The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-05-18
CHAPTER xl-continued.


out thinking, because 1t Is subcOn-
scious act; and, as rule, we draw
the same set of figures each time.
Some one, having nothing to do, idly
scratched these figures on this knife
handle, hardly conscious of what he
was doing. believe the same person
made the figures on the magazine and
on the knife"
ssWhy do you think that?" / asked.
st had been scientifically proved
that. when person plays with a pen
ell and idly draws figures, he always
draws the same ones; and that they
are symbols of something deep in his
subconscious mind. These circles are
so much alike that think they were
drawn by the same person"
| had a dim idea / had heard some
thing similar to what he was saying
in college, but just what it was ]
could not remember. AS l started to
hand him the knife, 1t slipped through
my fingers and fell to the floor and
stood quivering, it's point imbedded
in the wood. With sudden excla-
nation, BARLEY picked it up and, to
my establishment, let 1t fall again and
again. Each time the point stuck up
right in the floor. Then he balanced
it on his hand, smiling to himself. AS
he replaced it in his bag, he said, Il
am glad you dropped that knife. Pelt."
1t seemed to me such an inane thing
to say that / made no comment. I'VE
are going over to Sykes again. he
continued, ito see Miss Potter. BY
the way, there's another thing. Pelt.
you can aid NE good deal by s0lv-
ing"
whats that?" ! said.
"Find out why that dog did not bark
the night of the murder. It's puppy,
strangers. The person that killed
Slyke, as far as we know, had to come
down those long stairs and pass
through the living room where the
dog was. If it was some one from out
side, that dog should have barked.
But as far as we can find out, he
never made a sound"
1T looks to me-" l suggested. "as if
the murder were committed by some
one in the house."
BARLEY did not answer until he
had opened the door into the hall, then
he paused to say, ''There seems to be no
motive for any of the family to have
killed SIyke. The little difficulty be-
tween Miss Potter and Slyke does not
seem important enough to consider.
The will has been found and all the
property is accounted for. His law
yer, you remember, discovered large
sum of money in the safe when it was
opened" Then he proceeded down
stairs
1t was only short drive in Bart
ley's fast car to the Slyke house. He
offered no explanation of our call, and
hid my curiosity as well as could.
AS soon as the butler had gone,
BARLEY came at once to the object
Of his visit.
miss Potter" he said, "the butler
testified this afternoon that he over
heard words between Mr. Slyke and
yourself Would you mind telling me
what they wereY'
Her face flushed, but she kept her
eyes on BARLEY as she replied coldly:
1.-THE butler was mistaken. Mr.. Slyke
and myself never quarreled."
"Oh, don't mean that you actually
quarreled, but that you had some
words"
dvOn rTd rob
ing gaze, and it was not until he had
repeated his question a second time
that she answered rather reluctantly:
''There was mono trouble What the
butler spoke of had nothing to do
with Mr.. Sykes DEATH"
BARLEY noticed her hesitation, and
asked suddenly, "Was it over his sell
ing whislzy?'
She started and her face paled, then
flushed. In low voice she demanded,
How did you known"
THAT is not of much Importance
is it? am right; that was what the
words were about, wasn't it?"
She gave him an appealing look
then glanced back at the floor. At
Fast she regained her composure and
raising her eyes, answered, Eyes.
that was what the butler heard us
talking about. If was not quarrel
I told him he would get into trouble
over the whisky, and he told me 1t
was none of my business"
"Wnen did he start to sell itY'
She thought for moment. II am
not sure You see, know very little
about 1t. But before the prohibition
law came into effect he bought a
great quantity of whisky. He told me
that man who had whisky could
make lot of money. He got several
truck loads. but where he kept it I
don't know"
"And after prohibition, did he buy
any more?' BARLEY asked.
II think SO. I think it came from
Canada. He told me once or twice
that he was making "a great deal OF
money out of it,"