The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-01-26
CHAPTER Iv-continued.

1 scanned the two cards he gave
me and then those on the table. The
pack was an ordinary one. such as is
signs on the backs were the same, but
the texture of the cardboards as well.
''Do you realize what that shows?'
asked BARLEY.
~rhat 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"
"NNhy couldn't 1t have been DONE"
/ suggested. ''by someone in the
party?'
He was thoughtful for a second or
two, then slowly shook his head "Of
course. II might have been, but I think
that the odds are against 1t. This is
no ordinary crime though some one
wanted us to think II was common
place suicide. The criminal was
afraid, however, that we might dis
cover II TO be murder and prepared
for that emergency"
"IIow do you make that out?"
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 chance of some one suspecting
that II was murder, he took the cards
from tie 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
emf at the game. Ii is to me only an
ADDITIONAL link in evidence that proves
Ii was not suicide"
Roche returned. bringing with him
the butter. 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 wriggllng. evidently wanted |
to say something. 1t came out with |
an eagerness that was almost laugh
able.
"You did?" asked BARLEY, startled
for second.
Tie boy nodded eagerly.
"Yes sir. Last night. sir"
Barley placed his hand on the
boys shoulder. "Where were you
when you heard the shot? What time
was it,
swell. SIR" the boy began, you see,
I work out In the garage, wash the
cars and such things. ! sleep over 1t
and eat in the kitchen. Last night.
you know. we had the big ear out to
take some of the gentlemen home that
were at the card party. When the
chauffeur got back | washed the car"
The chauffeur? We stared inquir-
ngly at each other, and BARLEY said
sharply to Roche. "Where is hep
Roche looked confused and shame
laced, then hurried from the room.
and BARLEY resumed his examination
)f the boy.
~You said you were washing the
,ar. What then?"
YES. sir. | was washing the car.
Z was after twelve O'Clock and II
ook some time. Then | smoked a
'igar man had given me and went
o bed. Just after I crawled in. about
ialf-past one. | guess heard a shot
Not very loud, but 1t was shot all
light"
where did II seem to come from?" :
BARLEY asked. Q
The hoy scratched his head for a
moment and looked a bit foolish MS |
e replied. ITS funny, but Il seemed [
o he nm In the air near the house." l
Barley threw me quick glance. {
his fitted IN with his theory that Z
'lyke had heen killed on the balcony !
( the tower. IF that theory was right t
nd the shot that the hoy had heard |
INA the one that had killed Slyke. he c