Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-12


But Rice said that it was perfectly
ali right for his bookdealer to get
it away from Kent's agent. who
should have kept his hands on 1t
when he had the chance. And to
prove that it was the right edition,
he asked US all over to see 1t, Kent
included"
There was a curious look on Bart
ley's face at this but he said moth
| ing, waiting for the Judge to go on.
"Well," said the Judge we went
was a bit after 10. He took US to
| his library on the top floor and
| brought out the book"
where did he keep it?" came the
question.
| safe. Anyway he showed it to us.
| It was an old book and printed In
| Italian, with a number of odd en-
| cravings" He paused. and the old
| Judge actually blushed. Continuing,
| he said Maybe you have seen those
engravings, Mr. BARLEY, they were
well they were about the Strong
est thing of that kind I ever saw.
! Rather bad, shocked most Of us. In
| fact, Rice himself said the only
reason he kept it was that the copy
| was the only one in the world.
Worth all he paid for it."
What did Kent say?"
ooh, he raved around bit, said
Rice had done him "a dirty turn.
but we all went out together a few
| minutes later"
Where did Kent leave you?"
BARLEY asked.
! The Judge gave a start and a
I shrewd look at BARLEY.
He did leave us that's a fact,
turned back after we had gone
a ways. Simply said good night
| and went back toward the house."
| did he have a cane?"
The Judge thought a moment.
| then added slowly. Come to think
! of it he did. I remember he had
! one when we went in the house,
! don't remember seeing it afterward.
| Did not notice you know"
! "And he wore a black overcoat and
! a yellow hat?"
! The Judge simply nodded. could
see he was curious as to why Bart
| ley wished to know these details.
| but he asked no questions. We
| talked a few moments more, then
asking the Judge to kindly not say
anything about what he had told us,
| We left him.
| 1 wondered what BARLEY would
do next, but he simply led the way
! out to the car, and getting in we
started down the road. In my mind
| was the story the Judge had told us
| and l wondered if it would be
worth much after all. I knew who
James Kent was, a wealthy broker
/ with a great hobby for books. in
! fact he and Rice were often rival
! buyers at the sales. 1 knew also
! nc had the reputation of having a
| pad temper. but it would be absurd
TO think of him in connection with
| ire murder And just as | thought
/ of this there rushed into my mind
| the picture of BARLEY silently hand
ing to us in the little room where we
! found the body a cane, it's handle
stained with blood.
| 1t seemed that BARLEY sensed
| my thoughts, for he turned and
| looked at me moment, saying:
| 1T will have to be looked into
ieit; that's why we are going back
| to the house,
| When we reached the house. we
found a strange policeman on guard
At the entrance, who at first did not
Wisn 10 let US pass. Discovering
| VINO we We're he apologized and we
! went in. There was no one on the
| main floor and going to the elevator
whose door stood open, we went IN
70 the ilprary. Another policeman
was on guard by the broken door
VINO after q word let us pass.
Inc secretary was at work by the
WINDOW, and greeted us with a wan
oniIe' Ihere was something very
attractive about her. 1t may have
Deen the boyish figure. or the touch
| u personality she had. She looked
very tired and dark circles We're
around her eyes. Evidently she had
peen making list of the wedding
ssits Tor many typewriter sheets
! ol paper were before her.
baftley for moment did not ask
Her question, instead he picked nm
one OF the typewritten sheets and
studied it carefully.
evidently finding something that
interested him he took it over to
iioh+ "niuoW as II to get a better
hght, we waiting his return.
Back at our side, he placed tho
paper on the desk and turned to the
sIrI. Miss Long," he said, YOU re-
remember that Aretino Mr.. Rice MIR
noW?" 40 II
At the mention Of the book tho
girls face flushed but her ewes mot
LIS LIS Mr.. Rice kept 1t in the safe.
ne tnought because of the engrav-
Is ~ petter De placed there: be-
sues sues; II was very valuable. So It
m oeen Kept in the safe. though
later. ~ case
rs it there now?" she was .srod
On yes, I saw 1t there yester-
! Hartley motioned to us and we all
loilowed him into the smaller room,
, where the body had been fond
me doctors evidently had been there
/ ana the Coroner had allowed the
po1y 10 be moved. The room even
i.ao peen put In order. and the floor
Vas cleared of the things which had
been thrown there during the strme1
gle which had taken place.
lie swept the room with h,s
CIance, going over to the 80