The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-03-09

stayed behind last night
As / wanted TO interview Lawrence
next, the editor accompanied me in
his car to point out the building where
Lawrence had his Office. Here he left
me, saying that If would call at his
Office in about an hour, he would have
the back files of the newspaper
wanted ready for me-"
Lawrence's Office was on the second
floor Of brick building, and his door
bore the sign Law Office" At a
desk, reading newspaper, was man
of about forty-fiye, with a very thin,
nervous face. He threw down the
paper and eyed me questioningly.
When / told him that Slyke was dead
and that I had come to learn about
his interview with him, he moved I'M
easily in his chair; but when 1 added
that we believed that Slyke had been
murdered, and that as far as we knew
he was the last person to see him
alive, he was absolutely unnerved.
could see that, until mentioned the
word murder, he had thought that
second wondered if, after all, he had
not had something to do with the
crime.
Taking a chair by his side, said,
"You were the last person, so far as
we can discover, to see Mr.. Slyke
alive. We know that you stayed for
few moments only, and that he him
self asked that you remain. AS you
were the last one to see him alive, we
are much interested in what you can
tell us Of how he acted. Did he seem
nervous or upset?"
My question did not make the man
by my side any easier. He answered
quickly, in a high-pitched voice that
broke several times, II did stay; but
the other men will tell you that was
going home with them until Slyke
asked me to wait moment. I had
I wish to God 1 had gone with the
rest. Some id fool will say killed
him."
1t was just what some people would
say, when it became public that the
butler had not heard Sykes voice
again after Lawrence's departure. But
for myself, could not connect guilt
with the thin, nervous figure beside
me.
"What did he want to see you
about?" 1 asked.
Lawrence flushed then half grinned.
hn Ia II
wanted to buy some Scotch whisky"
BUY some whiskyT I repeated in
establishment
"Yes, it seems foolish, doesn't it?
But that's what ne wanted to see me
about He said he had lots more than
he needed, and that he could let me
have five cases.
said nothing, trying to digest this
astonishing information. / had been
wondering what it was that Slyke
wanted to see Lawrence about, and
had even made several guesses; but
never in my widest Imagination had
1 supposed that it was about whisky.
I could understand why Lawrence
should want to buy it, for good whis-
ky is hard to get; but why Slyke, pre-
sumed to be rich man, should want
to sell five cases was beyond my COM
prehenslon.
He saw my surprise and said, "It
does seem strange. / was surprised
myself. had heard that he had lot
of booze; but we were not the closest
of friends, and nowadays man lets
his liquor go only to his pals. The
man who will let you have five cases
of whisky is a pretty good friend"
/ smiled at his answer. He was
right. People with imported liquor
were not giving it away. And what
was more, few men of Sykes position
were selling their private stock
''He told me-" Lawrence continued,
"that he had great deal more than
he could use, and that he would sell
me some for one hundred dollars
case. That's pretty cheap for i'm
ported stuff
Sand then you left him?" I asked.
Eyes. He told me he was not go
ing to bed yet. Said someone was
Here was a new piece of evidence.
Slyke, then, had not gone to bed after
Lawrence left, but had waited up for
some other visitor. It was curious,
to say the least. One o'clock in the
morning is not usual hour for re-
ceiving callers.
"Have you any idea who it was?"
NO." he said, shaking his head, 81
haven't the least idea. AS was
starting to go he said, Stay awhile.
am expecting man about two, and
have to wait up for him. That's ali
1 know about It,"
1t was not much of a clue, still it
was better than nothing. 1t did estab-
fish the fact that there had been
someone else with Slyke that night.
That is, If he were telling the truth.
The burning question in my mind was,