The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1920-03-06


moment than dog could help bark
ing after retrieving It's masters walk
lng.stlck from pond.
eyes," he replied, II must say II
did surprise me. l didn't gather from
your report that you had even found
a clue. Was II the Indian theory that
won out. or lId you catch Mrs. Pickett
with the goodsf"
Oakcs laughed tolcrantly.
.Oh, that was all moonshine never
really believed that truck. ! put II In
to Qll up. hadn't begun to think
about the case then-not really think
"Now
"No. i was just looking around II
giving u the once over
"And having given II the once
over"
"why, I took my coat OF and waded
in"
"You weren't long about IT,"
Mr.. Snyder extended his cigar.case.
'idght NJ and toll me all ahout ~
"Well, | won't say | haven't earned
his mld Onkes, putting smoke
Shull / Dc,iu at ne bernningT
"Sure liut tcli me fret who wne
It thai did itr Was 1t one of the board
ers?"
"No."
"So,nebody from outside thcnf"
.Oakes smiled quietly.
ayes, YOU might call Il somebody
from outside. Hut I had better trace
my reasoning from the start"
"Thnt's right. II spolls story know
.ng the finish. Go TO H."
Oakes let the ash of his cigar fall
1ellcatcly to the foor. another actor
which seemed Significant TO his EN-
ployer. AS "A rule, his assistants, unic'n
particularly pleased with themselves,
used the ush.,ray.
"My iirst net on arriving" he said
"wns 20 have talk with Mrs. Pickett
A very dull old woman"
"Curlous. She struck me ns rather
intelligent"
''Not on your life. She doesn't know
beans from buitermllk. She gave me
no assistance whatsoever.
81 then exiunlncd the room where
the death had taken place II was
much as YOU had described ~ locked
door. window high up. No chimney.
I'm bound 10 say that, NJ FIRST sight
Il looked faigiy unpromislng.
"Then ! had n chat with some Of
the other boardcrs. They had nothing
10 tell me that was of the least use.
Most Of thom simply gibbercd.
Il then gave up trying To get hclp
from outside. ana resolved To rely ~
my own intelligence"
lie smiled complaccnily,
1T is theory Of mine, Mr.. Sny'
der. which hive found valuable that
la nine cases out of ten, remarkable
things don't happen"
I'll don't quite get that"
81 mean exactly what gay. I viii
put II another way II you like. What
mean is that the simplest cxplana.
tion Is nearly always the right one"
"Well. l don't"
81 have tested aud proved n. Con-
slider this case. Was there ever n case
which was more entitled by rights 10
bizarre solution3 One was almost
inclined TO believe In the supernatural.
II 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. IL I had started In do
that. I should have been guessing now.
"As IL is--hcre am. trusted 10
my belief that nothing remarkable
ever happens. and won OUT
Mr.. Snyder sighed softly. oakes was
entitled 10 n certain amount OF gloat-
ing, but there was no doubt that his
way Of telllng story was little
trying.
II believe In the logical sequence of
events. ] refuse 10 accept effects un-
less they are preceded by causes. In
other words. with all due Difference To
you. Mr.. Snyder. simply decline To
believe In a murder unless there In a
motive for II.
'"The first thing I set myself 10 as
certain was--what was the motive for
this murder Of Captain Gunner? And,
after thinking IL over and making
every possible inquiry. ! decided that
there was no motive. Therefore. there
was no murder. II was like an elemen-
tary sum"
Mr.. Snyder's mouth opened, and he
intended 70 speak, but he
his mind and Oakes pro-
ceeded:
II then tested the suicide theory.
What motive was there for suicide /?
There was no motive. Therefore, there
was no suicide
This time Mr.. Snyder spoke.
Say, my boy, you haven't been
spending the last few days In the
wrong house by any chance, have your
You will be telling me next time there
wasn't any dead man."
Oakes smiled.
"Not at all. Captain John Gunner
was dead as mutton, and, as the medi-
cal evidence proved. he died OF the
bite of a kraft"
Mr. Snvder shrupppd his shoulders