The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-04-11
CHAPTER IV-Continued.

/ scanned the two cards he gave
me and then those on the table. The
pack was an ordinary one, such as is
sold for a dollar. Not only the de-
signs on the backs were the same, but
the texture of the cardboards as well.
do you realize what that shows?'
asked BARLEY.
THAT the cards we found In the
tower are from the pack on this
table"
"Yesl They may have been dropped
up there by the murderer, or they
may have been placed there to make
us believe that someone In the poker
party had committed the crime"
"Why couldn't it have been done"
I suggested, ''by someone in the
partyY
He was thoughtful for a second or
two, then slowly shook his head. "Of
course, it might have been, but think
that the odds are against 1t. This is
no ordinary crime, though some one
wanted US to think 1t was a common
place suicide. The criminal was
afraid, however, that we might dis
cover 1t to be murder and prepared
for that emergency"
How do you make that outT' I
asked, astonished.
IAN ordinary criminal - BARLEY
spoke so softly that Miss Potter could
not hear-"would never have taken
all the trouble involved in undressing
Slyke and placing him in bed. That
was intended to give the Idea of sui
eide; but, as the murderer knew there
was a chance of some one suspecting
that 1t was murder, he took the cards
from the table and placed them where
we could find them. He knew that the
finding of cards in the tower would
throw suspicion upon everyone pres
ent at the game. 1t is to me only an
additional link in evidence that proves
1t was not suicide"
Roche returned, bringing with him
the butler, three women and a boy.
None of them could give US any in
formation of value. BARLEY soon dis
missed them.
After they had gone, Barley turned
to the boy who, from the excited way
he was wriggling, evidently wanted |
to say something. 1t came out with |
an eagerness that was almost laugh |
able.
81 heard q gun last night" he cried.
"You did?" asked BARLEY, startled
for a second
The boy nodded eagerly.
Eyes, sir. Last night, sir"
BARLEY placed his hand on the
,oy's shoulder. "Where were you
when you heard the shot? What time
vas it?'
"Well, sir" the boy began, 'you see,
work out in the garage, wash the
airs and such things. l sleep over 1t
ind eat in the kitchen. Last night,
'ou know, we had the big car out to
axe some of the gentlemen home that
we're at the card party. When the
hauffeur got back l washed the car"
The chauffeur? We stared inquir-
ngly at each other, and BARLEY said
harply to Roche, "Where is hep"
Roche looked confused and shame
aced, then hurried from the room,
nd BARLEY resumed his examination
the boy.
'You said you were washing the
ar. What then"
Eyes, sir. l was washing the car.
was after twelve o'clock and ii
,ok some time. Then 1 smoked a
gar a man had given me and went |
} bed Just after crawled In, about
alf-past one, 1 guess, heard shot.
OF very loud, but 1t was a shot, all
ght." l
where did 1t seem to come from?' S
artley asked.
The boy scratched his head for a I
oment and looked bit foolish as :
, replied, ITS funny, but 1t seemed t
be up in the air near the house." L
BARLEY threw me quick glance.
MS fitted Ia with his theory that 1
yke had been killed on the balcony L
the tower. II that theory was right t
ID the shot that the boy had heard |
70 the one that had killed Slyke. be ! G