The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-03-09
CHAPTER XII
In Which the Robbery Is Solved.


lad Intended to spend the next
morning In either fishing or playing
golf. Barley had left In such a hurry
that he had given Inc no instructions
as to what I was to do in his alb
sence. But when | came down to
breakfast. by my plate was telegram
from him. reminding me to see the
boy in the garage and learn from him
what he knew of the robbery. | 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. l 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-
pioyed In It, The door stood open
and I entered. Coming from the
bright sunlight into lie darkened
room. Ii was several moments before
could see clearly enough to make
out that 1t was occupied by large
touring car. two small runabouts and
a large truck. There was no one in
sight, and after waiting a moment. |
called loudly. The boy ! 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 | wanted,
he gave no sign of it. His eyes met
mine clearly and honestly, as If 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 1t was
committed. The more | questioned |
him the more he insisted that he knew |
nothing about 1t, and | almost be-
lieyed 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 | told him that the chauffeur
had insisted that he knew, and asked
f anyone had ever told him anything
lbout the crime. A startled look
,ame into his face; and he turned to
ne exeitedly, his words tumbling over
zach other.
Maybe that's what he meant. But,
Iarned II | didn't. | thought he was
.idding me; he WIS drunk. you know"
"Who was drunkT" l asked. {
"Briffeur. He was very drunk. sir. I
'ou see. you asked me did | know I
nything about those men breaking c
nto Sykes. and / didn't; but Brif
eur told me one night" 4
lie paused. S
Go on" | commanded. 4
at was one night soon after the 8
rial. Briffeur came drifting I'm here. U
retty well lighted up. When e was :
nat way. he used TO talk a lot; but t
e never told the truth at such times.
s I'd often found out. He never I
new afterward what he had been n
aging. He would tell awful yarns Il
bout women, and the like. No one n
yer believed him." o
brought the boy to the point by d
skiing what it was the chauffeur had r.
I'D him. He hesitated. then in a voice u
lat showed that he thought what he z
as going to say was almost too fool CT
TO mention. he added. "He got to r.
king about that robbery, and said d
was to laugh, the way the trial had Of
ne. That no one knew that he had ca
the rObbery-no one except
mself and one other. | thought. of "
urse, Il was one Of his wild yarns.
d laughed at him. When / asked r.
n why he did 1t, he said Slyke owed
IA lots of money. and that he was
Ter it,"
1t was natural that the boy should
We thought this conversation Of no 70
IRE importance than many others OF In
, chauffeur, when he was drunk and sh
asting about things that had never sa
ppened. fe
The chauffeur, he said. had come ne
o the garage. "llt up like a battle IN
p." The talk had veered around int
the robbery. and he had boosted mn
II the two men were In jail for the tn
)bery that he himself had commit IN
|. who had helped him. he did not pr
=. He claimed that Slyke owed him
is Of money" 1t seemed absurd
it a wealthy man like Slyke should
e his chauffeur money and not pay no
He had even boosted that the evil or,
zee against the men in prison was Gu,
anged by himself. ma