The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-02-03

ing Miss Vaughan to the couch. In
| that minute, he must have touched
the dead man."
Swain shook his head doubtfully.
Il don't see why I should have done
| that" he said.
ut isn't a question OF why you did
| it," Godfrey pointed out. It's a ques-
ton Of whether you did. Go over the
scene in your mind, recalling as many
details as you can, and then we'll go
over It together, step by step. after
lunch"
1t was a silent meal. and when it
was over Godfrey led the way into his
study.
Now" he began, when we were
seated. where was Miss Vaughan at
the moment you sprang through the
door,"
She was lying on the floor by the
table, in front Of her fathers chair"
Swain replied.
You are sure Of that?"
Yes; I didn't SEQ her until 1 ran
around the table"
II was hoping" said Godfrey. that
she had tainted with her arms clasped
about her fathers neck anC that, in
freeing them. you made those marks
on his robe"
But Swain shook his head.
NO." he said: I'm positive I didn't
touch him"
Then how did the marks get
there?"
II don't know" said Swain helpless
ly.
Now. see here, Swain" said God
frey, a little sternly. there is only one
| way in which those finger prints could
have got on that garment. and that
Is from your fingers. If you didn't
put them there consciously. you must
have done so unconscausly. II they
| aren't explained In some way. the jury
win very probably hold you respon-
sible for the crime"
II understand that" Swain answered
thickly; "but how can they be ex-
planned? don't see why l should put
my hands on Mr.. Vaughan's throat,
even unconSciouSly. And then there's
the fact that at no time during the
| evening was I really unconscious-I
was only confused and dazed"
'Goldberger's theory Is plain
enough" said Godfrey, turning to me;
and 1 must say that it's n good one
He realizes that there wasn't provo
cation enough to cause a man like
| Swain to commit murder, with all his
| senses about him; but his presump-
ton is that the crime was committed
while Swain was in a daZed condition
and not wholly self-controlled. Such
a thing is possible"
mo, 1t isn't!" cried Swain, his face
! livid. "It isn't possible! I'm not a
murderer. | remember everything
else-do you think l wouldn't remem-
Der a thing like that"
Il don't know what to think" God
frey admitted. a straight line between
his brows. Besides, there's the hand
kerchief."
Il don't see any mystery about that"
said Swain. There's only one way
that could have come there II
dropped from my wrist when l stopped
over Miss Vaughan"
Godfrey looked at me, and l nodded
| Swain might as well know the worst
THAT would be an explanation. sure
| enough" said Godfrey, slowly. but for
one fact-you didn't have any band
age on your wrist when you came back
over the wall. Both Lester and saw
your wrist and the cut on it distinctly
Therefore. If you dropped the handker-
chief there, 1t must have been before
| that"
The blood had run from SWANS
cheeks, as though drained by an open
artery. and for q moment he sat sill
ent, staring at the speaker. Then he
raised his trembling right hand and
looked at 1t. as though it might bear
some mark TO tell him whether Il
were indeed guilty.
"But-but I don't understand" he
| cried thickly. "You-you don't mean to
intimate-you don't belieye-but i
wasn't unconscious, l tell you! I
wasn't near the house until after we
heard the screams! I'm sure Of It!
I'd stake my soul on it,"
Get grip Of yourself, SWAIN" said
Godfrey, soothingly. Don't let your
self so like that No, l don't believe
you killed Vaughan, consciously
or unconsctously. / said Goldberger's
theory was a good one. and it is: but
don't believe it. Ny belief Is that
the murder vas done by the Thug;
but there's nothing to support it. ex-
cept the fact that he was on the
ground and that a moose was used.
There's not bit Of direct evidence to
connect him with the crime. and there's
a lot OF direct evidence to connect
you with 1t. It's up to US to explain
it away. Now, think carefully before
you answer my questions: Have you
any recollection, however faint, of
fasiug seen Mahbub before this morn
ing?"
Swain sat for quite a minute search
ing his consciousness. Then, to my
great disappointment. he shook his
head.
No" he said; '1 am sure 1 never
saw him before"
Nor Silva?"
NO nor Silva--exCept, of course. the
time. three or four months ago. when
hee gave me Mr.. Vaughan's message"
Have you distinct recollection
that the library was empty when you
sprang into tt?"
Yes; very distinct. remember
looking about it. and then running
past the table and discovering Miss
Vaughan"
You saw her father also?"
Yes; but I merely glanced at him.
1 realized that he was dead"
And you also have a distinct recol-
lection that you did not approach him
or touch him?"
II am quite certain of that" an
swered Swain. positively.
Then I give II up" said Godfrey.
and lay back in his chair.
There was a queer boiling of ideas
in my mind ideas difficult to Clothe
with words. and composed of l know
not what farrago OF occultism, mysti-
Cism. and Oriental magic; but at last
1 managed to simmer them down 10 a
timid question:
Il know II sounds foolish. but
wouldn't it be possible. Godfrey. to
explain all this by hypnosis, or occult
influence. or something of that sort?"
Godfrey turned and looked at me.
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