Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-11-30
was reasonable. and yet II had ,ts

faults.
Nov, let's see where this leads u.s."
he continued. let us assume that
Holiday has been providing for this
Legitimate daughter for years. At
last, for some reason. he Is induced to
withdraw this support, or, perhaps, the
girl thinks her allowance insufficient.
At any rate, after, let us suppose, In
effectual appeals by letter. she does
the desperate thing Of calling ut his
office to protest in person. She finds
him inexorable--we know his reputa-
ton for obstinacy when he had once
made UP his mind. She reproaches
himshe is already desperate, remem-
ber-and he answers with that singing
sarcasm for which he was noted. In
an ecstasy Of anger she snatches up
the knife and stabs him; then In an
agony Of remorse. endeavOrs to check
the blood. She sees at last that 1t is
useless. that she cannot save him. and
leaves the Office. All this Is plausible,
isn't it?'
Every plausible" assented, look
ing at him In some establishment you
forget one thing, however. Rogers tcs-
titled that he was intimately acquaint-
ed with the affairs Of his employer
and that he would inevitably have
known of any intrigue such us you
suggest"
My companion paused for mo-
ment's thought.
II don't believe that Rogers would
30 inevitably have known Of It," he
said at last But, admit that-then
there is another theory. Holiday has
not been supporting his illegitimate
child. who learns of her parentage and
goes to him to demand her rights. That
fits the case. doesn't it?"
"Yes," admitted. ut also Is plausi-
ble."
ut Is more than plausible" he said
quietly. Whatever the details may
be, the body of the theory itself Ia I'M
mpeachable-it's the only one which
fits the facts. believe it capable of
proof. Don't you see how the note
helps TO prove it,"
"The note?'
started at the word. and my suspi-
cions sprang into life again. looked
at him quickly. but his eyes were on
the cloth and he was rolling up innu-
merable little pellets Of bread.
THAT note" he added. proved two
things One was that the writer was
deeply interested in Miss Holidays
welfare; the other was that he or she
knew Rogers. the clerk. intimately
more than Intimately; almost as well
az a physician knows an old patient"
II admit the first" said. You'll
have to explain the second"
1.-THE second Is self evident. How
did the writer Of the note know Of Rog-
ers' infirmityY'
"His infirmity"
"Certainly-hi color blindness. I con.
fess I'm puzzled How could any one
else know IL when Rogers himself
didn't know it? That's what I should
like to have explained. Perhaps there's
only one man or woman in the world
who could know Well. that's the one
who wrote the note. Now. who is III"
But" began quickly. then stopped.
Should I set him right. or was this a
trap he had prepared for me?
His eyes were not on the cloth now,
but on me. There was a light in them
l did not quite understand. felt that
] must be sure of my ground before
went forward.
ut should I've very easy to trace the
writer Of the note" said.
1.-The police have not found 1t So"
"No?"
vrv0c Sri,. 20 tha do Hnv
by boy-just an ordinary boy Of from
twelve to fourteen years. The mar
didn't notice him especially. He sale
there was no answer and went away
How are the police to ind that boy
Suppose they do find him. Probably
all he could tell them would be that 4
man stopped him at the corner ant
gave him a quarter to take the note t.
the corOners Office"
He might give description Of tn,
man." ] ventured.
"What would boys description b,
, worth? 1t would be at the best vagu,
! and indefinite. Besides. they've no
even found the boy. Now, to return t.
, the note"
We had come to the coffee and cigars
and l felt it time to protest.
Before we return TO the note. Mr.
Godfrey" said. I'D like to ask yol
two direct questions. What interes
have you in the matter?"
: THE interest of every investigator
2 Of crime" he answered, smiling.
, You belong to the detective force
them
; Il have belonged to it. At presen
, I'm in other employ"
I "And what was your object in bring
, ing me here this evening""
Zone portion OF my object has beer
= accomplished. The other was to asl
= you to write out for me copy Of tn
note"
but who was 1t pursued us VI
Broadway"
"Oh, l have rivals!" he chuckled. d"
q fatter myself that was rather neatl,
\ done. Will you give me copy Of tn
! note. Mr.. Lester!"
q NO" l answered squarely. "You'l
}. have to 60 to the police for that. In
out Of the case"
He bowed across the table to nj
J.. with little laugh. AS looked at hiu
his imperturbable good humor touches
me.
"I'U toll vou ono thing thOu0h +"