The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-08
CHAPTER VIII.
,LEWs AND Suspicious.

III pursuance or MS nTSt thought IOny
took the cap and went to Mrs. Hamilton's
with II in his pocket. He hardly knew how
20 breach the matter. but at last did so by
laying 1t on the table and asking quietly
WAS that Mr.. Hamilton's?"
With low cry Constance snatched the cap
and pressed it eagerly to to her breast
while she turned her startled eyes upon
/. Tony as If begging for some expression
which might bid her to hope. But as he
did not speak. she said
Yes. it is his cap. his travelling cap.
made il myself. and he took it away with
him. Where did you find it?'
Il found II on the river bank where il
lay as If tossed there by the freshet. or
some person"
"Oh, then he was drowned, He was COM
ing from the bank toward home and he
fell into the river. Was 1t very dark that
night. Tony2 1 don't recolIect." said Con-
stance. piteously.
Rather dark. but consider, Mrs Hamil-
ton, the unlikelihood of his walking into
the river, man in his senses and one who
never drank"
True. Then what do you think about
it?'
1T is all conjecture, Mrs. Hamilton" said
presence OF the Italians. as he had done to
Mr.. Hastings. Possibly he had encountered
Ashley instead. 1t was all conjecture. as
he told her. 'I brought the cap for you
TO see and keep II you wish / thought
you might like to know that it was proba-
bic Mr.. Hamilton started to come here that
night"
"Oh, yes, thank you, Tony and I will
~ II
would so away without coming home But
II ne did start and was prevented what
was ii that happened TO him? 1t was some
thing dreadful. lie may have been MUIR
dered end thrown into the river" and Con-
y stance clutched at chair to save herself
from falling
Let US hope that ii is not so bad as that.
He may be in the tolls of Ashley some
where Things of that sort happen, some
times, according to the newspapers. Ashley
may have taken the notes from him. thrown
his cap into the river 10 make people think
he had committed suicide"
Tony did not believe this. he only spoke
OF IL to, in some measure, reassure Mrs
Hamilton
WHO is Ashley. Tony?"
Young Osborn saw that by his sympathy
he had been led into error Evidently she
knew nothing about the suspicion enter.
tanned by Bruce and others He hardly
knewA.Syhat was best, but he decided t.
tell her about IL. This would introduce
the hypnotic theory. which might be in
some sense comfort to her. as doing away
with the one point. hitherto regarded a:
fncontrovertible. of her husbands present
ing in person the altered notes to Low ane
10 the other bank and receiving the none,
IN exchange.
Constance listened to his account of Ash
ley. OF Bruees suspicious, and Tony's owl
ideas basel on Bruces account of Ashley.
hypnotizins the jailer.
Nov. if ne could do that. Mrs. Hamil
ton. why might he not have influenced
Low 20 the extent Of making him believ,
he was the cashier of the Grovedale Bank p
1T is bold idea, Tony. / wish l coul,
credit 1t fully. And yet. as you say. it i
no stranger than what he did 10 the Taller
as alleged by Mr. Bruce Bruce then think
Ashley and Vane are one and the same"
Bruce is stupid old curmudgeon
Couldn't track a mouse back To his hole
Mrs Hamilton smiled at his outburst
y am sorTy * he is so. We ought [,
have had bright man in case like this.
.'Ob- he is bright enough. usually, bu
ter
Tony" said Mrs. Hamilton suddenly
under Mr.. Hastings door and purportini
TO have been written by Mr. Hamilton p
We'll said ne, with "A sideways look
II do not suppose I should kick at il. but
70 tell the truth, the declaration il con
tanned that l was honest gave me a YER
uncomfortable feeling, for until then ha
not thought any one would think | wa
not
II do not think he wrote Ii at ALL"
He certainly did not If what we hav
conjectured is true"
why think so 1 will tell you He wouI
never send me message through anothe
person no more than he would have com
10 the bank without coming home"
Mrs Ham1ltonS confident assertion car
ried great weight with her listener until
doubt hurled from the regions OF nowher
IF he went away in the company of an
other woman
you seem TO doubt it, Tony"
No, he replied, for his mind had al
ready rallied from the shock on thinkin
that ne had taken his premises on the be
lief OF his complete innocence OF ever
charge. Il think your reasoning is gooe
Mr.. Hamilton is. 1 believe instead OF bein
victimizer, the victim himself of cir
cumsfances. II not conspiracy"
Tony rose TO 90 soon afterwards. an
Mrs. Hamilton said gravely:
II shall think over what you have sait
and IL may be / shall want your assistanc
in following out some line OF investigation
May / count your aid2'
Yes, indeed. 1 shall be- most happy TO al
you ii l can" and Tonys boyish fac
lighted up with pleasure.
xlank yoG. You are the only perso