The All-Story, March 1914 — page 172: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

1 THE DEVIL AND DR. FOSTER. “Those overalls will wash. all right, Sam,” Tluldah reassured him. “its a merey you didnt haye your Sunday trousers on. They're so tight they certainly would have split.” “But I never do wear my Sunday trousers when I milk, Huldah,” Sam returnecl. He was feeling a little aggrieved hecause his wife appeared to lay more stress on the injury to his clothes than to his person. “No, of course you hear those boys talk.” Clarence Pugsley was being inter- rupted in his theories of the Con- eregational Church fire by scoffing remarks from Jere Cogswell, while Deborah held happily aloof, saying no more than was necessary to keep the argiunent at the proper heat. “You've got to think of everybody who might have done it, and then pick out the likeliest one and find where he was when the fire was set,’ de- dared Clarence aggressively. “If he cant account for himself, slap into jail he goes. Old Sleuth didn't fool with them long.” His voice was loud and his manner assertive. Clarence’s debating style was of the hammer-and-tongs variety. “Very crude, very crude!” mur- mured Jere Cogswell’s silky tones. “Then, I suppose, you would put the thumbscrews on and extort a confes- sion, the way they did during the Spanish inquisition? ” “TY don’t know anything about the Spanish inquisition; but if it wasn't for the third degree, what use do you suppose our jails would be? ~ “By inductive methods—” Jere be- don't. Just gan. Clarence interrupted. “Rats! I’ve heard you talk about inductive methods till I’m tired. I don't believe you know what inductive methods are, anyway.” “That's one you're just using,” Jere returned. “What's one?” “You argue that because you don’t 645 know, nobody does. That's induction, but very, very crude—footless, in fact. Inductive methods demand exact ob- servation, correct interpretation of the facts observed, rational explanation, and scientific construction.” Clarence was momentarily taken aback by this display of erudition, which leit him as wise as before. He felt obliged to put himself forward. “Bet you I get the fellow that set the fire before you do,” he blustered. “In other words,” Jere returned, “you propose a demonstration of inethods. It suits me exactly, partic- wlarly because 1 had already decided to bring the culprit to justice.” “Tl bet you— five dollars,” said Clarence, sitting back in his chair and crossing one tightly trousered leg over the other with the air of a man Who has delivered a clincher. But Deborah saw fit to interpcse. “Wouldn't that be gambling?” she asked fearfully. “Not at all—not at all, Deborah,” declared Jere. “Simply a quid pro quo, so to speak. The one who suc- ceedls can pay the other out of the sixty-two dollars reward offered by the selectmen.” “But it sounds like gambling, so you mustn't do it,” Deborah persisted. * Receiving a reward and making a bet are quite different matters.” ““T ain't atraid,”’ Clarence boasted. “Wait—I have it,” said Deborah. “J will offer a reward, too. ‘That will make everything all right. Whoever succeeds in discovering the person that set fire to the church will get the re- ward the selectmnen offer and the one I will give, and you boys mustn’t bet —will you?” “What sort of reward will you give, Deborah?” Jere asked. “T haven't decided, but it will be something very nice. You must let me consider,” said the girl. “ Now, promise me you won’t do any dread- ful thing hke gambling.” Jere promised readily, and Clarence after a proper amenpt- anoakeLeo