The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-06-01
CHAPTER XIV
The Murderer Speaks.


Who turned on the lights do not
know. AS soon as they flashed on, we
looked at each other inquiringly, our
eyes filed with fear. Who had cried
out in terror and broken the circle?
BARLEY motioned to us to sit down
again, and took his stand back of the
table. He seemed to me to be very
weary, and his eyes rested on us
sadly, as if he were reluctant to pro-
coed further. 1t was not until we
moved restlessly under his intent gaze
that be said, Il am not going to make
any comment on what we have just
seem" He paused for second. then
added impressively, "But I think I
ought to tell you that know who
killed both Slyke and Briffeur"
There was a murmur of astonish-
ment. Currie looked at me appeal
ingly, but ! knew no more than he.
Roche whispered to Black, and they
exchanged looks of bewilderment
BARLEY still hesitated, as if he were
very reluctant to continue.
II know that some of you doubt IL
we can prove that Mr.. Slyke was muir
dered. You say there are no clues,
and l admit that rhave never seen a
case in which there were so few.
There is no doubt however, that he
was murdered. though 1t Is difficult
to say what the motive was. In the
case of Brlffeur, it was very simple :"
simpler Roche gasped.
"Yes, simple. There was but one
reason and one way, and even one
person. that could have killed him"
This statement was too much for
Roche; he shook his heard in disbe-
lief.
Lets consider Mr.. Sykes death
for a moment" hartley continued
'After the party was over, Slyke
asked Mr.. Lawrence to stay behind
and offered to sell him some whisky
They had a drink, then Lawrence
went home. But we found three
glasses. showing that someone besides
Lawrence had drunk with Slyke. Let
rs say this third person killed Slyke
Understand me: / 90 not believe that,
when he came, he had any Intention
OF killing him--that came later. We
will assume that Slyke and this third
person went upon the balcony. for
what reason cannot say. but l am
sure that Slyke was the one that sug-
gested going there. No murderer
would have selected II, voluntarily,
as place in which to kill his victim"
He paused for a second. then con-
tinued: after Slyke had been killed
the thought occurred to the murderer
that it was possible to make his death
look like suicide. He undressed the
body in the room above the bedroom
and later carried his clothing down.
stairs. placing 1t on a chair beside
| the bed. But he overlooked a stock
ing that had fallen on the floor behind
the door of the room above. Crimi-
nails, no matter how shrewd. always
make some mistake that betrays
them; this person drew the bed
clothes up around Sykes neck. If
he had not done that, / doubt II we
would ever have suspected that Slyke
was murdered. The shot took effect
at once. 1t would have been impos-
sible for him to have drawn the bed
clothes up around his own neck, and
placed his hands by his side before
he died."
The doctors voice sounded per-
picked as he said, But. Mr.. BARLEY.
this is all rather fine-spun theory"
II expected that someone would say
that" BARLEY smiled. ut is more
than an unsupported theory. How
ever. let us proceed. The murderer
went down TO the living room and
brought back with him two cards,
which he threw on the floor of the
room where the glasses were. If its
being suicide was questioned. then
the finding Of the cards would throw
suspicion on the members of the card
party" -