The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-03-22


the local police and shall have to put
up some kind OF a blum. but | wish
you would take charge OF the case
"You say Miss Potter doesn't wish
TO give US any aid at alp
Roche nodded
swell. then. Roche. We will have TO
20 down and see what we can do
with her together You tell her | am
your assistant. You might also add
that II she refuses 10 give US the In
formation we need. We can arrest her
on the charge OF obstrucflng an officer
in the discharge OF his duty"
Both men grinned at this. and. still
smiling. Roche led the way from the
room. From the top OF the stairs
we could see Miss Potter In the liv-
ing room below. pacing nervously back
and forth. When she heard US de
scending. with Roche in the lead. she
stopped al the desk and began TO
arrange It's contents In an effort TO
cover her nervousness and confusion
She did not look up even when We
were at her side.
After waiting for her 10 speak.
Potter. understand that you told
Officer Roche that you refused to call
the servants"
She raised her face. crimson with
anger. and tried 10 answer but
though her lips formed the words not
a sound anna from. fkasn Ar last In
a voice broken with passion and with
words stumbling one over the other.
she said, 'I-yes-it's so. told Mr..
Roche not 10 call the servants. No
one asked you 20 come here. You
have no business In this house-look-
ing into things that do not concern
you Mr.. Slyke Is dead, and every one
will believe that he killed himself In
spite of anything you can say. Any
thing that has 10 be done Mr.. Roche
can do. It's none OF your business.
anyway"
Standing In front OF us with her
figure straight and her shoulders
thrown back denantly. she almost
shrieked the last words at US. Sc
was so angry that she did not seem
to know what she was saying. won
dered why she should be In such
rage. So far as ! could see. there was
no reason for II. We stood silent and
embarrassed. Bartley's eyes never
left her face. Under his grave scru-
tiny she flushed and her eyes dropped.
Miss Potter" he said suddenly,
you don't want me TO believe that
you know who killed your brother-in-
law. do your"
His question seemed the last straw.
She turned on him IKE a fury. and
her eyes roved over the desk AS II
she were looking for something TO
throw AT him. She shrleked. "You
say know who killed him-I-I
known Why. don't even believe that
he was murdered. How dare you say
that-how can you stand there and
say II TO my face7"
BARLEY shrugged his shoulders. II
don't say that you know, but II you
keep on acting like this whenever you
are asked a question some one else
Will. II II should come out at the
Inquest, for instance. that you re-
fused to allow us 10 question the
servants. people may not only think
you know. but they may go even fur
Their. II you don't aid us. Roche can
arrest you for obstructing an officer
In the performance OF his duty"
This was news 10 her. Anger gave
place 10 fear. and she looked az us
helplessly. Barley realized that.
overcome by what she had been
through. she was not herself. and
added kindly. Il know this death must
have shocked you terribly. Miss Pot
ter. am trying my best TO make II
easier for you. ! did not force my
self into the house. Doctor King
himself asked me 10 come this morn
ing. What you do not seem TO com
prehend Is that a serious crime has
been committed. Your brother-in-law /
has been murdered. and the law will |
demand TO know who did II. II win /
also want 10 know II you did every
thing I'm your power 10 help US 10 dis
cover the murderer
For a moment she said nothing. then
she turned and faced BARLEY. her eyes
searching his, and 10 the tone Of one
weary and broken she said. Il viii DO
what ! can to help you"
She besitated and brushed the I'M
kempt hair again and again from her
eyes. as Il hardly knowing what she
was doing.
IT'S driving me Wild. am hair
crazy" she cried suddenly. and taking
an uncertain step forward stumbled
almost 20 her knees.
BARLEY placed his arm around her
and led her TO a chair Then turn.
Ink TO Roche. be asked him 10 call tie
servants.
As soon rs Roche had gone. BARLEY /
began 10 examine the room. few
feet away from him were three card
tables. their surfaces Uttered with
DInying cards. Just ~ they had been
thrown down when the last game was