The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-01-26

/ dP oothC hthu VI btthF WI "tSa
you would take charge Of the case"
"You say Miss Potter doesn't wish
to give us any aid at all ?"
Roche nodded.
swell. then. Roche. we will have to
go dnwn and see what we can do
with her together. You tell her | am
your assistant. You might also add
that IL she refuses to give us the in
formation we need. we can arrest her
on the charge Of ohstructing an officer
In fhe discharge Of his daty."
Both men grinned at this. and. still
smiling. Roche led the way from the
room. From the top of the stairs
we could see Miss Potter In the liv-
Ing room below. pacing nervousIy back
and forth. When she heard us de-
| scending. with Roche in the lead. she
stopped at the desk and began TO
arrange Its contents In AN effort to
cover her nervousness and confusion.
She did not look up even when we
were at her side.
After waiting for her to speak.
BARLEY said in a grave tone. Miss
| Potter. | understand that you told
| officer Roche that you refused to call
the servants"
She raised her face, crimson with
anger. and tried to answer. but
| though her lips formed the words not
a sound came from them. At last. In
a voice broken with passion and with
words stumbling one over the other.
she said. "I-yes-lt's so. told Mr..
Roche not to call the servants. No
one asked you to come here. You
have no business In this house-iook-
ing into things that do not concern
you. Mr.. Slyke Is dead. and every one
will believe that he killed himself In
spite of anything you can say. Any
thing that has to be done Mr.. Roche
can do. It's none of your business.
anyway"
Standing In front Of US with her
figure straight and her shoulders
thrown back defiantly. she almost
shrieked the last words at us. Sc
was so angry that she did not seem
to know what she was saying. won
dered why she should be In such a
rage. SO far as could see. there was
no reason for It, We stood silent and
embarrassed. Bartley's eyes never
left her face. Under his grave scru-
tiny she flushed and her eyes dropped.
Miss Potter" he said suddenly,
you don't want me to believe that
you know who killed your brother-in-
law. do your
His question seemed the last straw.
She turned ON him like fury. and /
her eyes roved over the desk as IL
she were looking for something TO |
throw at him. She shrieked. You |
say know who killed him-I-I /
know? Why. don't even believe that
he was murdered. How dare you say |
that-how can you stand there and
say II to my face?"
BARLEY shrugged his shoulders. II
don't say that you know. but II you
keep on acting like this whenever you
are asked question some one else
will. II II should come out at the
Inquest. for instance. that you re-
fused to allow us TO question the
servants. people may not only think
you know. but they may go even fur
Their. If you don't aid us. Roche can
arrest you for obstructing an officer
In the performance of his duty"
This was news to her. Anger gave
place to fear. and she looked at us
helnlessly. BARLEY realized that.
overcome by what she had been
through. she was not herself. and
added kindly. 81 know this death must
have shocked you terribly. Miss Pot
ter am trying my hest TO make 1t
easier for you. did not force my
self into the house. Doctor King
himself asked me to come this morn
ing. What you do not seem To COM
nrehend Is that a serious crime has
been committed. Your brother-in-law
has heen murdered. and the law will
demand tn know who did u. n will
also want TO know II you did every
thing In your power to help us to dis
over the murderer"
For moment she said nothing. then
his, and in the tone Of one
weary and broken she said. II Will do |
what I can to help YOU"
she hes'tated and brushed the I'M
<empt hair agaIn and aga'n from her
ayes. as |. hardly knowing what size ,
was doing.
"If's driving me wild. am half
'razv.' she cried suddenly. and taking
IN uncertain stem forward stumbled !,
llmesf To her knees.
Farley placed his arm around her
md led her To chair. Then turn
ny ia Roche. he asked him 10 call the
servants.
As soon as Roche had gone. BARLEY
'egnn 10 examine the room. few
eef away from him were three card
nbles. their surfaces Uttered with
'laying cards. Just as they had been
nrown down when the las, game WITS
'ver: so. too the chairs were in rhe o
anne position into which they had q
zen pushed when the players rose l.
or the last time. Barley picked up a
he cards on The nearest table and a