The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-02-15
CHAPTER 4
In Which an Old Crime Again Comes
to Light.


That Friday afternoon, as I came
up the steps Of John Bartley's house
IN Gramercy square, the sun was
shining for the first time in seven
days. Unlocking the door. / entered
the hall and went up the stairs to
my room.
This week Of rain in the middle
of June had spoiled Bartley's long
planned fishing trip. and had kept us
in the city. 1t was q trip he had been
looking forward to for a long time.
since In the past few years there had
been few opportunities for such
things. In fact, since 1917 BARLEY
had passed very few nights In his
own house. About a year before we
went into the war. those who followed
criminal mysteries noticed that Bart
ley's name was no longer connected
with the solution of crime. Perhaps
they wondered a little at this. When
the full story of the work Of the Sc
cret Service In the war is told, recog-
milton will be given TO the part he
played in bringing 1t TO victorious
conclusion. Until then. all can say
Is that when he returned TO New York.
in the spring Of 1920. his work for
the government had ended.
The first thing that he did upon his
arrival was to clear up a pile OF mail |
that ran back for several weeks; his |
next was TO plan several weeks fish |
ing In the lakes OF northern Maine |
On the very day that we were to start |
II had commenced to rain. and never
ceased for seven days. kilograms
told US that In Maine II was raining.
too. In sheer disgust BARLEY buried
himself In his library aud went to
work on his long-neglected book. ~The
Galante Literature of the Eighteenth
Century"
As / glanced out OF the window of
my room that Friday afternoon, | saw
that the rain was a: last over. was
wondering whether BARLEY would 20
to Maine. after all. when there came
a rap at my door. Opening II, found
Rance, Bartley's old colored man. who
said with a grin. -Afr John says. Mfr.
feil. tnaA ecu tttt " toiut NoWu 10 |
the library. for that man Rogers Is
coming"
AS | followed him down the stairs.
I wondered what IL was that was
bringing Rogers, chief OF the Central
Office. 10 the house at this time OF the
afternoon. Although Rogers and Bart
ley we're the best Of friends. and the I
chief had been forced more than once {
TO ask the aid OF BARLEY In his cases. 4
be usually made his visits In the eve
ming. after the days work was over. {
A call at four In the afternoon I
seemed TO promise that something un- $
usual had happened. something of I
inch importance that IL could not {
xait. Could he secure Barrley's aidf
knew that BARLEY had not Intended O
"a take no any more cases until he \
lad had a long rest Sdll. II Rogers '
lad the problem OF some unusual Z
.rlme 70 lag before Us. be might 4
.hange his plans. u
|. Bartiey was az his great desk when j
entered the library. He gave me a
mile. then went on examining the
,coks which covered its tor. That / :,
morning be had received a great box L
ron his French dealer. snd he was n
usy with It's contents As be Gid .
OF speak, dropped into the great 5;
rnchair By his side. b
As looked al him I wondered. as
had done 20 many times before. that o.
e should be the great criminal IN r;
extiSztor that he was Il vas the n
.sr thing anyone would expect him 4
, be. His breeding. his family. aEd -
bove al bis literary tastes. we're not Il
uch as one would expect 10 IND In
lan who makes the running down OF n
-i=inals bis lie work. Ms f7e FADE &