The Lambertville record., 1919-05-02

possibilities and complications, depre
dations and intrigues.
Bacon was the one who answered
People live up there and since we've
been here two or three men visitors
have come down from the place to
sample our stock of wet goods. talked
with couple of 'em day before yester-
day. They were out for horseback
ride and stopped here for mug of
ale."
Were they foreigners?" inquired
Barnes
/ IF you want to call an Irishman a
foreigner, I'll have to say one of them
was. He had beautiful brogue. The
other was an American. I'm sure. Yes
terday they rode past here with-a a cou-
pie of swelI-looking women. saw
them turn up the road to Green
Fancy"
The arrival of four or five men. who
stamped into the already crowded hall
way from the porch outside, claimed
the attention of the quartette. Among
them was the doctor who. they were
soon TO discover, was also the coroner
of the county. A very officious deputy
sheriff was also in the group.
Mr. Jones called out from the door
way: "Mr. Barnes, you're wanted in
there"
''All right" he responded.
| The doctor had been working over
/, the PROSTATE form on the tables. As
Barnes entered the room. he looked up
and declared that the man was dead
This is Mr.. Barnes" said Putnam
Jones, indicating the tall traveller with
short jerk of his thumb.
II am from the sheriff's office said
| the man who stood beside the doctor
The rest of the crowd evidently had
been ordered to stand back from the
tables. "Did you ever see this man be-
fore?"
Not until he was carried in here
an hour ago"
whats your business up here. Mr.
Barnes?"
81 have no business up here. l just
happened to stroll in this evening"
"Well," said the sheriff darkly. 81
| guess I'll have to ask you to sticS
around here till we clear this business
up. We don't know you an Well
we can't take any chances. You un
derstand, reckon.
II certainly fail to understand. Mr.
Sheriff | know nothing whatever OF
this affair and i intend to continue
on my way tomorrow morning
well, I guess not. You got to stay
don't know anything about this busi
ness. That's ALL"
Am l to consider myself under ar
rest. sir?"
Il wouldn't go so far as to say that
You just stick around here, that's al
l got to say. If you're all right Wei
soon find it out. What's more, if yor
are all right you'll be willin' to stay
Do you get me?'
81 certainly do. And I can now as
nothing better than to stick around
here, as you put it. I'd like to help
clear this matter up. In the mean
time, you may readily find out who
am and why l am here by telegraph
ing to the mayor of New York city
This document, which experience has
taught me to carry for just such an
| emergency as this, may have some
weight with you" He opened his bill
folder and drew forth neatly creased
sheet of paper. Read it. please, and
note the date, the signature, the Off
partment. and also the rather interest
| ing silver print pasted in the lower
| left hand corner. | think you will
! agree that it is good likeness of me.
Each year / take the precaution of
having myself certified by the police
| into unknown and perhaps unfriendly
communities"
Yes" said the sheriff obviously
but how do l know it amt forgery?''
You don't know. of course. But in
case it shouldn't be forgery and
rest or even detention, you would have
nasty time defending yourself in a
civil suit for damages. / shall remain
here, as you suggest, but only for the
purpose of aiding you in getting TO
| the bottom of this affair"
Standing on Jim Conley's front
porch a little after sunrise. Barnes
made the following declaration:
Everything goes to show that these
men were up here for one of two rea-
sons. They were either trying to pre-
vent or to enact crime. The latter is
my belief They We're afraid of me.
Why? Because they believed | was
trailing them and likely to spoil their
game. Gentlemen. those fellows were
here for the purpose of robbing the
place you call Green Fancy"
whats that?" came rich, mellow
voice from the outskirts of the crowd.
A man pushed his way through and
! confronted Barnes. He was tall,
good-looking fellow of thirty-five. and
it was apparent that he had dressed in
! haste. MY name is O'Dowd, and / am
guest of Mr.. Curtis at Green Fancy.
Why do you think they meant to rob
his placer
"Well.' began Barnes dryly, "it
would seem that his place is the only
one in the neighborhood that would
bear rObbing. My name is Barnes. OF
course. Mr. O'Dowd, 1t is mere specu-
lation on my part"