Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-06-08
ODE
HozfadaY
Case


NO. haven't. I've simply shown
yuu that YOU overlooked one little
thing. And think you're right about
the danger of going to Martigny. our
first duty Is to Miss Holiday. We
must rescue her before he can warn
his confe-lrratel to place her out Of our
reach"
The UnStudicd way IN which she said
"our' filed me with an unreasonlng
happiness.
but Why shoul,! they bother with n
prisoner at all: They didn't shrink
from striking down her father"
"And they may not shrink from strik-
ing her down NJ Il favorable moment"
She answered calmly. 1T will be cas-
Ter In France than In New York.
My hands were trembling at the
thought Of IT. If we should really be
too late.
but don't believe they'll go to such
extremes. Mr.. Lester" continued my
companion. II believe you're going to
find her and solve the mystery. My
theory doesn't solve 1t. you know: 1t
only makes 1t deeper. The mystery.
after all. IS: Who are these people?
Why did they kill Mr.. Holiday? Why
have they abducted his daughter?
What Is their plOt?''
Yes" / assented. And again / had
a moment of confused perplexity.
But after you find her" she asked,
what will you do with herY'
do with her? Why, take her home.
of course"
But she'll very probably be broken
down, perhaps even on the verge Of
| hysteria You must bring her to US at
Paris. Mr.. Lester"
saw the wisdom of her words.
That's very kind Of you." I said.
II am sure Mr.. Royce will agree. But
we have first to find her."
l was glad for my own sake too
| The parting Of tomorrow would not
then. be a final one
She left me presently, and for an
hour or more l sat there and looked. In
every aspect. at the theory she had sug
gested. Certainly there was nothing
to disprove 1t. and yet. as she had said
1t merely served to deepen the mys
terry. Who were these people. I asked
myself again, who dared to play so bold
and desperate a game? The Height
mate daughter might. Of course. i'm
personate Miss Holiday. but who wal
he elder woman-her mother? Ther
NE liaisOn must have taken place IL
Trance-her accent was not to be mis-
taken-but in France Mr.. Holiday
had been always with his wife. Be
sides, the younger woman spoke Eng
lish perfectly. True, she had said only
few words-the hoarseness NIGH
have been affected to conceal a differ
ence In voice-but how explain thu
elder woman's resemblance to Hiram
. Holidays daughter? Could they botl
. sense, for Mrs. Holiday had takeI
her into her life. had loved her
And Martigny? Who was he? What
was his connection with these women
That the crime had been carefully
planned I could not doubt. and 1t had
been carried out with surprising skill.
Doubtless 1t was Aiartigny who had
arranged the plot. who had managed
its development. And with what bold
ness! He had not feared to be pres
ent at the inquest or even to up
proach me and discuss the case with
me. l tried to recall the details of Oul
talk. impatient that 1 had paid SC
little heed to it. He had asked. remem
bered, what would happen to Frances
Holiday II she were found guilty. HI
had been anxious, then, to save her
He had-yes, l saw it now-he hat
written the note which did save her; ht
had run the risk Of discovery to get bel
free!
But why?
II only had clew-One thread t.
follow! One ray Of light would b,
enough. Then 1 could see my way on
Of this hopeless tangle. l should know
how to strike. But to stumble blindly
onward in the dark-that might d.
more harm than good.
Yes, and there was another thing To-
me to guard against. What was t.
prevent him the moment he stepped
ashore wiring to his confederates
warning them. telling them to fee? o
he might wait. watching US, until b
saw that they were really in danger
. In either event they must easily es
cape. Miss Kendall had been RICH
, when she pointed out that our onl,
hope was in catching them unprepared
The impulse was too strong to b
resisted. In a moment l was on m,
feet But, no! To surprise him wouk
be to make him suspect l called
steward.
Take this card up TO NJ. Martigny.
said, ''in 375, and ask If he Is wei
enough to see me-"
As he hurried away a sudden douh
seized me. Horrified at my hardihoot
: l opened my mouth to call him bacl
But did not call. Instead sank bac
. into my chair and stared out across tn
water.
IN. Martigny." said the steward
voice Mt my elbow. answers that h
will be most pleased to see NJ. Leste
at once"
9 CHAPTER XVI.