The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-05-25

ing that Slyke and the chauffeur had
quarreled about money, his strongest
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 with
Slyke, or had any reason for wanting
to kill him. Black explained the
chauffeur's death by saying Miss Pot
ter had killed him. told him this
last disproved his first theory. that
whoever had killed the chauffeur had
done so because he knew too much
about Sykes death.
l found that it was nearly four
o'clock, and as had had,nos luncheon
| decided to get something to eat be-
fore Bartleys train came in. Just as
/ reached the door Black called after
me, Say, Pelt, what does your chief
want us all over for, to Sykes to-
nightY
This was the first time that / had
heard we were expected to go there;
and, seeing my establishment, he
added that BARLEY had sent word for
Roche and himself to be at Sykes
promptly at eight o'clock. was
forced to admit that did not know
as much about it as he did.
went to 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 ! knew, rose and Joined
me. He mentioned the Slyke case and
said that everyone was waiting for
BARLEY to 'spring 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-just 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 drove down the
main street of Saratoga. he said. "By
the way, Pelt, stop at a store and get
me five slates"
Five what?" | asked.
He grinned. Five states. The kind
used years ago in school. ] 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
stopped at little stationery
store. and returned in moment with
five, States. AS I was getting back
into the car, I remembered what the
reporter had told me about Sykes
trying to get someone on the tele-
phone. and 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 told him the
boys story. When | had finished he
smiled. Il believe the chauffeur told
the boy the truth. He had been
drinking, but that is when man
OTTER speaks the truth"
: | glanced at him to see if he were
in earnest. and he nodded. Yes,
Dr;p NOA s,+N
Sykes house. He never spoke of
this crime, but he thought a good deal
about it. When he got drunk. his sub
conscious mind told the secret that he
was trying to hide. believe that
what Briffeur said was the truth
about the robbery"
"But why should he try to rob
Slyke?" / 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.'
Currie heard the car as it stopped
before the house and came out to
greet BartleyS. AS Mrs. Currie was
III tOnAs VIC Oiu NV Shdh6C iOi
During the meal the murder was not
mentioned. BARLEY went to his room
Immediately afterward. sat with Cur
RE for while, smoking; then ex-
cused myself. was eager to learn
what BARLEY had discovered in New
York. found him in his room.
stretched out in big armchair one
leg thrown over its arm. his pipe in
his mouth. AS watched him
thought how little one would suppose
that he was engaged in solving two
mystifying murders. He looked up
as entered, smiled. and went back
to his reading.
show did your trip come Off"
asked
swell, Pelt," he drawled. as he
placed his long yeilow-covered book
on the floor, "Arentino certainly knew
the criminal life of his day."
His remark had, of course. to do
with the book that he had been read
ing. and nothing with my question.
Seeing my disappointment, he