The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-07-11

bit of evidence was Briffeur's coming
to the vault where the missing re
volver was hidden No one else, So
far as we knew, had quarreled will
Slyke, or had any reason for wanting
to kill him. Black explained the
chauffeur's death by saying Miss Pot
ter had killed him. l told him this
last disproved his first theory, thai
whoever had killed the chauffeur had
done 80 because he knew too much
about Sykes death.
1 found that it was nearly foul
| o'clock, and as 1 had had no luncheon
I decided to get something to eat be
fore Bartley's train came in. Just as
I reached the door Black called after
me, Say, Pelt, what does your chief
want us all over for, to Sykes to-
| nightT
This was the first time that I had
heard we were expected to go there
and, seeing my astonishment, he
added that BARLEY had sent word for
Roche and himself to be at Sykes
promptly at eight o'clock. 1 was
forced to admit that 1 did not know
as much about 1t as he did.
I went to a little tea room on the
main street, and had almost finished
my meal when someone called my
name, and a reporter from the Rec
ord, whom 1 knew, rose and Joined
me. He mentioned the Slyke case and
said that everyone was waiting for
BARLEY to "springs something" He
complained that there was little
enough information to be gotten about
it. All he had been able to do had
been to interview the men that had
been at Sykes home the night Of his
death. One of them told him, how
ever, that three or four times during
the evening Slyke had tried to reach
someone on the phone who, he
did not know.
had now barely time to reach the
station before Bartley's train pulled
in, and babe him hurried farewell.
AS BARLEY and I drove down the
main street of Saratoga, he said, 'By
the way, Pelt, stop at store and get
me five States"
give what?" I asked
He grinned give states. The kind
used years ago in school. 1 want
them all the same size"
He threw back his head and
laughed. "They are usually used to
write on, Pelt, but you will find out
tonight what I want them for"
1 stopped at a little stationery
store, and returned In moment with
five states. AS I was getting back
into the car, remembered what the
reporter had told me about Sykes
trying to get someone on the tele-
phone, and 1 repeated his story to
BARLEY. He said nothing for a mo-
ment, then asked me to drive to the
telephone exchange. He spent ten
minutes in the building; and, when he
came out, he seemed well pleased
with his visit but did not mention its
result.
AS we drove along 1 told him the
boys story. When 1 had finished he
smiled. II believe the chauffeur told
the boy the truth. He had been
drinking, but that is when a man
otter speaks the truth"
I glanced at him to see if he were
In earnest, and he nodded. Eyes, 1
am serious. Briffeur had broken into
Sykes house. He never spoke of
this crime, but he thought good deal
about it. When he got drunk, his sub
conscious mind told the secret that he
was trying to hide. 1 believe that
what Briffeur said was the truth |
about the robbery"
but why should he try to rob |
SlykeT 1 asked.
II am not sure. My theories are,
beginning to make more or less con-
nected whole, but there are still some
gaps to be bridged."
before the house and came out to
greet BARLEY. AS Mrs. Currie was
n town, we did not change for dinner.
During the meal the murder was not
mentioned. BARLEY went to his room
afterward. 1 sat with Cur
-le lOl d WILLIE ohiOhih6 lHSh GA |
FUSED myself. l was eager to learn
What BARLEY had discovered in New
York. 1 found him In his room.
stretched out in big armchair, one
egg thrown over its arm, his pipe in
lis mouth. AS 1 watched him l
bought how little one would suppose
hat he was engaged in solving two
nystifying murders. He looked up
s. l entered, smiled, and went back
O his reading.
"How did your trip come OFF,
sked.
"Well, Pelt," he drawled, as he
laced his long yellow-covered book
b the floor, "Arentino certainly knew
he criminal life of his day."
His remark had, Of course, to do
18th the book that he had been read
lg, and nothing with my question.
eeing my disappointment, he
lughed. 1.-THE trip wasn't Of much
Importance The man did buy the
Risky from Slyke. He had bought
IL that was in the vault, but had