The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-08

remained in his pocket, heaped up
q sinister proof against Fay Tudor.
Barry paused midway Of the back
stairs and struck the rail softly
with his clenched fist. What fool
he hddl beeni What had been Fay
Tudor,S exact words when she mell-
tionefSlief brothers. effects?
"Dld tell you the other day that
] went in the locked room where all
his belongings, which you SO kindly
brought home to- US, have been
placed? l saw his helmet and his
gas mask, but there were stains
upon It"
Now, there had been no stains
such as she implied upon the mask
when he examined 1t a short time
t.betore,. but on the case which re.
posed in his pocket were several
faint but untnistakable traces of
dried blood. She could not have
detected them in the dlmness of the
room unless she had taken the Gov.
!, er up In his hands, and the sigh,
of the stains must have revolted
her SO that she replaced the case
unopened.
Some one else must have entered
that room during the night before:
some ono who was careful to leave
no traces or finger marks. But who?
Continuing on his way downstairs
Barry entered the kitchen, where
he found the cook weeping over
her preparations for dinner. He
beat hasty retreat to the pantry.
There he discovered pretty
Louise, tho waitress.
"Louise," he began, seating him
salt unconcernedly upon the edge Of
the table, were there guests last
night for dinner?"
mo. Sir; Just Mr.. Clayton, and
he's here so often that ne seems
like one Of the family" The words
came In aloquaclous litle rush. "He
and Mrs. Tudor had coffee together
out on the porch atterward."
."only he and Mrs. Tudor? Didn't
the young ladies take coffee?"
No, sir. Poor Miss Laurel never
does, and Miss Fay came back so
nervous that the doctor forbid her
having any. for fear that she won't
sleep nights. That's been her great
est trouble; insomnia, they call
It"
Insomnia! Barry drew a deep
breath! and for a moment MS hand
strayed toward the pocket where re.
posed the little box Of powders
which he had taken from the bath
room upstairs,
That's too bad Doesn't the doc.
tor give her something to make her
sleep-medlcine. mean?"
"0nly hot milk Last night she
drank It directly after dinner and
Miss Laurel, poor thing, had soma
with her."
Are you sure'. asked Barry
quickly.
"weli, / took It up TO them my.
1self, and In the morning after
after they had carried poor Miss
Laurel away and went IN with
Martha to take the breakfast things
downstairs, found the tall glasses
and the milk jug there empty"
"Were the two young ladies alone
when you took the milk up?"
"of course"
On the porch a table had been
laid for the sheriff and Barry. and
ut Mrs. Tudor's insitscnce they had
both remained for dinner.
Have you found anything that's
worth looking into?" Barry de.
manded.
Sheriff Hulse chuckled.
""Worth looking into?" he re.
peated. my boy, we've been look
ing Into II for days in advance, only
we didn't know it,,
"'In advanced" echoed Barry
ss'yvtat In the world do you mean?'
THAT Teller that's been Brighten.
ing servants, stealing boat cushions
and clothes, and getting in and out
OF houses without anybody knowing
how he does IL He's the one we're
after, and we mean TO look out 10
nab him tonight II we can"
'HHho'sswe7f Barry inquired.
The two gentlemen that are here
fos dinner tonight and Frank and.
me Yon can come along e yoi,