The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-01-12
CHAPTER Il-contlnued.

3
At the foot of the hill, the road ran
beside the lake for a little way. then
assembled another hill. Just before
this ascent began. BARLEY left the
main road and followed one that ran
for nearly a mile between leafy trees.
At length he turned his car down a
long driveway that wound its crooked
way In and out through a grove of
great trees. When | had begun to
wonder If we should ever escape from
them. we came out upon green lawn
that stretched for several acres. hay
house, painted the whitest white
have ever seen. 1t was a cheery-lOok-
Ing house. one made to live in, with
a great piazza stretching across the
front. and gay-covered chairs that
gave to IT a tropical atmosphere. Even
as | was thinking how much | liked
1t, man came running down the
steps. three at time. whooping like
a wild Indian and waving his arms
ut us.
Truth compels me to say that Currie
was. to put 1t mildly. stout, nor could
anyone call him good looking. His
big red face. now almost purple from
exercise was a kindly. tolerant one.
filled with humor; his blue eyes warm
with kindness. Down the steps he
came and across the lawn. yelling all
the time:
"John BARLEY. you old sleuth. don't
you dare drive on my new lawn!"
With a laugh, BARLEY made wide
circle across the grass before he
stopped. Currie was beside us and on
the step Of the car in second. one
arm thrown around Bartley's shoulder
and his red face beaming; but all he
said was, swell. well. John -
BartIey's answer was just as short
and had the same deep friendliness.
"A second later, servant came to
take charge Of our things, and we fol-
lowed Currie to the house.
We entered by one of the largest
living rooms that have ever seen. 1t
stretched almost the entire length OF
the building and had two fireplaces.
both of which were large enough for
q man to stand upright in. Curr.e led
us up q flight of stairs to the second
story where. pushing open a door, he
showed us into our suite of rooms.
Five minutes later. at Currie's sug-
gestion. the three of US were sitting
on the stone edge of his swimming
pool. 1t was forty feet long and open
to sun and air. For thirty minutes
we swan and dlved. Then we climbed
out and dried ourselves in the warm
sun.
Then BARLEY lighted cigarette and
told his friend what had brought us to
Circle Lake.
Currie said nothing until he had
finished, and then, rubbing his chin
slowly with his hand. replied. DO you
know. John. there are u good many
people around here that doubt II those
two men had anything TO do wi,h the |
robbery. There was nothing stolen.
so Slyke said. He said also that there |
was nothing in the house that anyone
would want to steal. After the trial
folks began to talk. and since those |
other attempts 20 break into his place |
well. they have talked morel"
''What are they suyingT asked Bart |
ley.
III don't know such devil of a lot |
about 1t myself" replied Currie. 81
was away at the time of the burglary |
and of the trial. But | do know that
some people doubt If there ever was
burglary. Others say the state police
and the local cops got mixed up In a
row and framed the men. Still others
think Slyke knew who the men were.
but had trong reasons for not want
ing TO Id nifty them. What his rea-
CONS could be. God alone knows,
Never cottoned much TO Slyke any
way. He is a grabbed sort of chap. a
bit conceited. one who is always right
and the rest of us, of course. always
wrong. But6if you want 10 see him.
and are not TOO tired. we can go over
there now. | have to see him myself
about a strip of land ! just bought
from him. His estate Joins mine, you
know"
BARLEY expressed himself as far
from tired and very willing TO so to