The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-05-30
CHAPTER vII-ccntInusd.

to the house and killed him; then
gone back to her uncle's, and told the
story about being afraid to 60 through
the woods alone. She said. 1t was
three o'clock when he came with her
to the house. That's a good alibi, Of
course; but suppose she had been
to the house once before. The dog
didn't bark, because he knew her. She
was also In the house when the re-
volver disappeared. If you claim the
taking Of the gun was foolish, why
can 1t not be said to be the kind of
an Illogical thing a woman would do?
The average man would know 1t was
NO use to remove the gun. You re-
member how startled the aunt was
when she saw the girl"
BARLEY had listened with an amused
smile that grew broader as l talked.
Though had not been serious when
] began. the more l thought Of the
idea the more plausible my suggestion
sounded. BARLEY himself had said
that In the case we must build up
theory first, and then see If the facts
would At 1t.
When / had ended, he said that he
himself had. at first, considered the
possibility of the girls having done
It. but had decided against 1t. He
reminded me that Slyke had been
killed on the balcony, and carried
down two flights Of stairs, and that
Slyke weighed one hundred and fifty
pounds, the girl not hundred. Re
Numbering that and the task 1t was
to carry such heavy weight down
so many stairs, did l still think the
girl could have done It?
My face turned red with chagrin,
and, seeing that was hurt, he smiled |
at me kindly and apologized.
II didn't intend to hurt your feel |
ings, Pelt. You are like all news
paper men. you enjoy building up
story out Of nothing. In this affair,
we mustn't let ourselves get side
tracked. we shall need all the clear
thinking we ran do"
Anxious to redeem myself, 1 said,
"John, we have been going on the
theory that some one from outside
came into the house and killed Slyke,
Z mysterious visitor who arrived after
Lawrence had left. Perhaps the muir
derer was hiding In the house all the
time.'
he gave me an Interested look and
an approving nod
murderer was on the balcony. 1t was
q good place to hide. 1t was so dark
up there that he could not have been
seen from the ground. Then let us
assume that Slyke heard a sound
above him. when he was In the room
below the balcony, and went up to
see what 1t was. The person may
have made the sound on purpose to
attract his attention. At any rate,
when he does come out on the bal
cony he Is killed"
BARLEY did not speak for a while,
turning my suggestion over In his
mind. Then he answered. you may
be right. 1t is possible that some one
was waiting for him to come upstairs.
But do not forget that, II that II 80,
the person would have had to wait
there for a long time; for he could
not tell when Slyke would come into
he room below the balcony. Still,
your suggestion IL we'll worth keeping
n mind"
Although he spoke 50 favorably Of
ny idea. could see that he did not
'eally agree with me.
/ yawned and BARLEY glanced at his 1
watch. 1t was after three, and we c
Ihould have been In bed several hours b
lgo. He rose, and taking two objects q
rom his pocket placed them on the t
lesk. leaned over to see what they
vere "
Lying black and sinister on the dark C
mahogany surface were the revolver d
hat had been taken from Sykes hand d
nd hidden In the vault, and a little t
ork stopper, its end covered with a
ed wax that showed where a knife b
ad been used on it.
Look" BARLEY said. pointing at a
hem with laugh. 1.-THE sole result
( days work. The only clues we
ave are before us. One Is revolver Il
he other little stopper that might Il
ave come from anywhere. From e
iese we have to discover the MUIR "
erer.' 81
Again he laughed. l stood looking t.
t the two objects, thinking how In 3
gnifcant they were and wishing fl
ley could speak and tell their story. 1t
atching my mood, his face grew
rave. He stood looking at them for m
moment. then with sudden gesture al
yept them into a small box saying, IL
We ought to have been in bed hours K
co."
1 had reached my room and was tc
llling down the bed covers when he al
He'd to me. l returned to his room cl
Id found him sitting on the edge Of NJ
8 bed taking Off his shoes. Is
II forgot to tell you. Pelt, that when W
e reach the solution of this murder, W
'mehow or other whisky will be e.
ixed up with 1t. When you told me
at Slyke had been selling whisky to bt