Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-05-05
CHAPTER lV-contlnued.

3
Her story, of course, would have
20 be checked up, but her actions were
frank and her manner seemed truth
full She could evidently throw no
neht on our problem. She waited
quietly for Bartley's next question,
which. when it came, was surprise
even to me.
did you see the dog when you
came in?"
ooh. yesl He came to the door and
walked to the foot of the stairs with
me"
Barley turned to the butler and
asked, was the dog in this room
when you came down this morning?
YES sir He always sleeps here"
There was a long silence after this,
broken at last by the girl asking If
she might return to her room. Bart
lev smiled and assented. l could see
that he was not satisfied at the way
things had gone. His lips were shut
tight and his eyes wandered restless
~ 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 while, BARLEY turned to the
butler. Did you see anyone near the
door Of Mr.. Sykes room while we
we're In there?'
why I don't know. sir. did see
the chauffeur coming down the stairs.
But I 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 this order as a dis
missal and left the room. BARLEY
turned to Miss Potter and asked her
Il she had returned to Sykes room
after she left US there. She shook her
head There was again a long ST.
lenee. At length BARLEY 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 a voice that hesitated more
taan once, You asked me, Mr.. Bart
icy It. when I found Mr.. Slyke was
DEAD, / touched the bedclothes."
BARLEY turned quickly. The tone
O bis voice as he answered her ques-
lion showed that he knew something
important was coming.
Yes. I did"
wiz her hands playing nervously
with fold Of her dress and her eyes
On the floor, she continued slowly, 81
aa not touch the bedclothes, but
-
did waatY'
She seemed to find 1t difficult to
answer, 'When-I went in that room
and found him dead"-her voice
was very low-"he looked mean,
MS eyes SO frightened me that +"
sae paused agaln-'T closed them"
IoE a While we looked at her, too
surprised g speak. Bartley's brows
face. ~''-''' - ~ --'7
AL at once I realized the full
meaning of her words. If she had
S-oSsa SYKES eyes, then 1t would be
-a-- TOT BARLEY to prove that he had
.s51 murdered. He had claimed that,
: e.sse mad committed suicide, his
81 you'd have been open. he had
s,~s even further and said It was
~ murderer who had closed his eyes,
, -- mat was the way they should
= aeath. But now Miss Potter
.a- -a1 Us that it was she who had
them Slyke light. after all,
s a-e5 himself Would BARLEY
able to prove that he had been
Eg-3are57
more Miss Potter lapsed into
81 @ sa.len mood and refused to
facs further. BARLEY piled
e. ~ questions, but In the end she
81 -l nothing to her first state
49, Sykes staring eyes had
,s2a1 her md she had closed
ne insisted. however, that she
,s. .21ehed the bedclothes, Tat
been close around his neck
H. ger his chin when she found
r. we're alone, Roche turned
So and said, There goes your
49, murder. Yo1 can't prove
7e ali nol XIII himself"
asE listened TO Roche with the