The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-02-28
CHAPTER I
In Which an Old Crime Again Comes
to Light.

to Light.
That Friday afternoon, as I came
mp the steps Of John Bartley's house
In Gramercy square, the sun was
shining for the first time in seven
days. Unlocking the door, l entered
the hall and went up the stairs to
my room.
This week of rain in the middle
Of June had spoiled Bartley's long
planned fishing trip, and had kept us
In the city. 1t was a trip he had been
looking forward to for a long time.
since In the past few years there had
been few opportunities for such
things. In fact, since 1917 BARLEY
had passed very few nights in his
own house. About a year before we
went into the war. those who followed
criminal mysteries noticed that Bart
ley's name was no longer connected
with the solution OF crime. Perhaps
they wondered a little at this. When
the full story of the work of the Sc
cret Service in the war IS told, recog-
milton will be given to the part he
played In bringing it to a victorious
conclusion. Until then, all | can say
is that when he returned to New York,
In the spring of 1920. his work for
the government had ended.
The first thing that he did upon his
arrival was to clear up pile of mail
that ran back for several weeks; his
next was to plan several weeks fish
ing in the lakes of northern Maine.
On the very day that we were to start
1t had commenced to rain, and never
ceased for seven days. kilograms
told US that In Maine it was raining.
too. In sheer disgust BARLEY buried
himself in his library and went to
work on his long-neglected book. THE
Galante Literature of the Eighteenth
Century"
AS glanced out of the window of
my room that Friday afternoon. l saw
that the rain was d. last over. I was
wondering whether BARLEY would go
TO Maine, after all, when there came
rap at my door. Opening 1t, 1 found
Rance, Bartley's old colored man, who
said with a grin, "Mr. John says. Mr..
PeIt, that you are to come down to
the library. for that man Rogers is
coming"
As followed him down the stairs,
I wondered what 1t was that was
bringing Rogers. chief of the Central
office. to the house at this time of the
ef ternoon. Although Rogers and BSrt-
lev were the best of friends, and the
chief had been forced more than once
TO ask the aid of BARLEY in his cases.
be usually made his visits In the eve
ming after the days work was over. |
A call at four In the afternoon |
seemed to promise that something I'M
usual had happened. something of |
such Importance that 1t could not
wait. Could he secure Bartley's aid? |
knew that BARLEY had not intended |
20 take up any more cases until he
,ad had a long rest. Still. If Rogers
md the problem Of some unusual
rhine to lay before us. he might
,hange MS piiinS-
BARLEY was at his great desk when
entered the library. He gave me
mile. then went on examining the
looks which covered its top. That
morning he had received great box
rom his French dealer. and he was
usy with it's contents. AS he did
lot speak, l dropped into the great
rmchair by his side.
AS | looked at him I wondered, as
had done 30 many times before. that
e should be the great criminal in
estigator that he was. 1t WIS the
asst thing anyone would expect him
o be. His breeding, his family. and
bove all his literary tastes, were not
UGH as one would expect to lind In a
ian who makes the running down Of
rfminals his life work, His fine face