The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-03-02
CHAPTER lv-contlnued.

s :
scanned the two cards he gave
me and then those on the table. The
pack was an ordinary one, such as Is
sold for a dollar. Not only the de-
signs on the backs were the same, but
the texture of the cardboards as well.
"Do. you realize what that shows?"
asked BARLEY.
"That the cards we found in the
tower are from the pack on this
table,"
"Yesl They may have been dropped
up there by the murderer, or they
may have been placed there to make
us believe that someone in the poker
party had committed the crime"
''Why couldn't it have been DONE"
I suggested, "by someone in the
party?'
He was thoughtful for a second or
two, then slowly shook his head. "Of
course, it might have been, but think
that the odds are against it. This is
no ordinary crime, though some one
wanted us to think 1t was common
place suicide. The criminal was
afraid, however, that we might dis
cover it to be murder and prepared
for that emergency"
"How do you make that out?" /
asked, astonished.
San ordinary criminal" - BARLEY
spoke so softly that Miss Potter could
not hear-"would never have taken
all the trouble involved in undressing
Slyke and placing him in bed. That
was intended to give the idea of sui
eide; but, as the murderer knew there
was chance Of some one suspecting
that it was murder, he took the cards
from the table and placed them where
we could find them. He knew that the
finding of cards in the tower would
throw suspicion upon everyone pres
ent at the game. It is to me only an
additional link in evidence that proves
it was not suicide"
Roche returned, bringing with him
the butler, three women and a boy.
None Of them could give us any in
formation of value. BARLEY soon dis
missed them.
After they had gone, BARLEY turned
to the boy who, from the excited way
he was wriggling, evidently wanted
to say something. 1t came out with
an eagerness that was almost laugh
able.
Il heard a gun last night" he cried.
"You did," asked BARLEY, startled
for second.
The boy nodded eagerly.
yes, sir. Last night, sir"
BARLEY placed his hand on the
boys shoulder. 'Where were you
when you heard the shot? What time
was itY'
swell, sir" the boy began, "you see,
work out in the garage, wash the
cars and such things. l sleep over it
and eat in the kitchen. Last night,
you know, we had the big car out to
take some of the gentlemen home that
were at the card party. When the
chauffeur got back washed the carr
The chauffeur? We stared inquir-
ingly at each other, and BARLEY said
sharply to Roche, "Where is he?"
Roche looked confused and shame
faced, then hurried from the room
and BARLEY resumed his examination
of the boy.
''You said you were washing the
car. What thenY'
"Yes, sir. / was washing the car
1t was after twelve o'clock and II
took some time. Then smoked q
cigar man had given me and went
to bed. Just after l crawled in, about
half.past one, I guess, heard a shot
Not very loud, but 1t was shot, all
right"
TWhere did it seem to come fromr
BARLEY asked.
The boy scratched his head for q
moment and looked bit foolish as
he replied, ITS funny, but 1t seemed
to be up in the air near the house."
BARLEY threw me a quick glance
This fitted in with his theory that
Slyke had been killed on the balcony
OF the tower. If that theory was right
and the shot that the boy had heard
was the one that had killed Slyke. he