The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-03-29

butler In great establishment. But
Robert. how can you say thati Yot
know Miss Ruth was not at home last
evening. She spent the night at Sara
toga- She has not returned yet"
For q second no one spoke. Bart
ley's eyes went from the butler TO the
woman and back again We all won
dered what his NEXT question would
be. but we never found out. Sud
denly. from above US. a glrlish voice
called. who Is talking about meY'
Astonished. we all turned and
looked In the direction from which
the voice had come. On the top of
the stairway q young girl OF nineteen
years stood looking down at us.
For several seconds Miss Potter
seemed unable TO believe her eyes.
then she half gasped. why, Ruth
The girl, surprised at the effect her
simple question had made. clutched
her blue silk dressing gown closer
about her and started down the stairs.
Ia was plain that she had Just gotten
out OF bed and had not yet had time
TO dress. Her eyes went from one
person to another questioningly. Who
were we. and what were we doing
here7
As she came slowly down the steps
we watched her In lsilence. She was
q handsome girl with beautiful red
hair and the creamy white skin that
goes with II. When she reached her
aunt's side. Miss Potter was still too
astonlshed to speak and the girl gave
Roche an appealing look She was
beginning to realize that something
was wrong.
"Have the burglars been here
agninY' she asked
Not trusting herself to speak. Miss
Potter shook her head. The girl knew
nothing OF the tragedy that had taken
place. evidently, or she would not
have been so carefree She waited.
and as her aunt did not seem able to
tell her what had happened she turned
again TO Roche. After swallowing
hard for a moment or two the chief
stammcred out, why. Miss Ruth. you
see, we-that is-well. Mr.. Slyke has
been killed"
The laughing look In her eyes
faded and ons OF surprise. blended
with horror, took Its place. For a sec
ond. that TO me seemed an hour, she
waited. steadying herself by her hand
on the table. Then she asked slowly.
almost spelling out each word. Dead
--dead--why-howr'
Again q silence. No one wanted to
tell her what had taken place Her
eyes sought each ono Of US In turn
and then rested on BARLEY. as II she
recognized that he was In charge. 4
glance passed between the two. then
be told her what We had found.
Though the girl had been startled.
I noticed that abe was not over
whelmed with grief. Neither had the
older woman been In fact we had \
ret to hear any word Of regret that
siyke YVES dead. That the girls as
at Bartley's story had
been genuine there was no doubt: still
he buffers assertion that he had seen
Ter 70 Into her room when abe was
to have been away from the
louss had to be explained. Her I'M
presence here this morning
ecmsd to add color 10 his statement.
l glance n her dressing gown with
Ter niEhtdress peepinx beneath II
bowed that she had just come from
Ter bed. Yet her aunt's surprise at
Ier appearance had also seemed Eenu-
ne.
-rour aunt told us.- BARLEY said
o her. shat you were away. spending
he night with q friend; but the but
Or says he saw you early this morn
Nc going Into your own room"
The girl flushed. AZ II she realized
he gravity Of her position. and sank
ato q chair before abe answered. Il
IL intend 60 spend the night with q
riend In Saratoga. On our way home
rom q dance at the lake our machine
,st q tire and Il took 80 long to re
lace II that. as we were near the
onss decided TO come home. Not
fishing TO 90 through the woods
lone 80 that hour. I got Uncle Rich
ri 20 come with me-
Seeing that We were puzzled BY the
lention Of her uncle. che explained
Vat he was really cousin OF her
fcpfather whcm she called uncle. lie
"a retired clergyman who. during
10 summer. lived on the estate In
tile cottage facing the main road
rar the entrance to the driveway to
10 house wheo asked n her uncle
al coms into the house with her she
piled that he had not; that be had
VIZ waited long enough for her TO
aieck tire front door. she herself had
me dlrcctly 20 her own room. pass
& tho door Of her stepfathsr's room.
hich had been closed. she had seen
, enc and heard nothing. She had
eps until our voicss had awakened /,
n ,