Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-07-28
CHAPTER xiv
The Murderer sneaks

= nc NuTQeFeF speaks.
Who turned on the lights / do not
know. AS soon as they flashed on, we
looked at each other inquiringly. our
eyes filed with fear. Who had cried
out in terror and broken the clrclef
BARLEY motioned to US to sit down
again. and took his stand back Of the
table. He seemed to me to be very
weary, and his eyes rested on us
sadly, as If he were reluctant TO pro-
coed further 1t was not until we
moved restlessly under his intent gaze
that he said, Il am not going to make
any comment on what we have just
seen" He paused for a second. then
added impresslyely, But l think l
ought to tell you that / know who
killed both Slyke and Brifeur."
There was a murmur of astonish-
ment. Currie looked at me appeal
ingly, but I knew no more than he.
Roche whispered TO Black, and they
exchanged looks of bewildermeut.
BARLEY still hesltated, as if he were
very reluctant to continue.
81 know that some of you doubt II
we can prove that Mr.. Slyke was muir
dered. You say there are no clues
and l admit that / have never seen
case in which there were so few.
There is no doubt. however, that he
was murdered, though it is difficult
to say what the motive was. In the
case Of Briffeur, 1t was very simple
simpler" Roche gasped.
yes, simple There was but one
reason and one way, and even one
person, that could have killed him"
This statement was too much for
Roche; he shook his heard in disbe
lief.
Lets consider Mr.. Sykes death
for a moment" BARLEY continued.
after the party was over. Slyks
asked Mr.. Lawrence TO stay behind
and offered to sell him some whisky.
They had drink, then Lawrence
went home. But we found three
glasses, showing that someone besides
Lawrence had drunk with Slyke. Let
US say this third person killed Slyke
Understand me: : do not believe thar,
when he came, he had any intention
Of killing him-fhat came later. We
will assume that Slyke and this third
person went upon the balcony for
what reason 7 cannot say, but / am
sure that SlyEe was the one that sug-
gested going there. No murderer
would have selected Il, voluntarily,
as ? place In which 10 kill his victim"
He paused for a second. then CON
tin 4: After Slyke had been killed
the thought occurred to the murderer
that 1t was possible TO make his death
look like suicide. Ea undressed the
body IT, the room above the bedroom,
and later carried his clothing down
stairs. placing It on a chair beside
the bed. But he overlooked q stock
ing that had fallen on the floor behind
the door of the room above. Crimi-
nails, no matter how shrewd, always
make some mistake that betrays
them; this person drew the bed
clothes up around Sykes neck. u
he had not done that doubt II W.
would ever have suspected that Slyke
was murdered. The shot took effect
at once. It would have been impos
slble for him to have Drawn the bed
clothes up around his own neck, and
placed ais nands By his side before
be died"
The doctors voice sounded per
picked as he said, Put, SIR Barley,
this IS all q rather ane-spHn theory"
~ expected that someone would say
that" BARLEY smiled II is more
than IA unsupported theory. How
ever. let Us proceed The murderer
went down TO ere ing room end
brought back With him two cards.
which he threw on tie floor Of re
room where the glasses we're. Z IFS
being suicide ws Questioned, then
the finding Of the cares would throw
suspicion on the members Of tie card
party."
Uo BE CONTINUED