Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-25
CHAPTER ".
Cecily Says Good-B Bye.

The cold light of the morning brought
with It a profound skepticism. Godfrey's
theory no longer seemed so convincing; in
fact, 1t did not. seem convincing at all.
Many objections occurred to me: saw that
the whole elaborate structure was built
upon quicksand-there was no proof that
any Of the clippings referred to Tremaine
or Thompson; there was no proof that
Thompson had gathered them with elabo-
rate care and Of set purpose; there was
no proof
Yes-there was one point susceptible Of
proof; by 1t the whole structure would
stand or fall -
Mr.. Royce" said to our junior. in the
course of the morning. II wonder If could
be spared this afternoon? I've some BUSH
ness of my own which I'd much like to
attend to-
why, certainly" he answered instantly;
SO when I left the office at noon 1 took
the elevated to the Grand Central station
and bought a ticket to Ossining. Once
there 1 went direct to the gray old prison
and stated my errand to Mr.. Jones, the
subwarden, whom found in charge.
I've come up from New York, / be-
gan. after giving him my card, TO
see If you can Identify this man. and
handed him the photograph of Thompson
He looked at 1t long and searchingly.
seemingly 1OT Il tlIHS III UOuDt, put a. idSt
he shook his head
No, i don't believe 1 cam, he said.
There's something familiar about the face,
but l can't place it.
How long have you been connected with
the prison, Mr.. Jones? l asked.
II began thirty years ago as guard. But
what made you think | could identify this
fellow"
We've rather imagined" l answered,
that his real name was johnson and that
he served term here for robbery, begin
ming in 1885.
He looked at the photograph again, with
a sudden flush of excitement in his face.
Il believe you're right. he said Let
look at JohnsOns photo.
He consulted the index, then turned to
one of the wall cases.
Here he Isl he said, opening compart-
ment and pointing to a photograph It's
the same man, sure, only changed lot IL
would be easy to prove it. l suppose they
took his Bertillon measurements at the
morgue and we've only to compare them
with ours They'd be the same, no matter
how much he'd changed.
And he had changed, indeed. The john
son of the prison photograph was, OF course
srnooth-shaven; his face was alert. lntein-
gent: there was no upon the temple,
nor did the features show that subtle ploat-
ing of long-continued dissipation But II
was the same - undoubtedly II was the
same There was no need to apply any
finer tests. "
II remember him now said Jones, LOOK
ing from photograph to the other;
very well. He was quiet, Wei-pehaVeu
chap-had been captain of a little tramp
steamer 1 believe. He had a perfect mama
for cutting pieces out of newspapers ana
pasting them in a scrapbook. He spent all
his leisure time that way. on, yes; re-
member too, he tried to escape, but ms pal
went back on him and left him layln out
yonder by the wall. His pal was a pao one
he was: he got away, and I've often won
dered what become of him. Here ne Is
N
7 found myself staring al Iremalne!
Not until / was quite near New YORK dio
I recover sufficiently from the eftects OF TINS
discovery to heed the cry of the tram boy
as he went through the coaches with the
evening papers. -, =, ~
CRYING and the name caught my ear.
.'Edgemere' l repeated to myself Eoge-
more I've heard that name somewhere.
Then in fash remembered: ana IN d
moment more the whoie STORY oI INC 80
edy of the night before-the muroer Oh ula
nam and the theft of Mrs. Deiroy g neck
Iace-lay before me. With what intensity
OF interest read it can be easily lmagiheu'
| was shaken, nervous, horrors ~
That there was some connectloh t w.
this second tragedy and the one IN SUITE
fourteen | did not doubt; and READ ana
re-read the details with the greatest care
in the effort to find where that conhec.loh
lay. - - ,ou, 1,re
maine could be implicated in the Edgemere
mystery even in the least degree-his airp 1
was nerfect On the other hand, the eVi-
dence against young Drysaa,e seeIii SEM eV the
nIete in every link. Certainly, none or the
pa pers doubted his guilt, and they hahdieu
his past career and his family history WIN
a minuteness and freedom which must nave
heen most trying to his friends. coroner
Heffelbower came in for the lions share OF
prafse-every one agreed that he mad con-
Quoted the case with rare skill ana acumeh.
OF course, the Record had his photograph
Of Wi
dren and as | looked at his round face
fancied him strutting back and forth In MS
saloon inflated with pride, and listening
approvingy 10 the constant ringing or the
cash register It's an i'll wind-but GER
tainlv there was no denying that he had
handled the case adro1tly.
! Drysdale il appeared had been lodged in
the Jail at Babylon, and steadfastly refused
TO make any statement, or to explain his
absence from the house. No reporters had
been admitted to Edgemere-though that
fact did not prevent two or three or them
from writing minute descriptions of the
condition of affairs there, and publishing
interviews with the members of the family.
Marvellous accounts were given of the ex-
quisite beauty and immense value OF the
missing necklace, and the Record published
a drawing of 1t from a description by
Tiffany"
We pulled into the station, and I took
down to my rooms, turning this latest
enigma over and over in my mind, looking
at it from every angle, trying in vain to
discover some fact that would implcate
Tremane At my door l paused a moment;
then l crossed the hall and knocked at
Tremanes door. Perhaps Cecily had for
given me, and in evenings talk l ought
surely to be able to find out something
more
But 1t was not Cecily. 1t was Tremaine
himself who opened to me.
"Oh. Mr.. Lester" he cried, with hand
outstretched. how you? 1 wanted to
see you've been listening for your STEP
You must join us here this evening"
Il shall be glad to-, l said returning his
clasp. all my suspicious melting away, re-
duced to absurdity, at sight of him. But
why so particularly this EVENING"
Because we've planned a little celebra-
ton. Cecily is going away"
Going away?"
"Yes-back to st. Pierre to get my house
in order-but I'll tell you at dinner-it's to
be served here in an hour. You will conner"
Certainly l will" / assured him, and
FASTENED over to my room to dress.
He was awaiting me when l knocked an
hour later; table had .been set with three
places
Come in" he said Dinner will be here
directly l thought it safer to have the cell
ebration here because-well,'' and he nodded
significantly toward the inner room
'Cecily?" l questioned.