Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-11-02

A hope you're not in trouble, MT Lestcr:'
 Not the least in the worlS my dear madam" I laughed And I Greathed long sigh of relief, for I had feared l know not what disaster. I'll soon fin ish with the reporters" And went on up the sfsrr
 Long before I reached my rooms I heard the chatter of voices and caught the odor of various qualities of tobac co. They were lolling about over the i furniture, telling stories, suppose, and they greeted me with cheer when 1 entered. They were such iovial fel- lows that it was quite impossible to feel angry with them. And. besides, I knew that they were gentlemen: that they labored early and late at meager salaries for the pure love of the work; that they were quick to scent fraud or trickery or unworthiness and inexora ble In exposing it; that they loved to d, good anonymously, remaining ut terly unknown save to the appreciative few behind the scenes. So returned { their greeting smilingly and sat me down in a chair which one of them obligngly vacated for me.
 "Well?" I began, looking about at them.
 My dear AIr 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 wide gesture-"are my colleagues of the press We've been anxiously awaiting you here in order that we may propound to you certain questions
 "All right; fire away" I said.
 First, we'd like to have your theory of the crime. Your work this after noon convinced us that you know how to put two and two together, which is more than can be said for the ordi- nary mortal. The public will want to know your theory-the great public
 "Oh, but I haven't any theory" I protested. Besides, I don't think the great public is especially interested in me. You see, gentlemen, I'm quite out of the case When we cleared Miss Holladay our connection with it ended"
 But is Miss Holladay cleared?" he persisted "Is it not quite conceivable that in those two hours she was absent from her carriage she may have changed her gown, gone to her fathers office, and then changed back again? In that case. would she not naturally have chosen q green gown, since she never wore green?'
 "Oh, nonsenser' I cried. That's puerie Either she would disguise her self effectually or not at all. suppose if you were going to commit capital crime you would merely put on high hat because you never wear one! I'll tell you this much: I'm morally cer tain that Miss Holladay is quite inno- cent; so. I believe, is the district at torney.''
 But how about the note, Mir. Les ter; What cid it contain:"
 ''Oh, can't tell you that, you know. It's none of my business"
 But you ought to treat us all alike" he protested.
 T do treat you all alike
 But didn't Godfrey get it out of you?'
 "Godfrey"' 1 repeated. Get it out of me?"
 He stared at me in astonshment.
 Do you mean to tell me, MT. Les ter" he questioned, that you haven't been spending the evening with Jim Godfrey of the Records"
 Then. in a fiasn. ] understood. and as I looked at the rueful faces of the men gathered about me I laughed until the tears came.
 "So it was you" I gasped, who chased US up Brosdway?"
 He nodded.
 "Yes. hut oIir horses weren't good enough. Where did he take yOu:''
 ''To the Studio Sixth avenue"
 "Gf coursc." hp cried. skipping his leg. "Wc might have known. Boys. wed better go back to Podunk'
 ''well. at least. Mir. Lester. spoke up another. ''you oughtn't to give Godfrey A scoop
 But didn't give him a scoop. I didn't even know who he. was"
 Didn't you tcll him what was in the note;"
 "Not a word of it I told him only one thing"
 And what was thatT'
 That the person who wrote the note didn't know that Rogers was color blind. You are welcome to that state ment too. You see. I'm treating you all alike"
 They stood about me staring down at me. silent with astonishment
 But. added. T think Godfrey sus- poets what was in the note"
 "WhyT-
 "wer. his tteo-y fits # pretty close ly."
 ~His theory: What is his theory. Mir -esterT-
 "Oh. cone" laughed. That's tell ing. It's good theory too"
 They looked at each other. and. fsncied. gnashed their teeth
 He seems a pretty clever fellow" I added. just to pile m the agony. 'T fancy youTl say SO. too. when you see bis theory h tomOrroE's paper"
 -Clever- cried Rankin. why. he's a very hend of cIeTerness when 1t comes to a case of this kind. We're not in the same class with him. He's a fancy feIlov-just the Record kind Ynu.rr sure rnr difnf fell hfm anr-