The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-05-10
CHAPTER vII-contInued.

story about being afraid 10 go througl
the woods alone. She said II wa
three o'clock when he came with be
10 the house. That's a good abb. o
course; but suppose she had beer
10 the house once before. The dos
didn't bark, because he knew her. She
was also Ia the house when the re
volver disappeared. II you claim the
taking OF the gun was foolish. why
can Il not be said 10 be the kind OF
an Illogical thing a woman would dol
The average man would know II was
no use 10 remove the gun. You re-
member how startled the aunt was
when she saw the girl"
BARLEY had listened with an anu sed
smile that grew broader as | talked.
began. the more | thought OF the
idea the more plausible my suggestion
sounded. BARLEY himself had said
that In the case we must build up
theory first. and then see II the facts
would NJ II.
When I had ended. be said that he
himself had. at FIRST. considered the
possibility OF the girls having done
Il. but had decided against II. He
reminded me that slyke had been
killed on the balcony. and carried
down two flights OF stairs, and that
slyke weighed one hundred and nifty
pounds. the girl not a hundred. Re
membering that and the task II was
to carry such heavy weight down
so many stairs. did | still think the
girl could have done III
My face turned red with chagrin.
and. seeing that l was hurt. he smiled
at me kindly and apoIogized.
II didn't intend to hurt your feel
ings. Pelt. You are like all news
paper men. you enjoy building up
story out OF nothing. In this affaIr.
we mustn't let ourselves get side
tracked. We shall need all the clear
thinking we can do"
Anxious TO redeem myself. said.
John. we have been going on the
theory that some one from outside
came into the house and killed Slyke.
a mysterious visitor who arrived after
Lawrence had left. Perhaps the muir
derer was hiding ir the house all the
time"
Tie gave me an interested look and
an approving nod.
Suppose" I went on, "thnt the
murderer was on the balcony. II was
a good place to hide. It was so dark
up there that he could not have been .
seen from the ground. Then let us {
assume that slyke heard sound
above him. when he was In the room
below the balcony. and went up TO
Zee what II was. The person may u
iave made the sound on purpose 10 {
attract his attention. AT any rate. u
When he does come out on the bal a
'ony. he Is killed"
BARLEY did not speak for while.
urning my suggestion over In his
mind Then he answered. "You may G
70 right. II Is possible that some one a.
vas waiting for him TO come upstairs. az
tut do not forget that. II that Is so. &c
he person would have had to walt "a
here for a long time: for he could Ds
OF tell when Slyke would come Into
he room below the balcony. SIN. as
our suggestion Is well worth keeping
mind"
Although he spoke so favorably OF tn
" Idea. | could see that he did not In
ALLY agree with ms lol
| yawned and Bartle. glanced at his err
ateh. II was after three. and we wi
lould have been In bed several hours SIT
70. lie rose and taking two objects to
ON bis pocket placed them on the ia
'sk. leaned over to see what they ful
ere. II
Lying black and sinister on In, dark
ahogany surface were the revolver nc
nj had been taken from Sykes hand as
ii hidden In the vault. and little In
RI stopper. Its end cove.ed with Kin
4 wax that showed where knife
Il been used on II. TOW
Look" BARLEY said. pointing M an'
rm with laugh. The sole result cha
days work. The only clues we not
We are before US One Is revolver isir
n did not have Anger print on II wei
} ether little stopper that might wit
w come from anywhere. From exp
sc We have TO discover the muir.
.er- bor
,galn he laughed I stood looking the
the two affects. thinking how In the
nlhcant they were and wishing bee
y could speak and tell their story wa,
ching nay mood. bis face grew nea
We. lie stood looking at them for Rut
'omeut. then with sudden gesture mtg
'pt them into = small box saying. you
= ought 60 have been IN bed hours NTH
lie
bad reached my room and was com
Iing down the bed covers when ne Ioin'
ed 20 me. returned to hts room, beer
found him sitting On the edge Of my
bed taking efY his shoes. that
forget TO tell YOU. relt. Tat when muir
rssch the solutien % this murder. W
chow or other whisky win be an