The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-03-15
ulustrotionsby
IrwinMyers


BARLEY said slowly, II have grave
doubts II he was even killed In this
room"
He continued TO examine the room,
searching the floor. looking into the
drawers OF the desk. examining the
walls even; then he came back TO the
clothing. Picking up the blue silk
shirt from the chair, he examined II
a second time before he said: Il was
right. He was not killed in this room.
Here Is the suit he wore. You Will
notice that all his clothing Is placed
on this chair In the manner that a
man would naturally place IL II he
was undressing for bed. But there
Is no button In the front OF his shirt
TO hold his collar. and one stocking
is missing. ANY man may lose col
lar button, but II he does. that button
viii be dropped at the place where he
undressed. No button Is In this room.
II was lost in the room I'm which he
was undressed. We find his shoes
here but only one stocking. and we
naturally ask where is the other stock
1
stains anywhere in this room. Though
his wound did not bleed much. II must
have bled some. These are the rea-
sons why l say he was not killed In
this room. or even undressed here"
His explanation seemed reasonable
enough. yet somewhat mystifying
| Why had the murderer taken all this
trouble TO undress Slyke. and why had
he done II I'm some other roomf The
next question was just as puzzling. II
Slyke had not been killed In this room,
where had the crime taken placer As
II he had read my thoughts, Roche
suggested that as there was another
room In the tower. we might see what
could be found there
The butler. who entered at this mo-
ment. did his best not to glance Mt
the bed. He was holding with great
difficulty a half-grown Airedale that
growled nercely when he saw us. The
butler motloned 10 the doctor TO come
10 him. AS he reached his side, Doe
tor King placed his hand upon the
dogs head and II ceased to show its
teeth and licked his fingers. For sew
eral moments he and the butler held a
low conversation, then King turned |
TO us TO say that he had just been |
called TO the hospital for an operation |
and would have to leave at once
BARLEY scrubbed something on a
piece OF paper. and handing Il to the
doctor said. Il think there ought 10
be a picture taken OF the body 30
II can be used at the inquest"
The doctor agreed and went out, nc-
companied by the butler. As the door
closed behind them BARLEY went TO
lock II. but the key was missing.
After a moments hesitation he de-
cIded II would do no harm 10 leave
II unlocked while we were gone, and
we all started for the floor above.
The room we entered was OF the
same size as the one in which we had
found slyke. Here. too. there was
little furniture-three chairs grouped
around little table in the center OF
the room. lounge In one corner, a
small desk In another. II was the
table that attracted Bartley's atten-
tion. On Il stood half-emptied
bottle OF Scotch whisky. and beside
the bottle three glasses. one OF them
holding about spoonful Of liquor
Near one OF the glasses was a half.
smoked cigarette and magazine. and
IN the opposite side OF the table the
tub OF a cigar BARLEY looked Of ,
10Th Of them with keen Interest and J
inally placed hem IN an envelope
The cigarette must have been q very
ligh-priced one. for the end was OF
he finest straw. The appearance Of
he table suggested that three men
lad been present and that two Of
hem had been smoking confer
nee. perhaps. at which bottle Of u
Whisky had assisted. Aside from the
able, there seemed 10 be nothing Of =
interest In the room.
While Barley was stiil glancing at !"
be table. walked over 10 the large .
'indow and drew aside the heavy cur =
lin that reached 10 the floor. Al my -
set was . playing card that had been !.
DDcealec by It's folds. CHANGING -
round 10 see n there were any others .,
nd finding none. brought the card ~
} BARLEY. !.
As stepped to his side. saw that ).
, was examining the magazine. Like o.
any magazines. the back carried 49,
Judy advertisement that covered the -
tire page. This one had an unusual n,
mount Of unused white space. Bart -,
, pointed silently to where someone
ID idly amused himself by drawing r.
II with a pencil. q habit many II
ople have. The design was simple. II
~ mass Of scrolls. with a little II