The Valley of Fear

The day before the murder, Douglas had glimpsed a man whom he knew for his worst enemy. He was on guard all day, but felt safe once the drawbridge was up. He never dreamed the man could get in, but when he entered the study that night he saw a boot under the curtain. The men fought to the death, and Douglas fired the shot that killed Ted Baldwin. Barker and his wife came down, saw the body, and realized that no one else had heard. They decided to set the scene, knowing that the man’s face was so unrecognizable due to the gunshot that no one would be the wiser. The wedding ring could not come off his own figure, but he was able to put the other rings on the man. He knew of a hiding place in the house and retired there; Barker did the rest.