Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-29

Bartiey's face flushed red and an
angry look came into his eyes.
wondered IL Kent was trying to
brtbe him. It looked so from the Of
fer he had made. Then I wondered
just why he should, for as far as
knew BARLEY was leaving Kent to
the local detective and the chief.
BArtlsys tone was rather cool
when he replied
Kent. that is a rather queer offer
for you to make. don't intend to
killed my friend Rice"
The tone had been crisp and
short and I saw Kent move bit
nervously under It. But he looked
at BARLEY and spoke:-
Il don't mean 1t that way, Mr..
BARLEY. 1 mean simply this. You
see it's just as much to my interest
now to discover who killed Rice as
any ones. Those darned police Of
ficials have the idea that 1 did. I
admit my story about the cane looks
bad. But my memory Is darned
roor. and l did think the cane was
home. The thing will be solved
some day, but l want to be cleared
az soon as l can be. I don't like the
attitude the papers have taken.
want the case ended. the murderers
caught. That IL what meant by
asking you to do what YOU could
for me-
While he was talking. studied
him. He seemed earnest enough
and | wondered IL he was not speak
ing the truth. 1t was to his interest.
above any one else's to have the
crime cleared UP. Till we were able
to prove who killed Rice. Kent
would be under suspicion. Yet
there he sat, playing the part Of
an injured man. II he was guilty,
then could understand why he was
called the nervicst man on the
Street.
BARLEY did not have very much to
say In response, though he told him
he would naturally be pleased II the
crime was soon solved. This was not
much OF an answer. but II seemed
TO, suit Kent, who left US q few mo-
ments later.
As the door closed I turned and
looked at BARLEY. 1t had been an
unexpected visit and I was curious
to know what he might think. His
eyes met mine but the look In them
was peculiar. After q moment he
rose to his feet and walked several
times up and down the room. /
saw him once slowly shake his head
and knew he was trying to solve
some problem that had come into
his MINI, At length he turned to
me.
"Pelt. either Kent IL a much In
jured man or else he Is a nervier
man than I thought. am not sure
whether he IL trying to bride me-
thinking would drop the case, or IL
he indeed told the truth. There are
several things make me think that
perhaps he is guilty. Then again
there are several things that make
me sure he Is not"
He paused. gave little laugh. and
went on. One thing Il sure. Kent
must have pulled some powerful
wires TO have gotten out OF jail. It's
murder placed against him. but
Dunn wished one. The fact he is
out shows some one with power
has been approached"
He went to the window. glanced
out for a moment. then pulled his
watch from his pocket and glanced
at 1t. Seeing the time he gave q
sudden start. saying, Come on. Pelt.
We have to go and see Mr.. Rice's
daughter. She and her husband got
back this morning"
All OF the time he was driving to
the house. I was wondering what
rev facts could be secured.
doubted IL the girl and her husband
knew anything. but there must be
some reason for our going to see
them. 1t was not till we had stop
ped before the door that BARLEY
spoke. Then II was to say that he
still was OF the opinion We had
overlooked some little fact which
must be discovered before we could
hope to solve the crime.
The butler let US In and Barley
told him to ask the young couple to
come to the library. He bowed and
hurried away while We went to the
elevator and In O moment were be-
fore tn library door. II was open
and ] saw that the wedding presents
had been removed from the room.
The hole in the door that had been
made in order to enter the room was
stfll there--a ragged cash In the
mahogany.
We stood q moment by the door
and saw BARLEY reach dowE and
press little spring In the lock.
suddenly he gave an exclamation
and bent down to the latch. He
looked at q second. lingering the
spring. On his face was q curious