Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-01-26

"lt's Come, Doctor, It's Come, Just az
I Expected-He's Killed Himself"
woman of about fifty rushed wildly
to the doctors side She was far from
an attractive woman, thin, with what
is called a hatchet face. Her shrill
voice broke as she grabbed the doc
tors arm and cried:
"It's come, doctor, It's come, just as
l expected. He's killed himself Oh,
l knew there would be trouble. Night
after night | have had a message on
the ouija board. 1t said again and
again, Trouble, trouble coming And
/ have dreamed that he was dead. too
It's come. He is dead
BARLEY gave me a look. This, he
knew, was Miss Potter. the sister OF
Sykes dead wife and an ardent spir~
itualist.
1t was some time before the doctor
could get her Gained down enough to
introduce US.
BY the time the intrOductions had
been completed, we were all In the big
room in which we had met Slyke the
day before. Currie had told us the
previous evening that Slyke was to
have a card party that night, and the
room showed that there had been one.
In the center were three card tables,
with the chairs pushed back from
them, evidently left as they were
when the party broke up.
After a quick glance around, Bart
ley turned TO Miss Potter. Suppose
you tell us how Mr.. Slyke was discov-
cred"
She gave a start, wrung her hands,
and answered excitedly, "The butler
found him. Mr. Slyke was going fish
ing today, and was to have been called
early. The butler went to knock on
his door and found it half opened
and"
BARLEY interrupted, "Then, take
it, he usually kept the door Of his
room locked"
"He did. I do not know why. The
butler saw it was open, looked in,
called him, and got no answer. Then
he came and told me. l was at break
fast. l went to his room, and there
he was" and her voice trailed off
in horror.
Bartley's face was very grave as
he said, what did you do when you
found he was dead?"
For the hundredth time she brushed
the hair from her eyes. Il called the
servants-Ruth was not here. Then !
telephoned for the doctor"
Roche did not like Bartley's doing
all the questioning, and he asserted
his Official position by saying that it
was time we went up to the room
where Slyke lay. Miss Potter led the
way, walking like one weary and
overwhelmed with grief. The room,
thirty feet square, was larger than l
had expected to find. 1t was fur
nished like a den. The bed in one
corner was the only evidence that it
was used for sleeping purposes. Un-
der the white coverlet We could see
the still form of man huddled in
heap, lying on his back, his legs ex-
tending into the air a little beyond
the foot Of the bed. His face was
half hidden by the bedclOthes, which
were closely drawn around his neck
and over his chin. The doctor had
taken his position at Sykes head, and
we all stood about him in silence until
Bartley's voice broke the stiffness
Miss Potter, when you came in
did you touch the bedclothes at all?"
She hesitated a second, as If trying
to think, then replied, "No, l gave
quick look, saw he was dead, and
hurried from the ROOM"
"And they are just as you found
them-I mean. up around his chin
this wayT'
80 far as know. The butler says
he never went near the bed at ALL"
Without word. BARLEY pulled
back the covers as far as the mans
chest Sykes nightshirt had not
been buttoned His face was calm,
showing not the slightest sign of
death struggle; his eyes closed; his
mouth partly open. AS BARLEY pulled
the clothes still further down, we saw
that the right hand held revolver.
Then we noticed the wound that had
caused his death. 1t was under his
left ear, half hidden by the pillow,
on which were a few drops Of blood.
The doctor knelt and examined the
wound closely, then rose to his feet.
BARLEY in turn bent over the body.
but he turned his attention to the
hand holding the revolver. 1t lay
close to the side of the body with the
fingers gripping the butt firmly. Bart
ley moved 1t little, but did not at
tempt to loosen their clutch. With
another glance at the pillow and the
face upon it, he rose, his lips COM
pressed, his face grave.
Roche turned to M with Q bali