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


dfrey offers the theory that it was done in
@ adsa Passion Mss - woman who striklngly
me years older. 1"'sA'e'
CHAPTER V-(Continued.)
Nov, let 8 see where this leads us,o
= continued. ''Let US assume that
toHaday has been providing for this
legitimate daughter for years. At
sc, Tor some reason, he is induced to
-ilthdraW this support; or, perhaps, the
srl thinks her allowance insufficient.
It any rate, after, let US suppose. in
Ifectual appeals by letter, she does the
psperate thing Of calling at his Office
protest in person. She finds him in
iorabe-we know his reputation for
ostlnacy when he had once made up his
md. She reproaches him-she is al
lady desperate, remember-and he an
-Iers win that singing sarcasm for
hlch he is noted. In an ecstacy of
1ger, she snatches up the knife and
abs him; then, in an agony of re-
orse, endeavors to check the blood.
he sees at last that it dis useless, that
re cannot save him, and leaves the
dlce: AL this is plausible, ism t it9''
very. plausible, y | assented, looking
him IN some establishment. ''You
-oIrget one thing, however, Rogers tes-
ned that he was intimately acquainted
18th the affairs of his employer, and
lat he would inevitably have known Of
ny intrigue such as you suggest.''
My companion paused for moment s
fought. l don It believe that Rogers
ould so inevitably have known Of it, -
g said, at last. But, admit that
zen there is another the Dry. Holiday
-. as s, not been supporting his illegitimate
lild, who learns of her parentage and
n him TO demand har riohta Tho
IS the case, doesn't it?''
eyes,, l admitted. cit, also, is
"It is more than plausible,N he said
uietly. "Whatever the details may
g, the body of the theory itself is un
npeachable-it' s the only one which
IS the facts. l believe it capable Of
clips to prove it''
"The note7'
I started at the word, and my sus-
icions sprang into life again. l looked
him Quickly, but his eyes were on
10 cloth, and he was rolling up in
umerable little pellets Of bread.
T thags One Ne was "d hs the w1s1
--ras deeply interested in Miss Holla-
avs welfare; the other was that he
she knew Rogers, the clerk init
lately-more than intimatel y-almost
3 well as a physician knows an old
,atient.'
II admit the first" said. "You IL
ave to explain the second
"'The second is self-evident. How
id the writer of the note know Of
-,ogers' infrmity9'
Ellis infrmity?'
Certainly-his color-blindness. l
onfess, I IN puzzled. How could any.
ne else know it when Rogers himself
.idn It know its That 8 what I should
ike to have explained. Perhaps there s
MY one man or woman in the world
yho could know-well, that S the one
yho wrote the note. Now, who is lt?''
- ''But,' I began, quickly, then stop
,ed; should I set him right2 Or was
his trap he had prepared for mes
His ewes were not on the cloth now,
tut on me. There was light in them
did not quite understand. l felt that
must be sure of my ground before l
cent forward.
lit should be very easy to trace the
writer Of the note,'' I said. :,
- The police have not found 1t So
mo. It was given to the door-keep.
r by a boy-just an ordinary boy Of
rom ~ to IA years-the man di dn It
~rotice him especially. He said there
vas no answer and went away. How
.re the police to find that boyq Sup
,ose thew do find him9 Probably all he
'ould tell them would be that man
topped him at the corner and gave him
. quarter to take the note to the cor
,ner's Office
"He might give a description of the
man, I ventured.
I" What would boys description be
vosth9 1t would be, at the best, vague
nd indefinite. Besides. they've not
ven found the boy. Now, to return
the note.
- We had come to the coffee and
,igars, and I felt it time to protest.
"Before we return to the note, Mr..
1odfrey.' said. "I,d like to ask you
:wo direct questions. What interest
ave you in the matter9'
"The interest Of every investigator
IF crime,' he answered, smiling.
"You belong to the detective force,
= "I have belonged to it. At present,
IN in other employ
And what was your object in
bringing me here this evening?'
"One portion of my object has been
accomplished. The other was to ask
YOU t g write out for me a copy OF the
"But who was it pursued US up Broad
wav9"
- ooh, I have rivals!' he chuckled.
IT f1atter myself that was rather neatly
done. Will you give me a copy Of the
note. Mr.. Lester?'
Ono" answered squarely. "Yon II
have to go to the police for that. I'm
e.t of the case
Re bowed across +he table to me
with little laugh. AS looked at him
his imperturbable good humor touched
me.
"T1l tell you one thing. tho.'
added. "The writer Of the note knew
nothing of Rogers color blindness
YOU re off the scent there.''
1T am9' he asked amazedlv. NThen
how did YOU know it. Mr.. Lester9'
"I SUPPOSE Won detectives would call
It deduction-I deduced it, =
He took q contemplative puff or two
s-as he Looked at me.
"We1l.' he exclaimed at.last. ~
must say it beats mel! Deduced it!
,, That was mighty clever"
Again 7 bowed nv acknowledgements
"And that's all you can tell me, =
ttT'm afraid that's ALL
every well; thank you for that