Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-02-06
CHAPTER v.

CHAPTER v.
T1HE coroner dismissed the jury
and came down and shook
hands with US.
I'm going to reward you for
your clever work, Mr.. Royce" he said.
"Will you take the good news to Miss
Holladay?"
Ny chief could not repress the swift
flush Of pleasure which reddened his
cheeks, but he managed to speak un-
concernedly.
''Why, yes; certainly. I'll be glad to,
! if you wish it," he said.
''I do wish it, Goldberg assured him,
with tact and penetration 1 thought
admirable. "You may dismiss the po-
liceman who is with her"
| Our junior looked inquiringly at the
district attorney.
"Before 1 CO." he said, may I ask
what you intend doing, sir?"
81 intend finding the writer of that
note," answered Singleton, smiling.
But, about Miss Holladay"
! Singleton tapped his lips thought
| fully with his pencil.
Before answer" he said at last, ST
should like to go with you and ask her
one question"
every WELL" assented Mr.. Royce in
stantly and led the way to the room
where Miss Holiday awaited us.
She rose with flushing face as we en-
tered and stood looking at us without
speaking; but, despite her admirable
composure, could guess how che was
racked with anxiety.
Miss Holladay," began my chief,
''this is Mr.. Singleton, the district at
| torney, who wishes to ask you a few
questions"
''One question only" corrected Sin
gleton, bowling. "Were you at your IA
theirs office yesterday afternoon, Miss
Holladay?"
"No, sir" she answered instantly and
! emphatically. 81 have not been near
| my fathers office for more than a
/ week.,
I saw him study her for a moment,
/ then he bowed again.
''That is ALL" he said. 81 don't think
the evidence justifies me in holding
her, Mr.. Royce" and he left the room
followed him, for I knew that I had
| no further part in our juniors errand
I went back to our table ed busted
| myself gathering together our belong
ings. The room had gradually cleared
| and at the end Of ten minutes only
| the coroner and his clerk remained.
They had another case, it seemed, to
open In the morning-another case
which perhaps involved just as great
heartache and anguish as ours had.
Five minutes later my chief came hur-
rying back to me and a glance at his
beaming eyes told me how he had been
welcomed.
Miss Holiday has started home
with her maid" he said. 'She asked
me to thank you for her for the great
work you did this afternoon, Lester
told her it was really you who had
done everything. Yes, it was!' he add
ed, answering my gesture Of denial.
while I was cropping helplessly
around in the dark you found the way
to the light. But come; we must get
back to the Office"
We found a cab at the curb and in
q moment were rolling back over the
route we had traversed that morning
ages ago, as it seemed to me! 1t was
+! only a few minutes after 3 o'clock,
and reflected that should yet have
time to complete the papers in the
Hurd case before leaving for the night.
! Mr.. Graham was still at his desk,
! and he at once demanded an account
of the hearing. I went back to my
, work, and SO caught only word here
and there-enough, however, to show
me that our senior was deeply inter
ested in this extraordinary affair. AS
for me, put all thought of it resolute-
| ly from me and devoted myself to the
work in hand. 1t was done at last,
and I locked my desk with a sigh of
relief. Mr.. Graham nodded to me
kindly as 1 passed out, and left the
Office with the comfortable feeling
that had done good days work for
myself as we'll as for my employers.
A man who had apparently been
lettering in the hall followed me into
the elevator.
| This is Mr.. Lester, isn't it?'' he
asked as the car started to descend.
Yes" 1 said, looking at him in sur
prise. He was well dressed, with
alert eyes and strong, pleasing face.
had never seen him before.
And you're going to dinner, aren't
you, Mr.. LeSter:" he continued.
"Yes-to dinner" I assented, more
and more surprised.
"Now, don't think me impertinent,'
he said, smiling at my look Of amaze
ment, "but 1 want you to dine with
me this evening. I can promise you
as good meal as you win get at mos'
places In New York"
But I'm not dressed" protested.
THAT doesn't matter In the least
neither am I, you see. We will dine
swithnslt nthe~a'"