The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-07-04
CHAPTER XII

I Rad intended to spend the next
morning In either fishing or playing
golf. Barley had left in such hurry
that he had given me no instructions
as to what l was to do in his abb
sence. But when 1 came down to
breakfast, by my plate was telegram
from him, reminding me to see the
boy Ia the garage and learn from him
what he knew of the robbery. l had
entirely forgotten the chauffeur's dy-
ing statement.
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 1t was the day Of
Sykes funeral.
The garage was some yards from
the house, half hidden among the
trees. 1t was two stories high, built
of stone, the upper story being used
as living quarters for the men en-
ployed in 1t. The door stood open
L
bright sunlight into the darkened
room, 1t was several moments before
l could see clearly enough to make
out that it was occupied by large
touring car, two small runabouts and
a large truck There was no one In
sight, and after waiting moment, l
called loudly. The boy I 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. If he wondered what l wanted,
he gave no sign Of it. 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 It.
All he admitted knowing was bit
Of gossip that he had picked up
around the house at the time it was
committed. The more I questioned
him the more he insisted that he knew
nothing about it, and l almost be-
lieved him. But the chauffeur, at the
point of death, had said, ASK the
boy" 1t stood to reason then that he
must know something Of Importance.
At last 1 told him that the chauffeur
had insisted that he knew, and asked
if anyone had ever told him anything
about the crime. A startled look
came into his face; and he turned to
me excitedly, his words tumbling over
each other.
Maybe that's what he meant. But,
good Lord, 1 thought it was a joke,
darned If / didn't l thought he was
kidding me; he was drunk, you know"
"Who was drunk?" 1 asked.
"Briffeur He was very drunk, sir.
You see, you asked me did 1 know
anything about those men breaking
into Sykes, and 1 didn't; but Brit
feur told me one night"
He paused.
go on" 1 commanded.
ut was one night soon after the
trial. Briffeur came drifting in here,
pretty well lighted up. When --e was
that way, he used to talk lot: but
he never told the truth at such times.
knew afterward what he had beenE
saying. He would tell awful yarnsE
about women, and the like. Ne on9
ever believed him."
1 brought the boy to the point By
asking what it was the chauffeur had
10 IN, IL
that showed that he thought what hi
was going to say was almost too fool
ish to mention, he added, HE got to
talking about that robbery, and said
1t was to laugh, the way the trial had
gone That no one knew that he hao
committed the robbery-no one except
himself and one other. l thought, OF
1t was one of his wild yarns
and laughed at him. When I asked
him why he did it, he said Slyke owed
him lots Of money, and that he was
after it."
1t was natural that the boy should
cave thought this conversation of No
more Importance than many others of
he chauffeur, when he was drunk and
,oasting about things that had never
The chauffeur, he said, had come
nto the garage, Tit up like a battle
hip" The talk had veered around
o the robbery, and he had boosted
hat the two men were In Jail for the
obbery that he himself had commit
ed. Who had helped him, he did not
ay. He claimed that Slyke owed him
lots of money" 1t seemed absurd
hat wealthy man like Slyke should
we his chauffeur money and not pay
t. He had even boosted that the evi
ence against the men in prison was
by himself.
ITO BE CONTINTJFD)