Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-09
THE SHADOW ON THE GLASS
BY CHARLES J. BUTTON

, back with him. He had q little din
ner at the club last night. sir. let
them out about ten o'clock. But
was upstairs, and never knew any
one else came in"
Hall. who had said nothing, sud
denly spoke:
He was a big chap, a heavy man,
black hair, long brown coat, yellow
hat"
Did you see him again." the
chief asked.
Not in the house." was the reply
from Hall.
I saw BARLEY give him a look,
then he asked:
Where did you see him."
well, we went out just then, to
take a look around the house. get
the lay Of the land. Just as we
came around near the door, this
man came out in a hurry"
"A hurry?" both BARLEY and I
asked. r..
He sure was. Ran down the
steps, ran out to the road, stood a
moment looking UP and down, as
If not knowing where to 20. 1t was
raining then, and laundering hard.
He ran toward the stores down on
/ the avenue"
l wondered II we had stumbled on
anything, but BARLEY did not seem
to think 1t was worth while, for he
continued:
And about Mr.. Rice. when did
you see him last?"
Never saw him again. Last time
l saw him was when we went up
stairs after he came in. He said
that he would be in his library till
about twelve. for US to go on duty
them
There was wondering look on
Bartley's face, and his voice had an
astonished tone in it, as he asked:
You mean to say that you two men
never saw Mr.. Rice again after you
went upstairs?"
They both nodded their heads. He
turned to the butler.
How about you, Rfchards?"
We'll. sir, / did. That is. I mean
L talked with him for few moments
after the men came in. was in
my room. sir, and he called me on
the house phone, speaking about be-
Ing sure the windows were closed as
a storm was coming. 1t was Just
after he came in"
Bartley's face wore a curious look.
l could see that he was puzzled, vet
what over I did not know. He
turned to Wells:
What time did you men 60 to
the third f1oor?"
oh, l guess 1t was about twelve.
sir. You see. Mr.. Rice had a feed
put out for us down in the servants
olring room. Told us to eat before
we went on duty. Hall thought
.hat the two of us had better not
De on at the same time. and he
went down first, about eleven thirty.
went down and ate about Ten
minutes Of twelve. Then we took
the elevator to the top floor. think
ing maybe we better stay there"
Was the door open leading into
the room where the presents were ?"
Han spoke up. mo. sir. it was
locked. We thought that Mr.. Rice
mad gone to bed, in fact we even
knocked at the door to be sure and
tried 1t. No one answered. the door
was locked. Then we decided that
we might as well stay on the third
nocr. There was a wide hall there
win chairs and a couch, while M
mere there were only two chairs. We
knew that with the elevator door
open, no one could get up here, so
e we went down and simply left the
eievalor door open all night"
night?" '"s all
Not damned thing"
when You tried the door in .b.
morning. after the butler and Mr.,
nices daughter called you. what
did you f1nd?" what
why. 1t was locked. The girl
wanted the door broken in, 30 thew
sot an az, and Hall knocked a hole
~ the door. He then put HIS hand
IN. unlocked 1t, and we went IN
we found Mr.. Rice dead-tbat'.
ABOUT all we know"
BARLEY was silent for a few mn.
ments. 1 saw Hall look around fbe
room and then his eyes came beck
70 BARLEY as If asking who he
Ta1 ss pc. But he received no in
tpo,aIion, Tor the next second
through with them. was
The coroner, who had kent s,,.,.
an the time, now spoke rp. turntrs
70 the two detectives:
1 VIII want you two men ~ @h.
inquest tomorrow morning."
Ahey turned to go to the eIeva FOR
"nen BARLEY suddenly asked:
LA tnat man you saw burrviro
canew Al iast nave
n was Hail that answered: az
mink he did when he came IN Arst
I oont demember II he had II when
ne went out. mean that when he
came In with Mr.. Rice he had
cane, but he might have taken n
WIN MIN when he went out. StilI.
I did not see It,"
l gave a start, thinking of the
cane with which Rice had been