The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-07-25
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 circle7
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. It was not until we
moved restlessly under his intent gaze
that he said. Il am not going to make
any comment on what we have just
SEEN" He paused for a second. then
added impressively. "But 1 think I
ought to tell you that 1 know who
killed both Slyke and Briffeur."
There was a murmur Of astonish-
ment. Currie looked at me appeal
ingly. but l knew no more than he.
Roche whispered to Black, and they
exchanged looks of bew1lderment.
BARLEY still hesitated. as If he were
very reluctant to continue.
II know that some of you doubt If
we can prove that Mr.. Slyke was MUIR
dered. You say there are no clues,
and 1 admit that l have never seen
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 Briffeur, 1t was very simple"
"Simplel" Roche gasped.
Eyes, 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" BARLEY 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
us say this third person killed Slyke.
Understand me: do 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 1 am |
sure that Slyke was the one that sug-
gested going there. No murderer
would have selected 1t, voluntarily.
as a place in which to kill his victim"
He paused for second. then con-
-inued: After Slyke had been killed.
The thought occurred to the murderer
hat it was possible to make his death
ook like suicide. He undressed the
body in the room above the bedroom,
md later carried his clothing down
stairs. placing it on a chair beside
he bed. But he overlooked a stock
ng that had fallen on the floor behind
he door of the room above. Crimi-
lals, no matter how shrewd, always
make some mistake that betrays
hem; this person drew the bed Z
lothes up around Sykes neck. If
lie had not done that. doubt If we
would ever have suspected that Slyke
ras murdered. The shot took effect
t once. 1t would have been impos-
ible for him to have drawn the bed
lothes up around his own neck, and
laced his hands by his side before
e died."
The doctors voice sounded per-
lexed as he said. But Mr.. BARLEY.
his Is all a rather fine-spun theory"
II expected that someone would say
lat," BARLEY smiled. 1T is more
ian an unsupported theory. How
yer, let US proceed. The murderer
ent down TO the living room and
rought back with him two cards.
hich he threw on the floor Of the
,om where the glasses were. II its
cling suicide was questioned. then
e finding of the cards would throw
lspicIon on the members of the card
lrty"
CTo BE CoNTINUED3