Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-31
THE SHADOW ON THE GLASS
By CHARLES j. DUTION
Copyright podd serlaiz.a by Ledger s-ndca.
y CHARLES ]. DUIION
Enter the Murderer

L
we're climbing the stone steps of the
courthouse. Dusk had fallen and
across the street the park looked
fresh and green In the twilight.
couples were strnl!lng TO and fro.
All this | took In as We left the car
ana went into the building.
thought We would go to the
chiefs once. Instead We went up
to the other floor. pausing before
the glass door that was marked
District Attorney" BARLEY, gave a
knock. then pushed the door open,
and we entered the room.
l had wondered just what our trip
10 town might mean, though I was
sure In my own mind that BARLEY
fad reached the solution Of the case.
Ills manner told me that. A grave.
sober air was upon him and ne had
very little 10 say. When we stepped
into tina room. | was sure that he
was to tell US the solution TO the
case. But wondered what It might
be. Tor u was still a mystery TO me.
Ths District Attorney came over
10 bis aide and for a. few moments
they held low whispered eonver-
sGtion.
glanced around tina room. The
chief was sittins near the window.
smokins cigar. His uniform looked
an IL 1t had lately been pressed. and
the gaze he turned on BARLEY was
curious one. Dunn vas standing
lear the chief. and seemed biz
cast down over something. but what
IT, was | did not. OF course. know.
Ths thing that surprised me most
visa 10 SEQ Kent seated In a chair
by the great desk that stood in the
center Of tho room. Kent was tho
lost person I would have expected
hartley might wish present. Yet he
was there, though the others seem
ed 10 leave him alone.
There was a curious air OF con-
straint over them all. Neither the
chief nor Dunn looked at Kent and
all seemed nervous. Perhaps II was
Just a bit excited. / could tell at a
glance that no one had any idea
why BARLEY had called them to-
ssther, nor, for that matter. did
know myself. Taking a chair by
the window. | passed word or so
with the two police officers and
waited.
BARLEY and the attorney talked
together for several minutes. the
lawyer then taking a chair near his
desk. hartley went TO the table
that was In the center OF tho room,
upon which he placed his brief case.
Then. for a second. he stood looking
ct us. No longer did he look tired.
instead. in his eyes was n glitter of
satisfaction. Ills face was stern,
and he said nothing for n moment.
noticed that Kent seemed to get
uneasy as he waited for hartley 10
speak.
lie opened his brief case and took
from It u small package which he
laid carefully on the table. as if he
was afraid that it might break.
Then rather slowly and. above all.
soherly. he started TO speak.
II have called you together tonight
because | wished to give you my
opinion OF the murder. 1t seemed to
me that Mr.. Kent should he includ
"a because OF the circumstances OF
the last few days. Up to this after
noon | had little idea myself who
killed Mr. Rice. BY n chance dis
covery and tho nearest thing to a
miracle | know of suddenly dis
covered that all our theories had
been wrong"
| saw the chief give Dunn a ques-
tioning look, and the local detective
shook his head in reply. Evidently
no one knew lust what BARLEY was
to say. All of us were waiting
eagerly for his next words.
Let me so over the case and re-
fresh your memories, We know
that on the night of the murder Mr..
Rice brought back to the house
some friends of his from the club,
Mr. Kent included. kent's coming
10 the house was the interest sort of
an accident, lie was invited simply
that he might see that the copy of
the book. the 'Aretino,' which Rice
owned. was the first edition.
When this was shown him, he
doubted IL 1t was the first edition
and said SO. MIR. Kent then left
the house with the rest OF the men,
CXousing himself after they had gone
a ways ana returned. going to the
library. When he first went in he
had cane with him; when he came
out the second time he had none.
Mr.. Rice was found dead the next
morning, killed by kent's cane.
When we asked him about the cane
he said IL was at his house, Dunn
aud myself found out I've had a hit
OF a quarrel with Rice, and the
theory was that he killed him"
Kents face had gone red under
Esrtleys words. yet hts eyes never
lett the face of the speaker. l saw
Hartley smile at him as he finished
the summary OF the evidence against
tho broker, asking him If that was
not So. Kent rather coolly replied
. that hartley had told the truth re-
sardtng his movements on the night
~ the crime, hut insisted that he
Lad thought the cane was at his
house. lie added he had been
thuuderstruck when they told him
IN hA
cane,
. When he finished. BARLEY nodded
his head in agreement, replying,
with a grin at Dunn. Dunn built up
the case against Kent. I don't
blame him and hope Mr., Kent will
have no hard feelings against him.
The facts were strong enough TO
convince most juries have ever
seen. Kent, himself. made it worse
when lie tried to get down to New
York, That caused his arrest. True
he was simply going to see his
lawyer. for he had Just discovered
that his cane was in the house OF
Mr.. Rice. not in his own home as he
had said, admit Il looked as if
I've might ha the guilty man. The
evidence was strong enough TO hold
him and would have done the same
hing myself Only II so happens,
Kent did not kill Rice: he had moth
ing to do with 1t. lie told the
truth, though he might have been
little more diplomatic in the way
Re told Il. But he had nothing TO
do with the murder"
The deuce YOU say" came the
startled voice Of Dunn, while the
chiet simply gave his detective .
very satisfied lcok. The chief had
never believed that the wealthy
broker committed the crime and