The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-06-07


house had been struck. am was 80 no
set that don't know II really heard
anything NJ ALL What I thought
heard sounded Ike a bough moving IA
the wind. or the whir Of violin
string"
His description was so vague tina,
We looked az each other. puzzled. Bari,
ley tried 10 make the chief more def.
mite. but 10 all his questions he re.
eeiyed the same reply. Roche was nor
sure II he had heard anything. bur n
be had. II had sounded ike a Dough in
the wind. What II was. or what had
caused II, he had not the faintest idea.
That was all he could tell US. That
Briffeur could have been killed with
Roche within a few inches Of him
killed BY some one who did not make
sound--sesmed impossible. Yet n
had been done. ! concluded that the
thud he had heard was the sound OF
the knife being driven into the body,
but l could not account for the sound
OF the bough. The chief might have
imagined that be heard II. or have
been confused by the movements OF the
alarmed crowd behind him.
Barley questioned the others. Ruth,
her face pale. trembled a little as she
answered that she had heard nothing
but the cry. The district attorney re
piled that he had heard nothing else.
either, and had not dreamed that
crime had been committed until he saw
the figure on the floor. Doctor Kings
answer was similar. The impossible
had happened. BrIffeur had been muir
dered. not only without anyone near
him hearing the murderer. but with
out his leaving any traces behind him. /
As person after person denied hav.
Ing heard sound. Bartley's face be-
came grave. Later. he told me he
agreed with my belief that the muir
derer could not have crept up on the
chauffeur without making at least some
slight noise. When all had finished.
he gave little shrug. and faint
smile came 20 his lips. l would have
given good deal 10 know what had
caused II.
Whoever struck that blow" Doctor
Webster commented. "kncw where TO
place II. The slightest fraction OF an
Inch nearer. and the chauffeur would
have died instantly. The darkness
probably caused the murderer TO miss
the exact spot he was aiming for--the
center OF the heart"
BARLEY agreed. and for moment
nothing was said. Then the district
attorney broke the silence with. mir.
BARLEY. ! think that Brifreur knew
who killed him. At least. he had an
dea who II was. He was trying to
Tell us when he died"
"Yes." BARLEY replied. with q curl
Dus smile. "he was not only trying TO
tell US. but 20 point him out. You will
that Just before he died. In
/ last burst OF strength. he half raised
himself and said. 'Slyke murdered-I
Killed and fell back dead. There
= no doubt he thought he knew who
titled him. He had not. OF course,
Ieen who II was. Hut he suspected
Iome one. and was trying to point him
'ut." D
Trying to point him outr' echoed I
he district attorney In establishment.
"Yes. point him out. He pointed I
traight al Doctor webster's chest"
The doctor started and his face red
ened IN surprise and anger. He
lanced quickly at BARLEY 10 discover 9
I he were In earnest, and blurted out. o
Me My Cd. never was anywhere c
ear him r. b
II know that. Doctor" BARLEY said. v
Nth reassurlng smile. "What | v
ieant was that he was trying 70 point
at some one ! doubt n he could dis G
ngulsh one person from another. e
ou happened TO be unlucky enough n
D be In front Of him. that Is all" b
Il am pretty sure he had no idea n
hat he was pointing al me; and |
oubt. for that matter. II he even knew q
hat he was saying" Doctor Webster a
islsted x
Il agree with you In part. Doctor" 81
ms Bartley's answer. II don't believe "
= had any Idea whom he was point. a
* at hu, think he knew who killed Ct
I'm. nevertheless" HI
"But. MIR Barley" Ruth cried. won. m
eringiy, why should any one wish 10 Ia
~ our chaureurf' n
His answer came In short sen. 81
nee. Because be knew who killed 81
Ir SiYke,"
TITS reply, not unexpected by me. HI
'emed 20 surprise the others. The II
m looked bewlldered and Doctor w
inr's eyes opened Wide. Miss Potter In
one remained unmeved Even the
strict attorney. lawyer that he was m
'msndcd. why do you say thatf- or
hartley glanced at him as II he had
,psctcd a man With legal training O.
I'VE better understanding. and Ia a
cary voice explained; ~You an rccos
se that hrinsar was killed as he was III
,ont 70 testify. Whoever dld the nc
ed was AFRAID Of What he knew. Tie en-
'uld not. Of course. have forvseen that
= lights would 70 cut but when they
q he seired the opportunity. lie
AIRED that the chauffeur would tell an
so killed Slyke And while he Might hi
q have been able to prove bis state F.
snt. he knew enough 70 be dangerous.