Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-09

killed. half expected BARLEY to
bring 1t out, and ask the detective
If it was the one the man carried
But for some reason he did not
saying nothing. So after. staying
for a moment to see If there was
anything else he wished, the two
men went out. The coroner went
with them, saying that there was no
reason for him to stay any longer,
and That he would call the inquest
the next morning.
After they left, BARLEY went back
in the little room. and went care
fully over every inch of 1t. Evident
ly he did not find anything, for !
saw him shake his head when he
came out. Then he went to the
open window and looked out.
knew he was looking at the ledge
that ran around the building, won
dering If any one could have walked
around 1t, in the darkness. Here he
spent several minutes, leaning so
far out that 1 half expected he
would fall. Then he came back to
our side. He said nothing, looking
at the case below him, as If he had
never seen anything like 1t. There
were only a few parchment folios
there. the sheepskins dark with the
ages, but the gay-colored letters of
the texts still retained the fresh
ness Of the day they were made.
His next words rather startled
me:
THE monks spend a lifetime on a
single parchment" he said in a mus
Ing tone. 1t was not what ex-
pected and 1t rather surprised ME.
Then his mood changed. He turned
to the chief: What do you think.
chief"
The chief slowly shook his head.
Not much. That was a bad lob. a
brutal one. Some one certainly
messed up things, but can't see
How about the man those detec-
ives saw hurrying away?" asked
Dunn In an eager voice.
that's worth looking into" was
Bartley's reply.
At this moment the butler return
ca, Ioliowed by a young woman. A
very Deautiful young woman with
dark hair. beautiful skin and a
rather boyish figure. But now her
eyes were red as IL she had been
weeping. and when she came to the
door, after one hory fled glance at
the hole In 1t, she had to lean
against the side. judged It was
the young woman who filled the
place as librarian to Mr.. Rice and
acted as his secretary.
BARLEY hurried over to her. 7
saw him place his arm around her
as II for support. judged that ahe
was very near to fainting, TOR her
race had grown very white. But in
a moment she got control Of her.
SELF and saw the color come food
ing back to her cheeks. She spoke
IN sort. musical voice that broke:
On, Mr.. BARLEY. Is It true that
some one has killed Mr.. Rice?'
ne NODDED, then spoke to her, but
we were could not hear what he
said. Again I saw her face whiten
and she gave a quick glance at the
open door of tia little room wbere
the body lay. A glance of fear and
sorrow. GA"
BARLEY soon brought her over to
US and introduced us, and then toId
Eer what he wanted her to tell IIa
aer story was simple and without
any value. She acted mora aa
librarian than a secretary. In fact.
she was a graduate Of a library
scnool. and her duties were not only
70 catalogue the, books of the
library but also to Uniform Mr.. Rice
about them. Rice himself knew Iit-
tie about books, buying them more
to make great collection than any
thing else. had thought that the
bulk Of his library was at the HnI.
but she told US that most Of his
books were in his New York home.
The previous night she had work.
ed till after fiine. making list of
the wedding gifts and getting the