The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-06-27
CHAPTER x-continued.


terrupted, Il never heard a thing; not
a thing"
BARLEY studied her carefully as he
asked, "Are you sure?"
Her face paled then the color re-
turned, but again she replied, 81 heard
nothing until that horrible cry rang
out"
1 saw her shudder as if the mem
Dry Of it were almost too much for
her, but she continued bravely, 81
knew it was beside me, and l won
dered what had happened. 1t fright
ened me--so much-that 1 can't tell
just what happened after that"
she seemed to be telling the truth;
yet l could not understand how any
one had gotten near enough to Briffeur
to kill him without the person next to
him hearing his approach.
BARLEY toyed with piece of paper
a second, then smiled as he said, "Of
course, the cry startled you, Miss Pot
ter. But before or after it came, can
you think of no little occurrence that
might help us? Nothing at all?"
She was silent for long time, then
slowly, as If apologize, she answered,
"That Is, heard nothing, butt did
think felt something brush my dress
ON the side next to Briffeur. l am
not sure, however. l only thought
something did, The next moment
heard him slip to the floor and knew
something was wrong"
Bartley's eyes frightened at her re-
mark, and he asked eagerly, Can you
show us just where your dress was
brushedY
She hesitated as If trying to collect
her thoughts, and glanced down at
her dark brown dress. Then she
placed her hand on a spot a little
above her waistllne. BARLEY came to
her side and looked closely at the |
place she indicated, then suddenly |
knelt his eyes close to the cloth. |
Strengthening up, he pointed out to |
us small splotch, a little darker |
than the goods Of which the dress was
made. With a significant glance he
said one word, "Blood!"
At the word, look of horror came
into Miss Potter's face and she shrank
away.
"Was that stain on your dress when
you put 1t on?" he asked as he rose
to his feet
mo! The dress was worn this
afternoon for the first time since 1t
vas returned from the cleaners"
He said nothing more, but went
back to the desk. 1 presume that we
we're all wondering what the blood
tain indicated. The wild thought
'ushed over me that she might, after
III, have killed Briffeur; but 1 dis
missed 1t at once as impossible.
"Now, Roche" asked Barley did
ou hear anything?"
Roche, of course, understood the
Importance Of his answer; and his red
ace became cautious and his hands
lenched. Then, very slowly, as If
bunting his words, he answered, II
ont know, Mr.. BARLEY, that heard .
nything-that is, anything except
,e little sound the people behind me
lade when the lights went out If /
Du mean, did hear any one creep '
o on that poor fellow, 1 did not. If 1
lyone came near him, I should have
. least heard something; but 1 did
ot hear anything like that" o
"What did you hear?" asked Bart t
y. a shrewd smile on his face. r
The chief actually blushed. In an a
,ologetic tone he said, "Now-Mr.
artley, 1 don't know If heard any
ing. But I thought" II
What did you think?" K
Roche shrugged his shoulders, hest 81
ted, then answered, "Why, 1 thought 81
at, second or so before he gave o
at cry, 1 heard" He paused like
an who is afraid that what he is Il
ing to say will sound absurd. II
MT know just what to call It, 1t was 81
nv slight, more like a little thud. l
uld scarcely hear 1t. 1t sounded as d.
a small object had struck some 81
ing" II
The keen face Of BARLEY was eager, q
d he leaned forward, his eyes on M
che's face. "And that was just be-
e he cried out7" he asked. W
yes, only second before. 1t was m
# after l thought l heard some oil
ng else" Gil
BARLEY demanded, "What?" "
The chief hesitated again, pausing to
II to think out carefully what he
she'd to say. IN
Barley, when that last dc
D of thunder came, l thought the wi
use had been struck, and was so up In
that 1 don't know If 1 really heard
ything at all. What l thought 1 WI
lrd sounded like a bough moving In he
wind. or the whir Of a violin In
ing" MI
lis description was SO vague that
looked at each other, puzzled. Bart de
tried to make the chief more def XII
& but to all his questions he re-
sed the same reply. Roche was not tel
e IL he had heard anything, but II MI
had, IT had sounded like Dough In
wind. What 1t was. or what had SCI