The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-18

fancy you'll say so, too, when you see
his Is theory in tomorrow paper
b .", - - cried Rankin. why.
comes to a case Of this kind. We're not
in the same class with him. He 8 fancy
fellow-just the Record kind. You re
sure you didn It tell him anything else
Mr.. Lester2" he added, anxlously
Godfrey's capable of getting a story
out of fencepost.
emo, m quite sure I didn't tell
him j! anything else. I only listened to
his theory with great Interest,"
NAnd assented to it9''
81 said I thought it plausible.'
An electric shock seemed to run
around the room.
That's it!'' cried Rankin. "That ,.
what he wanted. Now, it isn't his
theory any more. It's yours. Oh, ]
can see his headlinesk Won't you tell
us what it wasp
[ looked up at him.. -.
"Now,- frankly, Mr.. Rankin" ]
a 2ea ae,ll; i you were in my place. would
He hesitated for a moment, and then
held out his hand.
"No,' he said, as I took it. ~
shouldn It. Shake hands, sir you re al
right. Come on, boys, we mig hit as wei
be going.'
They filed out after him and + heard
them 20 singing up the street. !. Then
sank back into my chair and thought
again of Godfrey's theory; it seemed
to fit the case precisely, point by point
to Miss Holladay's reticence as to he1
whereabouts the afternoon before. The
whole mystery lay plain before me. In
some way, she had discovered the ex
istence Of her half-sister, had secured
her address; she had gone to visit he1
and had found her away from home
it was probable, even, that the half
sister had written her, asking her tc
come-tho, in that case, why had she
not remained at home to receive hers
At any rate, Miss Holiday had awaited
her return, had noticed. her agitation
had, perhaps, even seen certain marks
of blood upon her The news Of he1
fathers death had pointed all. toe
clearly to what that agitation and those
blood-spots meant She had remained
silent that she might not besmirch he1
father g name, and also, perhaps, that
she might protect the other woman
I felt that 1 held in my hand the key
to the whole problem.
Point by p6int-but what a snarl il
was! That there would be vigorous
doubt, but she had a long start ant
should easily escape. Yet, perhaps, sht
had not started-she must have re
manned in town, else how could thai
note have been sent to usg She had re
manned, then but whyq That she SHOULD
feel any affection for Francis Holiday
seemed absurd, and yet. how else explain
the notes g..
I felt that was getting tangled VI
in the snarl again-there seemed NJ
limit to its. intricacies; 50, in very
completely as I could and went to bed
The mornings Record attested thu
truth of Rankin's. prophecy. l hat
grown famous in night; for Godfrey
had, in a measure, made me responsible
for his theory, describing me with {
wealth of adiectives which I blush t
remember, and which have, even yet
not quite forgiven him. l smiled as :
read the first lines:
Record IS had the saurs
such a remarkable victory before Coroner Gold
Holiday case, and. Of course, took occasion t
discs'ss with him the latest developments of thi
e *; crime. Mr.: Lester agreed witt
that fits the facts of the case, and completed:
and satisfactorily explains all its ramilcations
The theory was then developed a
great length and the article concluded
with the statement that the Record. wa
assisting the police in a strenuous en-
deavor to find the guilty woman.
Now that the police knew in which
quarter to spread their net, I had littl
doubt that she would soon be found
since she had tempted Providence b,
remaining in town.
Mr.. Graham and Mr.. Royce were look
ing thru the Record article when
reached the office, and [ explained t.
them how the alleged interview hat
been secured. They laughed together il
appreciation of Godfrey's audacious en-
terprise.
ut seems pretty strong theory,
said our senior: HI m inclined to be
lieve it myself !.
I pointed out how it explained Mis-
Holladay's reticence-her refusal to as
sist us: in proving an alibi. Mr.. Royc
| nodded.
."Precisely. AS Godfrey. said, tn
theory, touches every point Of the case
| According to the old police axiom, tina
proves it s the right one.'