Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-27

Our junior looked 1nqulringly Mt the
district attorney.
Before co." he said. may l ask
what you intend doing, sir?"
II intend finding the writer of that
note" answered Singleton, smiling.
But, about Miss Holladay"
Singleton tapped his lips thought
fully with his pencil.
Before answer" he said ut last, 81
should like to go with you and ask her
one question"
Very well" assented Mr.. Royce in
stantly and led the way to the room
where Miss Holiday awaited us.
She rose with flushing face as we ell
tered and stood looking at us without
speaking; but, despite her admirable
composure. l could guess how she was
racked with anxiety.
Miss Holiday" began my chief,
this is Mr. Singleton, the district at
torney, who wishes to ask you a few
questions"
Zone question only" corrected Sin
gleton. bowling. ''Were you ut your ia.
theirs office yesterday afternoon, Miss
Holladayf"
mo, SIR" she answered Instantly and
emphatically. 81 have not been near
my fathers office for more than
week"
saw him study her for moment,
then he bowed again.
'That Is ALL" he said. II don't think
the evidence justifies me in holding
her, Mr.. Royce" and he left the room.
followed him, for knew that had
no further part In our juniors errand.
went back to our table and busted
myself gathering together our belong
ings. The room had gradually cleared
and Mt the end of ten minutes only
the coroner and his clerk remained.
They had another case, it seemed, to
open in the morning-another case
which perhaps involved just rs great
heartache and anguish rs ours had.
Five minutes later my chief came hur.
rying back to me and n glance at his
beaming eyes told me how he had been
welcomed.
Miss Holiday has started home
with her maid" he said. "She asked
AAaS W tAuhh Sou iOl ilSE lOG lifC kTeul
work you did this afternoon, Lester. /
told her it was really you who had
done everything. Yes, it wasw he add
ed, answering my gesture Of denial.
while l was cropping helplessly
around in the dark you found the way
to the light. But come; we must get
back to the Office"
We found cab at the curb and in
moment were rolling back over the
route we had traversed that morning
ages ago, rs 1t seemed to me! 1t was
only few minutes after o'clock,
and reflected that should vet have
time to complete the papers in the
Hurd case before leaving for the night.
Mr. Graham was still ut his desk,
and he ut once demanded an account
of the hearing. went back to my
work, and so caught only word here
md there--enougll, however, to show
ne that our senior was deeply inter
sted in this extraordinary affair. AS
or me, put all thought of it resolute-
y from me and devoted myself to the
work in hand. 1t was done at last,
and l locked my desk with sigh of
relief. Mr.. Graham nodded to me
kindly MS passed out, and l left the
office with the comfortable feeling
that had done good days work for
myself as well us for my employers.
A man who had apparently been
lettering in the hall followed me into
the elevator.
This is Mr.. Lester, isn't ity he
asked as the car started to descend.
Yes" said, looking ut him in sur
prise. He was well dressed, with
alert eyes and strong, pleasing face. l
had never seen him before.
"And you're going to dinner, aren't
you, Mr.. Lester" he continued.
"Yes-to dinner" assented, more
and more surprised.
"Now, don't think me impertinent,"
he said, smiling at my look Of amaze.
ment, "but l want you to dine with
me this evening. l can promise you
as good meal us you will get at most
places IL New York"
But I'm not dressed" protested.
THAT doesn't matter In the least
neither am l, YOU see. We will dine
without Others
"Where?" / questioned.
"Well, how would the Studio suit?"
The car had reached tile ground floor,
and we left 1t together. was COM
pletely in the dark as to my compan-
ions purpose, and yet it could have but
one eXplanution-it must be connected
In some way with the Holiday case.
Unless-and l glanced at him again.
No, certainly, he was not II confidence
man-even IL lie was, would rather
welcome the adventure. My curiosity
won The battle.
Very WELL" said. "Ill be glad to
accept your invitation, Mr.
He nodded approvingly.
''There spoke the man Of sense.
Well, you shall not go unrewarded.
Godfrey is my name-no, you don't
know me, but I'll soon explain myself.
Here's my cab"
l mounted into It, he after me. 1t
seemed to me that there was an UNI
usual number of loiterers about the
door Of the building, but we We're off
in a moment, and l did not give them
a second thought. We ratified out into
Broadway and turned nortllward for
the three mile straightaway run to
Union square. I noticed in moment
that we We're going at rate of speed
rather exceptional for a cab, and it
steadily increased as the driver found
a clear road before him. My compan-
ion threw up the trap in the roof of
the cab as we swung around into Thir-
teenth street.
"All right, sam?" he called.
The driver grinned down at us
through the hole.
''All right, Sir" he answered. 'rhey
couldn't stand the pace little bit.
They're distanced"
The trap snapped down again. We
turned into Sixth avenue and stopped
In u moment before the Studio, gray
and forbidding without, but a dream
within. My companion led the way up
stairs to n private room, where table