Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-02-02
SYNOPSIS

pery or the Robert Slyke nome al circle
Lake, near Saratoga. Peculiar circum--
stances of the case interest Barley, and
he accepts.
CHAPTER u.-With his friend Pelt.
BARLEY goes to Circle Lake, the pair
becoming the guests of Bob Currie, an
old friend. The three visit the Slyke
home. Slyke apparently resents Bartleys
coming, saying he is satisfied the two
men in prison for the attempted robbery
were guilty. BARLEY is not Next morn
ing Slyke is found dead in bed, apparent
ly having shot himself.
Roche had long since lost his con-
fdent air. He said nothing, though
even when BARLEY had finished. The
doctor too, had listened with interest
yet / was not altogether sure that he
wholly agreed with Bartley's reason
ing.
But, If Slyke was murdered" the
doctor asked, "why should all this
trouble have been taken to make it
look like suicideY
BARLEY, who was bending over the
bed examining the body, did not an
swer until he Strengthened up again
King" he said in a grave voice, II
am sure this is murder, not suicide.
The person who killed him wished US
to believe he killed himself. More
over, he was not killed in bed"
Both the doctor and Roche looked
as if this last statement were too un-
believable; and even l, who had long
since ceased to be surprised at any
thing that BARLEY might say, Won
dered little.
when you look at the pillow" he
explained, "on which his head lies,
you will find only one or two spots Of
blood The shirt, in fact, has none
at all. The wound must have bled
more than it seems to have done from
the appearance Of the bed. He was
killed elsewhere and placed In this
bed afterwards / doubt If he was
even undressed at the time of his
death"
Miss Potter, who had remained 81
lent although obviously very nervous
asked if she might go to her room and
leave the doctor in charge. This dele
eating Of her authority to the doctor
did not appeal to Roche; and he told
Der that, If her brother-in-law had
been murdered, it would be the police
and not the doctor who would take
charge Of things. The ordeal through
which she had passed must have been
more than she could stand, for she
made no comment on his challenge
but started to leave the room.
Miss Potter" BARLEY asked, as
she reached the door, did you ever
see this revolver in Mr.. Sykes handT
She hesitated a moment and then
replied, ITS Mr.. Sykes; he was In
the habit of keeping it in a drawer
Of bis desk The gun was bought
soon after the burglary, but, 80 far
as ] know. he has never used it."
Although her statement that the re-
yolreg lad belonged to the dead man
"s''. 'he suicide theory plausible, yet
I could not quite see how the facts
that BARLEY had brought forward to
disprove the suicide could be over
thrown.
what makes you think, Mr.. Bart
ley" Roche asked, that Slyke was
dressed at the time he was killed.
BARLEY answered: eff Slyke had
been killed in bed there would have
been more blood on the bedclothes
than the few drops we see on the pill
low His nightshirt, too, If 1t had
been worn at the time he was killed,
would have had some traces of blood
on 1t. There are no such stains. This,
and the fact that death must have
been instantaneous, makes me feel
sure that he was undressed after he
was killed and then placed on the
bed in the position in which we have
found him"
BARLEY began a search of the room,
using a small glass once or twice as
II he were looking for tinger-prints.
Sykes clothes were flung over a chair,
and one Of his stockings had fallen to
the floor. The way the gray suit lay
on the chair made me wonder If Bart
ley was right when he said the MUIR
derer had undressed him after the
crime. 1t looked so much as If 1t
had been carelessly flung there by
man preparing for bed.
After going through Sykes pockets
BARLEY said slowly, Il have grave
doubts If he was even killed In this
room"
He continued to examine the room,
searching the floor, looking into the
drawers of the desk, examining the
walls even then he came back to the
clothing Picking up the blue silk
shirt from the chair, he examined 1t
a second time before he said: II was
right He was not killed In this room.
Here is the suit he wore. You will
notice that all his clothing In placed
on this chair In the manner that q
man would naturally place 1t II he
was undressing for bad Bak thsEs