The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-02-02
CHAPTER iv-continued.

Her story. of course. would have
to be checked up. but her actions were
frank and her manner seemed truth
frl. She could evidently throw ne
light on our problem. She waitet
quietly for Bartley's next question
which. when it came, was a surprise
even to me.
did you see the dog when you
came in?"
"Oh. yesi He came to the door and
walked to the foot of the stairs with
me-"
BARLEY turned to the butler and
asked. ",Nas the dog in this room
when you came down this morning?"
Eyes. sir. He always sleeps here"
There was long silence after this.
broken at last by the girl asking If
she might return TO her room. Bart
ley smiled and assepted. could see
that he was not satisfied at the way
things had gone. His lips were shut
tight and his eyes wandered restless
ly around the room. He glanced
modify down at the woman in the
chair. who had recovered her com
posure to some extent. and was now
watching with keen eyes everything
that was going on.
After a while, BARLEY turned to the
butler. did YOU see anyone near the
door of Mr.. Sykes room while we
were In there?"
''Why, l don't know. sir. did see
the chauffeur coming down the stairs.
But | don't know If he had been up
TO the room."
"If you can find him. send him to
me at once" Barley commanded.
The butler took TINS order as dis
missal and left TIE room. Barley |
turned to Miss Potter and asked her |
If she had returned to Sykes room
after she left us there She 81 Look her
head. There was Ggain a long ST.
lence. AT leneeh Eartley broke it by
telling her that she need not remain
any longer. She rose to her feet and
started toward the stairway. Half
way across the floor she paused. and
said in voice that hes tated more
han once. you asked me Mr.. Fart
ley, If. when | found Mr.. Slyke was
dead touched the bedclothes."
BARLEY turned quickly. The tone
Of his voice as he answered her ques-
Jon showed that he knew something
Important was coming.
''Yes. did"
With her hands playing nervously
With fold of her dress and her eyes
N the floor, she continued slowly, Il
lid not touch the bedclothes. but
i"
Yes" encouraged BARLEY. "You
Id what?"
She seemed to find II difficult to !
nswer. "WLen-I went In that room I
land found him dead"-her voice
'as very low-''he looked mean, o
is eyes so frightened me that Il" J.
lie paused again--'1 closed them"
For n while we looked at her, too G
lrprised to speak. Bartley's brows q
nit and curious look came into his a
ice. Il
All at once realized the full n
canning of her words. If she had n
osed Sykes eyes. then il would he Il
ara for Lartley 10 prove that he had Il
zen murdered. lie had claimed that, il
Slyke had committed suicide, his
'es would have been open. lie had fl
me even further and said II was OF
e murderer who had closed his eyes n
linking that was the way they should al
nix in death. But now Miss Potter to
I'd told US that 1t was she who had
Dsed them. Slyke might. after all, | 81
We killed himselfl Would Barley OF
II be able to prove that lie had been of
A
Once more Miss Potter lapsed into ey
r old sullen mood and refused to W,
d anything further. BARLEY piled he
r with questions. but in the end sne tn
d added nothing to her first state fri
mt that Sykes staring eyes had w
ghtened her and she had closed ST,
IN. She insisted, however. that she no
] not touched the bedclOthes, that he
y had been close around his neck hIr
] up over his chin when she found KIN
n. oc,
When we were alone. Roche turned sal
BARLEY and said. '"rhere goes your wa
DRY Of murder You can't prove
Y that he did not kill himself" ha'
'arfle, listened to Roche with the des