Part 37 (1/2)
”I didn't ask you to guess I can guess for myself I asked who did it?”
”I don't know I haven't the least idea ould do a job like that in this show I hope the et hi nodded with emphasis
”I hope so, Kennedy What reat deliberation the trainer drew a se fro the contents on the table in front of Mr Sparling
”What's this--what's this?”
”That's the wire”
”But there are two pieces here--”
”Yes I cut off a few feet on each side of where the break occurred Those are the two”
Mr Sparling regarded them critically
”How can you tell that the wire has been cut, except where you cut it yourself?”
”It was cut halfway through with a file, as you can see, sir
When Forrest threw his weight on it, of course the wire parted at the weakened point”
”H-m-m-m”
”If you will examine it, an inch or two above the cut, you will find two or three file marks, where the file started to cut, then was moved down Probably slipped Looks like it Don't you think I' nodded reflectively
”There can be no doubt of it You think it was done between the two performances yesterday?”
”Oh, yes That cut wouldn't have held through one perfor the afternoon”
”Who was in the tent between the shows?”
”Pretty much the whole crowd But, if you will remember, the day was dark and stormy There was a tihted, when the big top was almost in darkness It's my idea that the job was done then Anybody could have done it without being discovered It's likely there wasn't anybody in the tent except himself at the time”
”Kennedy, I want you to find out who did that Understand?”
CHAPTER XIX
TEDDY DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF
”The boss has an awful grouch on”
”Yes; I wonder what's the matter with hied his shoulders