The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-05-10
CHAPTER VIII
The Inquest Opens.


II was only natural, after the late
ness OF the hour at which went to
bed. that | should oversleep the next
morning. II was well after nine be-
fore | entered the breakfast room;
found no one there but a servant who
told me that the others hadr eaten
some time before. When | had fin
ished my breakfast ! went In search
OF BARLEY. and found him In the sun
parlor surrounded by mass OF news
papers. He waved TO me and went on
reading.
The Inquest was not 10 be held until
one O'Clock; and wondered what
BARLEY wanted me to do with my
morning AS II In answer to my
thought. he looked up and sid he
was going Into Saratoga on some err
rnnds, and suggested that | go with
him and Interview the girl friend with
whom Ruth had intended to spend the
night.
The FIRST place we stopped on our
arrival In town was at large drug
store, where BARLEY asked to see
the proprietor. When he appeared.
BARLEY placed a small object on the
counter before him.
Can you give me any idea" he
asked. what sort OF bottle hat
cork came from?"
The object was the little stopper
with the red wax which he had
showed me the night before. Picking
II up. the druggist looked at II very
carefully. He turned II over In his
hand. scratched the wax with a knife.
and took SO long In replying that /
thought he never would speak.
Il think can" he sale at last.
The little cork not only had its top
covered with red wax. but the wax ran
iown the sides OF the bottle. In or
Ter to get II open. II was necessary
% cut the wax away. II looks to me
Is II II came from Park Graham
,ottle"
you mean the drug nrmY' BARLEY
sked.
"Yes. will show you"
He went behind the screen and re-
urned In a second with little bottle
q his hand. II was but few inches
ong. and the cork stopper was COW
red In the same manner with red .
INK. and part OF II had run down the
Ides OF the bottle II was he mate
} the stopper that BARLEY had found.
artley examined the bottle care
Ally. noted the label. and returned (
to the druggist y
When . were again In the auto =
oblle. hartley said. Il wish | were y
sure what that stopper was doing
that room as the druggist Is Of the !"
nd OF bottle II came out Of W
Bartley's real object In coming to y
wn was. however. TO visit tie IAN ~
III hnd out from Roche whether the y
auffeur had told what he knew or ~
u. | left him Mt the Jail door. prom !"
ng to return within an hour. and ~
snt In search OF the young woman -
IN whom Sykes step-daughter had ~
pected 20 spend the night. y,
When ! found her. Miss Morton ~
~ out all that Ruth had said about vi
? way she had happened to 90 home
: night OF the murder. They had -,
en to dance together. and on the ~
y hack the car had broken down
ar the entrance 10 the Slyke estate 80
IN said. as she was 50 near. she "a. =
<ht as well 20 home One or the s sn
ing men had gone with her to the ~
" cottage where her uncle lived. -
bad waited until the old man had ~
ne downstairs and had then re- -
ned his party. Ruth's story had an'
n true. and | saw how very foolish W
suggestion TO BARLEY had been ~
I she might have committed the s,''
rsisr *"
When returned to the hll. about Wv
hour later ! FUND thar pa~,tsw 70