Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-04

Keke Foster was staring OPEN
mouthed at the body. but the doctor
after one swift glance at it turned
to Geoff.
-Give me a couple of those boards
there from that pile you've been US
ing for your concrete work. ne
directed. I'm going to protect the
loose sand on the floor from the
mark of another footstep. Stand
aside, Zeke,"
The lately appointed police lieu
tenant obeyed with a surly air. Plac-
ing the boards carefully in line
from the threshold to directly beside
the dead man, DR.. Hood walked gin
gerry along them, and then knelt to
examine the CHASTITY wound. When
he rose and turned, his fat face was
very grave, but his eyes snapped
with excitement.
More boards. Geoff; short lengths,
SO lean make sharp turns with
them"
But what is it, Doc; murder, sure
enough" Zeke Foster demanded.
I'm constable mean, lieutenant
and / got a right to investi-
gate.
$50 has police headquarters. now
that we're part of the city," the doc
tor interrupted. TITS murder. all
right, for there's nothing lying
around loose that could have fallen
on him, and IL 1t had. it would have
struck the top of his head and not
the base of the brain like that I'M
less he was already lying fat on his
face. Better call UP the Homicide
fee at the county seat, and notify
them to send a detective down here
to work with you. Zeke: that1l save
your face. for otherwise they'll have
a bunch of their own men down here
to take the case right out of your
hands. This family is too rich and
prominent, especially Mr.. Bernhard
himself. for the big fellows to leave
the investigation in our hands
Know where the phone Is. Geoff?"
''In the library there. where the
door opens under the gallery" The
mason pointed. That's where Mig
gittin' Henry upstairs: he's the but
Ter and he was struck all of a heap
by findin' the body
Zeke Foster departed upon his
crrand, and the medical examiner
proceeded to make a path about the
bench with the pieces of board which
Geoff handed him, laying each one
painstakingly on a smooth space of
sand, unmarried by the slightest
touch. When he had completed the
semi circle to the other side of the
terrace doors he worked his way
back slowly upon his plump hands
and knees, scrutinizing the space on
either aside of his improvised path.
Then he rose and stood staring
about the patio while his companion
a fnhnd hin, with f1x-ir,LIo OF
rather grim amusement in his mild,
brown eyes.
''Geoff, come here . minute" DR..
Hood led him abruptly out on the
terrace. "Who've you seen around
here beside Mrs. Cayley and her
daughter and the hired help?"
"Only the young lady that's visitin'
them and friend O. Mr.. Benkard's
who runs out now and again from
the city-Lanc, his name Island
that young Teller from Ashcroft. who
comes to see little Miss Cayley."
He indicated a neighboring estate,
the tall. ornate chimneys of which
showed above the trees to the west.
There's Mr. Benkard's sec'tary. too,
but | amt seen him lately"
"And the only servants are the
cook and the housemaid and that
doddering Old butler?" the doctor
persisted.
That's all. Tie garage amt FIN
ished yet and Mr.. Bernhard driv
his own car and kept it at Jake's
service station down to the Cove.
Mr.. Bernhard used to telephone when
he got here and Jake would send
one o his helpers up for it. There
amt even been anybody else workin'
round the place but me since the
city contractors men quit their job
last week"
"T heard something about that.
They walked out because of a row
with Mr.. Bernhard, didn't they?"
Geoff rubbed his chin refiectively.
'Twasn't none % my business"
he affirmed at last. I'D been doin'
odd jobs 'round-concrete and stucco
and special mixture o my own
that Mr. Bernhard liked tho looks o.
and he asked me il | could finish
their work on the garage and the ter
race here. l said | could and that
was the end o it,
"Iou didn't hear the men make
any threats before they lert?' Dr..
Hood asked.
II wasn't payin' 'iention." re-
spondeG Geoff. Il work independent
and l had no truck with them"
i'e iouiid lhS iiotottlidiu anu tIp
butler here with the body this morn
ing?' The doctor pursued a new
line of questioning.
considerable ways back o where
I've stretched the rope they was.
round at that end O the bench"
Geoff gestured toward the spot.
and YOU put up that rope. Geoff
Peters. so that nobody could track
up any footprints the murderer
might have left coming up behind Mr..
Benkard where he sat on this end of
the bench?" There was an odd note
in Or. Hoods voice. "There's blood
.spattered on the back OF it from the
blow that killed him before the BODY
topped forward but did you look at
the sanded floor yourself? 90
Reckon I did. Doc" GeoT
chuckled dryly. "Seen one set o.
footprints goin' acrost the court and
round the bench to that end where
he was settin'"
but YOU didn't see n second set
pointed in any other direction, did
you?' The doctor spoke in impn-
tience.' mixed with an almost awed
heWllderment. They were his own
tracks. OF course, Sade when he went
there TO sit and smoke. and two of
his cigar butts are lying close to the
oouH' out tIlut Is all. There isn't n
sign OF a footprint anywhere around
the bench near enough for any one
to have approached and stuck him
down"
Geon chuchJed again.
That's why | ropcd it off so part
'clar, Doc" he remarked.
Ito Be Continued)
Pupils Show Thrift
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