Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1934-02-21
CHAPTER VlIl-continued

That's part of my case" replied
the sergeant impatiently. I've told
you-the man who came here to
murder Franklin didn't want to be
seen. He wasn't taking any unneces-
sary chances. Those people who en-
tered the other way deliberately de-
stroyed any possible abb in ad-
vance. That's why I'm inclined to
believe they didn't do 1t. Besides,
we know that Spears left the church
Just a few minutes before the MUIR
der occurred. He just had time to
get back here"
Peter glanced again at the empty
~scabbard, high on the wall. That's
the only way | can make 1t 1t."
More proof" observed the SER
geant, that the murderer either
knew Franklin intimately. or else
knew some one who did. Otherwise,
how could he have obtained the re
volver?"
"All right" Peter continued. $50
far we agree. Now, when did the
murderer change his mind about
using the gun and decide In favor
of the knlfe?'
when he came through that
door. The knife was hanging exact
~ opposite the back door. He prob
ably figured 1t was quieter and
would give him a better opportunity
to escape. Incidentally, that proves
he did come through the back door"
"We still agree" declared the nov
elist, "but from this point on. we
differ. Let me tell you why. In
my opinion, only a large powerful
man would have abandoned a re
volver In favor of a knife. 1t seems
to me that was the action of a man
who had considerable confidence In
his own strength. Remember,
Franklin was a big man. Webster
Spears is comparatively small, not
AuoiS llhu I'VE lttL uluts
Kilday stroked the bristles on his
chin thoughtfully. Usually, that
would be right" he admitted eau
tiously. But other elements en-
tered into this. The dagger was
quiet. The revolver would make a
noise. That was a powerful argu-
ment In favor of the dagger, one
that would upset these other calcu-
lations Of yours"
Possibly" conceded Peter. "But
In times of stress, men are more
apt to run true to form than other
wise. And | have reason for be-
heving Spears could not have been
the wielder of that knife"
Kilday showed his skepticism.
The novelist walked to the wall,
reaching toward the empty scab-
bard. Had the dagger been there,
he could have withdrawn 1t without
any great difficulty. although 1t was
fully eight feet from the floor.
"But | am six feet two" he point
ed out. while 1t wouldn't have
been any great trick for me, or for
anyone six feet or more in height
that's quite a stretch for a man OF
Spears build. Had he been able to
reach 1t at all, he would have had
to stand on tiptoe. What would
Franklin have been doing while he
was stretching for that knife? II
doesn't fit, Kilday. | can't picture
Webster Spears as the murderer"
The detective smiled blandly.
You'd better join the other side
he said You'd make a good wit
ness for the defense. But how are
you going to explain Spears at.
tempt to halt the wedding? We
know he did. We know he had a
motive for the crime. The Shipley
girl gave some damaging evidence
against him, although she changed
1t after her visit to his house last
night-a visit, mind you, which both
she and Spears deny, but which we
know occurred, nevertheless.
"Oh, l know" he shrugged, that
we can find a motive for a dozen
people. But Spears is the only one
who appears to have been doing
anything about 1t. He and Rylie
Carmody. The guilt lies somewhere
between those two and / think
have the right one"
Then you don't attach any fur
Their significance to the woman in
blue-or to Daniel Bullis7"
mot unless the woman in blue
vas Calls Shlpley," declared the
detective grimly. "And as for Bull
hs-well, you just eliminated him
yourself. Bulls was Franklin's enc
my. Would Franklin have permit
ted him to enter without making an
outcry which would have warned
Royce Of the situation? Yet you
have just demonstrated that Frank
lin certainly must have known his
murderer and thought the visit a
friendly one. l think that let's Bull
lis out. No." Kilday persisted dog
gedly, "all trails lead to Spears. The
only bit of evidence you have pro-
duced in his defense Is that he
might have had difficulty In reach
ing the knife. You have shown that
the rear door creaks, which might
have warned Franklin when his as.
sailant entered. Yet we know that
several persons previously left by
this door-Bullis, the woman In blue
- (l.~- ClA. n-~Iu nLAu .-4-l.