Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-01-19


showed US into our suite of rooms.
Five minutes later, at Currie's sug-
gestion, the three of us were sitting
on the stone edge Of his swimming
pool. 1t was forty feet long and open
to sun and air. For thirty minutes
we swan and dived. Then we climbed
out and dried ourselves in the warm
sun.
Then BARLEY lighted cigarette and
told his friend what had brought us to
Circle Lake.
Currie said nothing until he had
finished, and then, rubbing his chin
slowly with his hand, replied, DO you
know, John, there are a good many
people around here that doubt if those
two men had anything to do with the
robbery There was nothing stolen,
so Slyke said. He said also that there
was nothing in the house that anyone
would want to steal. After the trial
folks began to talk, and since those
other attempts to break into his place
well, they have talked more!
What are they saying?" asked Bart
ley.
Il don't know such a devil of lot
about it myself" replied Currie, Il
was away at the time Of the burglary
and of the trial. But l do know that
some people doubt If there ever was
burglary. Others say the state police
and the local cops got mixed up in
nd fro mod tho Still others
think Slyke knew who the men were,
but had strong reasons for not want
ing to identify them. What his rea-
sons could be, God alone knows!
Never cottoned much to Slyke any
way. He is grabbed sort of chap,
bit conceited, one who is always right
and the rest of US, Of course, always
wrong. But if you want to see him,
and are not too tired, we can go over
there now. / have to see him myself
about a strip of land ] just bought
from him. His estate joins mine, you
know"
BARLEY expressed himself as far
from tired and very willing to go to
see Slyke at once. We dressed quick
ly and soon joined Currie in the liv-
ing room AS we went out onto the
lawn, he said:
II am sorry my wife is away, but
she will be back tomorrow. l asked
Doctor King to come over tonight and
dine with US. He can probably tell
you more about the robbery than can,
for he was called in by Slyke the night
it happened"
After ten minutes walk we came
suddenly upon q house, massive
stone building, half covered with ivy.
A large veranda ran across the front,
forming at one end a g glass-enclosed
sun parlor. What appealed to me
most was the huge stone tower that
rose from the center of the building
to a height of some thirty feet. The
house, with its well-kept lawn, stretch
ing to the woods in the distance, made
a beautiful picture
Though we had not paused long to
admire the scene, we did not have
time to ascend the steps and ring the
bell before the butler opened the door.
Currle gave his name anu we were
ushered into a great room which,
from its furnishings, might have been
called library If there had been any
books in It,
When the butler had left us, Bart
ley said to Currie, II presume that
this is the room where they found the
burglars?"
Currie nodded, and l turned to look
about. 1t had two large windows
opening on the side Of the house where
there was no veranda, and nearby a
small safe, half hidden in the wall.
This, 1 judged, must have been what
the burglars were seeking. l tried to
picture to myself what had taken
place on the night Of the burglary.
There could not have been much light
and I wondered how Sykes step
daughter, standing on the stairs at the
far end of the room, could have seen
we'll enough to recognize the men,
when Slyke, who was close by, could
not do so.
I had little time for my conjectures,
for at that moment Slyke entered the