The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-04-04

| 10 give Us any dlu al Ill
Roche nodded.
"Well. then, Roche. we will have to
go down and see what we can do
with her together. You tell her / am
your assistant. You might also add
that If she refuses to give us the in
formation we need, we can arrest her
ON the charge of obstructing an officer
In the discharge Of his duty"
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 nv-
ing room below. pacing nervously 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, T-yes-it's so. told Mr..
Roche not to call the servants. No
one asked you to come here. You
have no business In this households
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. Sue
was so angry that she did not seem
to know what she was saying. I won
dered why she should be In such a
rage. So far as 1 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 a fury, and
her eyes roved over the desk as If
she were looking for something to
throw at him. She shrieked, You
say 1 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 1t to my faceT
BARLEY shrugged his shoulders. II
don't say that you know, but If you
keep on acting Ike this whenever you
are asked a question some one else
WILL II 1t 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 60 even fur
ther. II 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
helplessly. BARLEY realized that
overcome by what she had been
through, she was not herself, and |
added kindly, II know this death must
have shocked you terribly, Miss Pot
ter. 1 am trying my best to make 1t |
easier for you. 1 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 |
prehend Is that serious crime has
been committed. Your brother-in-law |
has been murdered, and the law will |
demand to know who did 1t. 1t will |
also want to know If you did every
thing In your power to help us to dis
cover the murderer"
For a moment she said nothing, then
she turned and faced BARLEY, her eyes
searching his, and in the tone Of one
weary and broken she said. II will do
what 1 can to help you"
She heSitated and brushed the I'M
kempt hair again and again from her
eyes, as If hardly knowing what she
was doing.
TITS driving me wild. am half
crazy" she cried suddenly, and taking
an uncertain step forward stumbled
almost to her knees.
BARLEY placed his arm around her
and led her to a chair. Then turn
Ing to Roche, he asked him to call the
servants.
As soon as Roche had gone, BARLEY
began to examine the room. A few
feet away from him were three card
tables, their surfaces Uttered with
playing cards, just as they had been
thrown down when the last game was
over; so, too. the chairs were In the
same position into which they had
been pushed when the players rose
'or the last time. BARLEY picked up
he cards on the nearest table and
counted them. He did the same thing
With those on the second table and on