Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-02-03

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.
1T 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 We're
seated. where was Miss Vaughan at
the m 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; l didn't ses her until l ran
around the table"
Il was hoping" said Godfrey, that
she had tainted with her arms clasped
about her fathers neck and that, in
freeing them, o made those marks
on his robe.'
But Swain shook his head.
NO" he said; I'm positive | didn't
Then how did the marks get
there?"
Il don't know" said Swain helpless
~.
Now, see here, Swain" said Cod
frey, a little sternly, there is only one
way in which those finger prints could
have got on that garment, and thai
is from your fingers. If you didn't
put them there consciously, you must
have one so unconsciusly. If they
aren't explained in some way. the Jury
will very probably hold you respon-
sible for the crime"
Il 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,
the fact that at no time during the
evening was / really unconscious-I
was only confused and daZed."
"Goldberger'S theory is plain
enough said Godfrey, turning to me;
and | must say that it's a good one.
He realizes hat there wasn't provo
cation enough to cause a man like
Swain to commit murder, with all his
senses about him; but his presump-
tion is that the crime was committed
while Swain was in a daZed condition
and not wholly self-controIIed. Such
a thing is possible"
mo, it isn't" cried Swain, his face
livid. ut isn't possible! I'm not a
murderer. l remember everything
Der a thing like that"
Il don't know what to think" Cod
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 n way
that could have come there. 1t
lr0nnp1 from, my, Iy-ict n,1,o, I rto.a.l
over Miss Vaughan"
Godfrey looked at me, n L nodded.
Swain might as Well know the worst.
That would De an explanation. sure
enough" said Godfrey, slowly. but for
cne fact-you didn't have any band
age on your wrist when you came back
over the wall. Both Lester and saw
Therefore, if You dropped the handker-
chief there, it must have been before
that"
The blood had run from SWANS
checks, as though drained by an open
artery, and for a moment he sat sill
ent, staring at the speaker. Their he
raised his trembling right hand and
looked at it, as though it might bear
some mark to tell him whether it
We're indeed guilty.
"But-but ] don't understand" he
cried thickly. "You-you don't mean to
intimate-you don't believe-but |
wasn't unconscious, | tell YOU!
wasn't near the house until afte, we
heard the screams, I'm sure of III
I'd stake my soul OF it,"
Get a grip of yourself. Swain,'' said
Godfrey, Soothingly. Don't let YOUR
self go like that. No, | don't believe
you killed Vaughan, consciously
or unconsciously. ] said Goldberger's
theory was a good one, and il is, but
l don't believe it. MY belief is that
the murder vas done by the Thug:
but there's nothing to support it. eS-
cept the fact that he was on the
ground and that . moose was used.
There's not Il bit of direct evidence Ia
connect him with the crime, and there's
a lot of direct evidence to connect
you with it. It's w to US to explain
it away. Now, think carefully before
you answer my questions: Have YOU
any recollection, however faint, OF
faving 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; Il am sure [ never
saw him before"
Nor Silva
mo, nor Silva-except. of course. the
time. three or -four months ago, when
hee gave me Mr.. Naughan's message
Have you a distinct recollection
that the library was empty when you
sprans into it,"
Yes; very distinct. l remember
looking about it, and then running
past the table and discovering Miss
Vaughan"
You saw her father also?"
Yes: but / merely glanced at him
! realized that he was dead"
And you also have a distinct recol-
lection that o did not approach him
or touch him."
Il am quite certain Of that an
swered Swan, positively.
Then l give 1t 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 occultisin, mysti-
cism. and Oriental magic; but at last
/ managed to simmer them down to a
timid question:
Il know it 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.
Silva seems to have impressed
you" he said. II has. But isn't such
an explanation possible?"
al 1O~'t AtI