Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-12-01
noticed the curious pallor Of his chin

noticed the curious pallor Of his chin
and forehead.
"Scruton?" he just asked. S S.z.
(, Eyes, sir! This morning" said Hill
ton Toye. 81
, "You don't mean the poor man."
cried Blanche, looking from one to the
other.
Eyes, he does,' said Cazalet gloom
lily. He stared out at the river, seeing
nothing in his turn, though one OF the
anglers was actually busy with his
reel.
But I thought Mr. Scruton was
still" Blanche remembered him, re-
membered dancing with him; she did
not like to say, Sin prison.
HE came out the other day." sighed
Cazalet. But how like the police all
! over! Give a dog bad name, and
trust them to hunt it down and shoot
1t at sight"
II Judge it's not so bad as all that in
this country" said Hilton Toye.
That's more like the police theory
about Scruton, l guess, bar drawing
the bead"
when did you hear of it," said
! Cazalet.
1T was on the tape at the Savoy
when I got there. So I made an in
quiry, and l figured to look in at the
Kingston Court on my way to call
upon Miss Blanche. You see, was
kind of interested in all you'd told me
,, about the case"
"Well?"
well, that was my end of the situa-
ton. AS luck and management would
have it between them, was in time to
hear your man"
mot my man, please! You thought
of him yourself said Cazalet sharply.
well, anyway, was in time to hear
the proceedings opened against him.
They were all over in about minute.
He was remanded till next week."
"How did he look?" and, Had he a
beard?" demanded Cazalet and
Blanche simultaneously.
"He looked like a sick man, said
Toye, with something more than his
usual deliberation in answering or
asking questions. Eyes, Miss Blanche,
he had a beard worthy of free citi
zen"
"They let them grow one. if they
like, before they come out" said GAIA
let, with the nod of knowledge.
Then l guess he was wise man
not to take it off," rejoined Hilton
Toye. THAT would only prejudice his
case, if it's going to be one ofidentity,
with that head gardener playing lead
in the witness-stand."
"Old Savage!' snorted Cazalet.
"Why, he was a dotard in our time;
they couldn't hang dog on his evi-
dence!"
"Still," said Blanche, I'D rather
have it than circumstantial evidence,
wouldn't you, Mr.. Toye?"
No, Miss Blanche, l would not" re-
piled Toye, with unhesitatings candor.
The worst. evidence in the world, in
NV opinion, and IVg given the matter
some thought, is the evidence OF iden-
tity." He turned to Cazalet, who had
betrayed a quickened interest in his
views. Shall tell you why? Think
how often you're not SO sure II you
have seen a man before or if you never
have! You kind of shrink from nod
ding, or else you nod wrong; il you
didn't ever have that feeling, then
you're not like any other man know
Il have!"s cried Cazalet. "1've had
1T all my life, even in the wilds; but
never thought OF it before"
Think of it now" said Toye, "and
you'll see there may be flaws in the
best evidence of identity that money
can buy. But circumstantial evidence
can't lie, Miss Blanche, if you get
enough of it. II the links fit in, to
prove that a certain person was in .
certain place at certain time, guess
that's worth all the oaths of all the
eye-witnesses that ever saw daylight!'
Cazalet laughed harshly, as for no
apparent reason he led the way into
the garden. "Mr Toye's made study
of these things he fired over his
shoulder. HE should have been a
Sherlock Holmes, and rather wishes
he was one!"
Give me time" said Toye, laugh
ing. II may come along that way
yet"
Cazalet faced him in frame Of
tangled greenery. You told me you
Wouldn't"
Il did, sir, but that was before they
put salt on this poor old crook. If
you're right, and he's not the man,
shouldn't you say that rather altered
the situation?"