tim Breed Is Lens little dog
He takes orders or course he'll take
money, too, If it comes his way Like
master, like man
''Those two" said Kent slowly,
'know the identity Of the body. For
GOOD and sufficient reasons they are
keeping that information to them
selves Those reasons We aren AKeiy
to find out from them
Murderer has bribed en- opined
Balm
that the sheriff found something on
the body which led him 10 the muir
derer. which isn't likely. How i'm
nroha BILE it is that murderer-allow-
ing. for argument, that here has been
murder-who would go as far as TO
cover his trail and the nature or the
crime bv binding the body on q graf
ing. would overlook anything like
letter discriminating himself
What did the sheriff find, then, IN
the dead woman's pocket
and that would lead him to the
identity of the body ~ ~
presumably Also TO some one, /
we may assume, who was WlIl'hs 70
pay roundly to have that idehuty CON
Cealed.'
THAT would naturally he the muir
derer, wouldn't it?" asked Sedgwick, .
NO / don't think so.
1T looks 10 me so" said the law
yer. He's the one naturally interest
ed in conceaIment
I'm almost ready to dismiss the
notion Of murderer at all
why so?" demanded both the
because there was no murder.
probably"
queried Balm.
From the nature Of the wounds
that caused death
They look to me 10 he Just such
wounds as would be made by blow
with q heavy club"
Several blows with heavy club (
might have caused such wounds. But
the blows would have had to be de-
iivered peculiarly a circle on the
skull, six inches in diameter, imping
ing on the right ear, is crushed in. II (
YOU can imagine man swinging