The Wolf Point herald., 1920-02-26


more help being patronizing at thi
moment than a dog could help bark
ing after retrieving its masters walk
ing-stick from pond.
"Yes," he replied, II must say
did surprise me. l didn't gather from
your report that you had even foun'
a clue. Was it the Indian theory tha
won out, or did you catch Mrs. Picket
with the goods?"
Cakes laughed tolerantly.
"Oh. that was all moonshine. ! nevel
really believed that truck. l put it il
to fill up. / hadn't begun to thinl
about the case then-nOt really think
"No2"
mo. / was just looking around il
giving it the once over"
"And having given it the once
over"
"Why, / took my coat off and waded
In"
"You weren't long about it,"
Mr.. Snyder extended his cigar-casa
Light up and tell me all about it."
"WelI, / won't say / haven't earned
, this" said Oakes, putting smoke.
"Shali l begin at the beginning?"
"Sure. But tell me first, who was
1t that did it? Was 1t one of the board
ers?"
"No.'
Somebody from outside. then7"
Oakes smiled quietly.
"Yes, you might call it somebody
from outside. But had better trace
my reasoning from the start"
That's right. 1t spoils story know
ing the finish. Go to it,"
Oakes let the ash of his cigar fall
delicately to the floor, another action
which seemed significant TO his en-
ployer. AS a rule, his assistants, unless
particularly pleased with themselves,
used the ash-tray.
"My first act on arriving" he said,
'was to have a talk with Mrs. Pickett.
A very dull old woman"
"Curious. She struck me as rather
intelligent"
'Not on your life. She doesn't know
beans from buttermilk. She gave me
no assistance whatsoever.
n fnen examined the room where
the death had taken place. 1t was
much as you had described it. Locked
door. Window high UP. No chimney.
I'm bound to say that, at first sight,
1t looked fairly unpromising.
"Then I had a chat with some of
the other boarders. They had nothing
to tell me that was of the least use.
Most of them simply gibbered.
81 then gave up trying to get help
from outside, and resolved TO rely on
my own intelligence"
He smiled complacently.
"It is a theory of mine, Mr.. Sny-
der, which have found valuable, that
In nine cases out of ten, remarkable
things don't happen"
81 don't quite get that"
"I mean exactly what l say. l Will
put it another way. if you like. What |
| mean is that the simplest explana-
ton is nearly always the right one"
"Well, don't"
81 have tested and proved 1t. Con-
slider this case. Was there ever case
which was more entitled by rights to
a bizarre solution? One was almost
inclined to believe in the supernatural.
It seemed impossible that there should
have been any reasonable explanation
Of the mans death. Most men would
have worn themselves out guessing at
wild theories. If I had started to do
that, should have been guessing now.
"As it is-here am. trusted to
nv belief that nothing remarkable
ever happens, and won out"
Mr.. Snyder sighed softly. Oakes was
entitled to a certain amount of gloat-
ng, but there was no doubt that his
way Of telling a story was little
rying.
'T believe in the logical sequence of
events. l refuse to accept effects un-
ess they are preceded by causes. In
,ther words, with all due Difference to
,ou, Mr.. Snyder, I simply decline to
,elieve in a murder unless there is
motive for it.
"The first thing l set myself to as
ertain was-what was the motive for
his murder of Captain Gunner? And,
after thinking it over and making
very possible inquiry, 1 decided that
here was no motive. Therefore, there
vas no murder. 1t was like an elemen-
ary sum-"
Mr.. Snyder's mouth opened, and he
intended to speak, but he
hanged his mind and Cakes pro
eeded:
II then tested the suicide theory.
What motive was there for suicide? |
here was no motive. Therefore, there
ras no suicide
This time Mr.. Snyder spoke. /
"Say, my boy, you haven't been |
pending the last few days in the
,rong house by any chance, have you?
'ou will be telling me next time there
'asnt any dead man." II
Oakes smiled. II
"Not at all. Captain John Gunner
'as dead as mutton, and, as the medi |,
al evidence proved, he died of the