The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-18
CHAPTER vi.
GOdfrey's Panegyrlc,


was quite dazed for the moment.
"a crowd Of them in my room!" I
! repeated. "a crowd Of whom, Mrs.
! Fitch9'
"A crowd of reporters! They've
been worrying my life out. They
seem to- think I had you hid some
where vi 49, l l. hope YOU'RE not in trouble,
"Not the least in the world, my dear
madame,' laughed, and l breathed q
long sigh of relief, for / had feared I
know not what disaster. I'm soon fin
ish with the reporters,' and I went on
up the stair.
Long before I reached my room, I
heard the clatter Of voices and caught
the odor Of various qualities Of tobacco.
They were lolling about over the furni-
greeted me with cheer when I entered.
They were such jovial fellows that it
was quite impossible to feel angry with
them-and besides, ! knew that they
were gentlemen, and that they labored
early and late at meager salaries, for the
pure love Of the work; that they were
quick to scent fraud OF, trickery or un-
them; that they loved to do good
anonymously, remaining utterly un-
known save to the appreciative few be-
| hind the scenes. So I returned their
greeting smilingly, and sat me down in
a chair, which one Of them obligingly
vacated for me.
"Welle" I began, looking about at
them.
"My dear Mr.. LESTER said the one
who had given me the chair. "permit
me to introduce myself as Rankin of
the Planet. These gentlemen,'' and he
included them in a wide gesture, care
my colleagues of the press. We've been
anxiously awaiting you here in order
questions:'
"All right; fire away I said.
! ~ First, we'd like to have your theory
Of the crime. Your work this afternoon
convinced us that you know how to put
two and two together, which is more
than can he said for the ordinary NOR
tai. The public will want to know your
theorv-the great public.'
con, but J haven t any theory"
me. You see, gentlemen, m quite out
Of the case. When we cleared Miss
Holiday, our connection with it
"But is Miss Holiday clearedq" he
! persisted. els it not quite conceivable
that in those two hours she was absent
from her carriage, she may have en-.
office, and then changed back again 2
In that case would she not naturally
have chosen green gown, since she
never wore greenq'
Goa, nonsense!' I cried. "That s
nuerile: Either she would disguise her.
self effectually or not at all. I sup,
pose, if you were going to commit a
9 high hat, because you never wear one!
III tell you this much: I'm morally
certain that Miss Holiday is quite in
noeent. So, I believe, is the district
but how about the note, Mr.. Les.
ter9 What did it contain9'
"Oh, can It tell you that, you know.
It's none Of my business. -
"But you ought to treat US all alike, -
he protested. ;, -,
~ do treat you all alike.' :,
"Bqt didn't Godfrey get it out of
Godfreyf' repeated. "Get it out
of metz
He stared at me in astonishment.
"Do you mean to tell me, Mr.. Les
ter,' he questioned, "that you haven It
been spending the evening with Jim
Godfrey Of the Record.
Then, in flash, 7 understood, and as
J. looked at the rueful faces Of the men
gathered about me, laughed until
the tears came.
i $50 it was you,'' I gasped, "who
chased us up Broadways'
I He nodded.
eyes; but our horses weren It good
enough. Where did he take you7'
":To the Studio-Sixth avenue.'
"Of course! - he cried, slapping his
leg. eve might have known. Boys
we d better 90 back to Podunk.ii'
"Well, at least, Mr., Lester" spoke
up another, "y,ou oughtn t to give God
| frey a SCOOP
"But I didn't give him scoop. l
didn It even know who he was.'
''Didn' t you tell him what was in the
note9'
"Not a word of i'll told him only
one thing
/ "And what was that7'
HThat the person who wrote the note
didn't know that Rogers was color.
blind. You are welcome to that state.
ment; too. You see, IN treating you
all alike 81. -.
They stood about me. staring down
at me. silent with establishment.
! ."But, ~ added. 1T think Godfrey
suspects what was in the note.''
| "Whv?O a...> =,
"Well;; his theory fits it pretty
~, Ills theory! What is his theory
"Oh, Gomez I laughed. "That 4
telling. 1t q good theory, too
They looked at each other, and, ]
i fancied CRASHED their teeth.
He seems pretty clever fellow. :
II added, just to pile up the agony. s ]