Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-04-21

up some Bind al a bluff, but l wish
you would take charge Of the case"
You say Miss Potter doesn't wish
to give us ans aiJ at auT'
Roche nodded.
well. then, Roche. we VIII have TO
90 down and see what we can dc
with her together. Yen tell her l am
your assistant You might also add
that II size refuses to give as the in
formation we need, we can arrest her
on the charge of obstructing 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 Ilv.
ing room below, pacing nervously back
and forth. When she heard US de-
scending. with Roche In the lead, she
stopped at the desk and began TO
arrange Its 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 to speak.
BARLEY said in a grave tone, Miss
Potter. / understand that you told
Officer Roche that you refused to call
the servants"
She raised her face, crimson with
anger. and tried to answer, but
though her lips formed the words not
a sound came from them. At last, in
voice broken with passion and with
words stumbling one over the other,
she said, '1--yes-it's so. told Mr..
Roche not to call the servants. No
one asked you to come here. You
have no business in this households
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 to 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 dehantly. she almost
shrieked the last words ut Us. Sac
was SO angry that she did not seem
to &aow what she was saying. l won
dered why she should be in such a
rage. So far as l could see, there was
no reason for it. We stood silent and
embarrassed. Bartley's eyes never
left her face. Under his grave scru-
tiny size flushed and her eyes dropped.
Miss Potter" he said suddenly,
tttrpa en- H1I an
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 royed over the desk as IL
she were looking for something to
throw at him. She shrleked, you
say l know who killed hint
know2 Why, I don't even believe that
he was murdered How dare you say
that-how can you stand there and
say 1t to my face2"
BARLEY shrugged his shoulders IT
don't say that you know, but &c you
keep on acting like this whenever you
are asked q question some one else
will. If it should come out at the
Inquest, for instance, that you re
fused to allow us to question the
servants, people may not only think
you know, but they may go even fur
Their If You don't aid us, Roche can
arrest you for obstrHeting an officer
IN the performance Of his duty"
This was news to her. Anger gave
place to fear, and she looked at us
helplessly. hartley realized that,
overcome by what she had been
through, size was not herself, and
added Kindly, Il know this death must
have shocked you terribly, Miss Pot
ter. ! am trying my best to make 1t
easier for you. I did not force N.Y.
self into the house Doctor King
himself asked me 10 come this morn
ing. WHIT you do not seem to com
prehend IS that a serious crime has
been committed. Your brotherin-law
has been murdered, and the law win
demand to know who did Il. II win
also want 10 know IL you did every
thing in your power to help us to dis
cover the murderer"
For a moment she said nothing. then
she turned and faced BARLEY. her eyes
searching his, and in the tone Of one
weary and broken she said. 81 will do
what I can to help you"
She hesitated and brushed the IN
kempt hair again and again from her
eyes. as Il hardly knowing what she
was doing
ITS driving me wild. am haH
crazy" she cried suddenly, and taking
an uncertain step forward stumbled
almost to her knees.
BARLEY placed his arm around her
and led her 10 a chair Then turn
ing 10 Roche, he asked him to call the
servants
As soon as Roche had gone. BARLEY
began to examine the room. A few
feet away from him we're three card
tables. their surfaces Uttered with
playing cards. just as they had been
thrown down when the last game was
over; so too. the chairs we're IN the
same position into which they bad
been pushed when the players rose