a .38? The calibre of the fatal bullets was not generally known. And how did it “let him out?” There had been no suspicion directly levelled at him. Lucas asked Stroebel to produce the re- volver Porter had mentioned; the weapon was handed over, a five chambered nondes- cript revolver, .38 calibre. The Marshal swung the cylinder out and squinted down the chambers. Two shells had recently been fired—there was rust in the other three chambers. “This gun has been recently fired,” said Lucas quietly. “Yes, took a couple of shots at a stump about a week ago,” answered Stroebel. “Was anyone with you at the time,” asked the Marshal. “Yes, Elizabeth Bartlett,” the youth re- plied. Lucas pocketed the revolver, saying he would hold it for safe keeping. Stroebel denied having any shells for it. The story was checked with Elizabeth Bartlett; yes, she had been with Al Stroebel about two weeks ago when he fired two shots at a stump on the outskirts of town. SHADY REST INN Proprietor, TOM KINKADE FULLY LICENSED BOATS COTTAGES Good Fishing and Bathing QUALICUM BEACH, B.C. + UNION BAY HOTEL JOE DEMONTE, Proprietor Comfortable Rooms Excellent Meals It was on a Sunday. By this time it was late in the afternoon of Friday, April 21st. The inquest would open at 10.30 the next morning POLICE CHECK ON SUSPECT The two police officers were beginning to see a little daylight but there was still much to learn. They started an intensive examination of young Stroebel’s background and affairs. His father was in Oklahoma City, Indian Territory (Oklahoma was not yet a State.) He had brothers and sisters, but there was no trace of his mother. He had no proper trade, but he had been trying to arrange for the purchase of a small barber shop from a man named Carpenter. He was to pay for the business out of the proceeds of a land deal his brother was putting through. There was a curious feature about the transaction that Moresby noticed. Carpen- ter had mentioned that a hone was missing from the stock, and Stroebel said the deal was off. It seemed curious that a deal in- volving $250.00 should he abruptly termi nated over the small item of a razor hone. Stroebel was $15 in arrears for board to Mrs. Bartlett. Mrs. Bartlett said he was often that much behind, and always settled. The lad was very much in love with Eliza- beth Bartlett and hoped to marry her. His feeling in this direction were undoubtedly reciprocated. But—and this was a big but—if Stroebel was looking for money to buy the barber shop, and he had a hand in Marshall’s death, Your Advertisement Reasonable Rates is working all the time and brings Excellent Results. LICENSED PARLOUR e UNION BAY, Vancouver Island, B.C. WINTER EDITION Advertise in THE SHOULDER STRAP why didn’t he search the premises? In fact, how did he know Marshall had money? And as if in answer to this unspoken question came elucidation. A boy named Hilliard said that he and young Johnny Bartlett had visited old Portugee John on April 16th. They were laughing and joking with the old man, and asked him why he never married. The old man with a twinkle in his eye was having his joke too, and told them of a young woman in Portugal whom he would one day marry—ana w suppurt his argument he showed them a buckskin bag full of twenty-dollar gold pieces. Young Johnny Bartlett had mentioned Judge Geo. A. Walkem. —Photo courtesy Provincial Archives, Victoria, B. C. the incident in Al Stroebel’s presence the next day. Now the threads were gathering into a pattern — first Stroebel’s revolver, now knowledge of the old man’s money. ut why didn’t he take the money? Perhaps he was disturbed? And the only corroboration of Stroebel’s statements came from Elizabeth Bartlett. Was she telling the truth? Was there col- lusion? She seemed to be too fine a type to lend herself to the perjured tale of a mur- derer. “You know, Moresby,” said Lucas, “I’ve got a hunch that Mrs. Bartlett knows some- thing—there’s an odd look in ner cyes at times.” Impelled by detective’s instinct, hunch, call it what you will, Lucas decided to keep an eye on the Bartlett establishment that evening. The rain had ceased, and in the shadow of a convenient building he took his stand. Page Thirty-one