The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-24
Barbour Makes His Last Play

This book" oLeary said, pick ing up the misplaced volume, twas out of order and not quite in line this afternoon. I learned that Sayler was an extremely or- derly man, and it worried me a little. Then suddenly I remem- bered Barbour's automatic doors and I had the answer"
 There was not a sound in the room. Even the breathing of those assembled seemed restrained. OLeary went on. Barbour hated Sayler had for some years Ordinarily he was too mild a man to take any drastic action. Instead, he found his own way of justice. He simply began dipping into the joint funds and helped himself.
 This was satisfactory until Sayler found out. You all knew Sayler pretty well. He was mean and hard. He was going to have his revenge on Barbour, and 1t was going to be cruel revenge.
 Barbour recognized crisis. He conceived way of getting rid of his partner"
 O'Leary began removing more books from the shelf and piling them up on the floor. When he had cleared space of several feet, he motioned those n the room to group around him. With little effort, he pulled a panel in the rear of the bookcase and it slid open. Pointing directly at him was revolver.
 Barbour spent a good many nights here. He said SO himself. He must have had an idea that behind that panel was 8 chamber large enough to accommodate some of his equipment. He prob ably got the idea from Sayler's wall safe.
 So when everybody in the house was asleep, Barbour rigged up his little machine. The only important job he did here was to remove the panel and hook up the device that would permit 1t to slide open and shut. He had probably taken careful measure ments and done most of the work at home.
 The thing that undoubtedly required the most time here was placing the gun in precisely the position he wanted SO that a single bullet would do its job quickly.
 "The gun was hooked up with photo-e electric cell by means of relay. The cell was also con- nected to small electric motor which would start simultaneously with the shot and by means of 8 pulley arrangement would shut the door of the panel"
 Appleby interrupted. But if he used a photo-electric cell, there would have to be 3 light source somewhere on the other side of the room, wouldn't there?"
 "Yes, but not the ordinary kind. That was where Barbour was in- genious. Actually, the light source was installed right next to the gun and hidden with it. When the panel was opened, the light was reflected in the tall mirror di- rectly across the room and made contact with the cell.
 50 last night, probably as he and Sayler were leaving the room, he made the simple adjustment. On some pretext or other, he must have gone over to the bookcase, removed the book and jerked open the panel. That was all there was to it. Sayler returned to this room alone. He walked straight to his desk. Barbour had known almost the precise spot where he'd cross the beam. Take look at the rug, and you can see that path has been worn in a direct line between the desk and the far doorway. When Say Ter crossed the beam, the gun went of.
 At the same time, the electric motor quickly closed the panel. This made another contact and shut of the motor. Had every thing gone well, no One would ever have found it until the house was ripped down eventually.
 When all of you came in to find the body, Barbour went over to the window. Remember2 He had a chance to slip the book back - but not quite carefully enough. And he also opened the lock to make 1t seem that the shot had been fired from the out side"
 No one spoke. There was nothing to say. After awhile, Hazel Leigh ton rose and said in a queer voice. 'Ill go now, Lieutenant, if I may"
 "I'll take you," Winslow Mar dell offered.
 Go ahead" OLeary said. "It's all over. Therell be no more murders"
 Slowly the servants shuffled out. The uniformed officers led Riggs away. Only Rhoda Waters and Dale Appleby remained 1T: the room with OLeary and Car TYar borl ,ryae racti,,r Rr,,,