The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-06-14
CHAPTER XII


In Which the Robbery 10 Solved.
had intended to spend the next
morning in either fishing OF playing
golf. BARLEY had LEFT In such a hurry
that he had given me no Instructions
as TO what l was TO do In his abb
sence. But when l came down to
breakfast. by my plate was a telegram
from him. reminding me to see the
boy in the garage and learn from him
what he knew OF the robbery.
After a late breakfast, took the
car and drove once more to the Slyke
house.
Leaving the car In the driveway In
front OF the house. went around to
the rear. The house appeared de-
serted. although II was the day Of
Sykes funeral.
The garage was some yards from
the house. half hidden among the
trees. II was two stories high. built
Of stone. the upper story being used
as living quarters for the men EN-
ployed In II. The door stood open
and | entered Coming from the
bright sunlight into the darkened
room, II was several moments before
I could see clearly enough TO make
out that II was occupied by . large
touring car, two small runabouts and
a large truck. There was no one In
sight, and after waiting a moment
called loudly. The boy wished to
see slouched out from back room.
He was about eighteen. with heavy
figure. red face and unbrushed hair.
His suit was dirty with oil from the
cars. II he wondered what wanted.
he gave no sign OF II. His eyes met
mine clearly and honestly. as II he
had no secrets to hide.
AT first he stoutly denied that he
knew anything at all about the rob
berry. He seemed to have the Idea
that / thought he was implicated In II.
All he admitted knowing was a bit
OF gossip that he had picked up
around the house at the time II was
committed. Tie more | questioned
him the more he insisted that he knew
nothing about II. and / almost be-
lleved him. But the chauffeur, ut the
point OF death. had said. ASK the
boy" II stood to reason then that he
must know something OF Importance.
At last | told him that the chauffeur
had insisted that he knew, and asked
II anyone had ever told him anything
about the crime. A startled look
came into his face; and he turned to
me excltedly, his words tumbling over
each other.
Maybe that's what he meant. But,
good Lord. thought II was joke.
darned If / didn't ! thought he was
kidding me; he was drunk. you know"
"who was drunkf" | asked.
"Brlfreur. He was very drunk. sir.
You see. you asked me did : know
anything about those men breaking
into Sykes, and didn't; but Brlf-
feur told me one night"
He paused.
go on" commanded.
III was one night soon after the
trial. Briffeur came drifting In here.
pretty well lighted Up. When was
that way. he used TO talk lot; but
he never told the truth at such times.
as I'd often found out He never
knew afterward what he had been
saying. He would tell awful yarns
about women. and the like. No one
ever believed him."
| brought the boy 10 the point by
asking what II was the chauffeur had
told him. He hesltated, fnen In a voice
that showed that he thought what he
was going 10 say was almost too fool
lsh to mention, he added. He got 10
talking about that robbery, and said
Il was TO laugh. the way the trial had
gone. That no one knew that he had
committed the robbery--no one except
himself and one other. thought. OF
course, Il was one Of his Wild yarns
and laughed ut him. When I asked
him why he did II. be said Slyke owed
him lots Of money. and that he was
after H."
IL was natural that the boy should
have thought this conversation Of 10
more Importance than many others of
the chauffeur. when he was drunk and
Roasting about things that had never
The chauffeur. he said. had come
into the garage. Fit up like a battle.
shin The talk had veered around
70 the robbery. and be had boasie'l
that the two men were 10 jail for the
robbery that he himself had commit.
ted. who had helped him. he did not
saw he claimed that Slyke owed him
.lots Of money n seemed absurd
that a wealthy man like slyke should
owe his chauffeur money and not pay
n He had even boosted that the evi-
dence against the men 10 prison was
arranged By himself
gro ne CONTINUED