"That's all well enough, George," said Old Spicer, after a moment's reflection; "and yet what I can't quite understand is why the murderers should have taken the trouble to climb that fence and go across that yard, when it would have been much more convenient for them to have walked right out the front door of the barroom, for no one, so far as I can learn, was on the street at that hour. Then, too, such a course would have taken them clear of high fences, back yards, and a possible watch-dog."
"I can't explain the matter," smiled George; "but there are the marks on the fence, and there are the footprints."
"Well, they shall have due consideration, of course. And now what next?"
"The next piece of information I have to offer is—there's a woman in the case!"
"So? Well, there generally is. What evidence have you got on this point?"
"You know how many handkerchiefs were used in binding the poor old woman's limbs and in gagging her?"
"Yes, five, at least, I should say."
"And then, you remember, Woodford found another?"
"Yes, marked 'S. S.'"
"And now I have found still another, which is certainly the property of a woman."