The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-01-12

'Oh, yes. / couldn't AFFORD to mist
it,"
The color blind theory was a simple
one"
so simple that it never occurred t
any one else. l think we're too 'apt
to overlook the simple explanations
which are, after all, nearly always
the true ones. It's only in books that
we meet the reverse. You remember
it's Gaboriau who advises one always
,, to distrust the probableT"
Yes. don't agree with him"
Nor 1. Now take this case, for in
stance. l think it's safe to State that
murder, where it's not the result of
sudden passion, is always committed
for one Of two objects-revenge or
gain. But Mr.. Holidays past life has
been pretty thoroughly probed by the
repor, ers, and nothing has been found
10 indicate that he had ever made a
deadly enemy, at least among the class
Of people who resort to murder, so that
does away with revenge. On the other
hand, no one will gain by his death
many will lose by it-in fact, the whole
circle of his associates will lose by It,
1t might seem, at first glance, that his
daughter would gain, but l think she
loses most of ALL She already had all
the money she could possibly need, and
shes lost her father, whom, it's quite
certain she loved dearly. So what re-
mains?'
only one thing" said, deeply inter
ested in this exposition. Sudden pas
SION"
He nodded exultantly.
That's it. Now, who was the wom-
an? From the first was certain 1t
could not be his daughter-the very
thought was preposterous. 1t seems
almost equally absurd, however, to
suppose that Holiday could be mixed
Up with any other woman. He GER
tainly has not been for the last quarter
of century-but before that-well, it's
not so certain. And there's one strik-
ing point which seems to indicate his
guilt"
''Yes--you mean, of course, her re-
semblance to his daughter"
Precisely. Such resemblance must
exist-a resemblance unusual, even
It would not for moment
have deceived Rogers. We must re-
however, that Rogers office
was not brilliantly lighted and that he
merely glanced at her. Still, whatever
minor differences there may have been,
she had the air, the general appearance,
he look, of Miss Holiday. Mere facial
may happen in hundred
ways by chance, but the air, the look,
he altogether is very different-it in
licates blood relationship. My the
Dry is that she is an illegitimate child.
perhaps four or five years older than
Miss Holladay."'
l paused to consider. The theory
was reasonable, and yet it had its
faults.
"Now, let's see where this leads u.s."
lie continued. LET us assume that |
Iolladay has been providing for this i
Legitimate daughter for years. At |
asst, for some reason, he Is induced to |
this support, or, perhaps, the
girl thinks her allowance insufficient.
1t any rate, after, let us suppose, in
,ffectual appeals by letter, she does |
he desperate thing of calling at his
Dtfice to protest in person. She finds
lin inexorable-we know his reputa-
ion for obstinacy when he had once
made up his mind. She reproaches
im-she is already desperate, remem-
he answers with that stinging
arcasm for which he was noted. In
N ecstasy Of anger she snatches up
he knife and stabs him; then, in an
gony of remorse, endeavors to check
he blood. She sees at last that it is
seless. that she cannot save him. and
caves the Office. All this is plausible,
sn't it?"
Very plausible" I assented, look
lg at him in some establishment. You
orget one thing, however. Rogers tes-
flied that he was intimately acquaint-
d with the affairs Of his employer
nj that he would inevitably have
noyn Of any intrigue such as you
uggest."
Ny companion paused for mo-
tents. thought.
81 don't believe that Rogers would
, inevitably have known Of it," he
hid at last. But, admit that-then
lere is another theory Holiday has
Ut been supporting his lie Ultimate
lild who learns Of her parentage and
ocs to him to demand her rights. That
is the case, doesn't it?'
Yes" l admitted. 1T also Is plausi
Ie.''
at is more than plausible" he said
lietly whatever the details may
e. the body of the theory itself is I'M
tpcachh ble--it's the only one which !,
IS the facts. | believe it capable of
.oof. Don't you see how the note
lips TO prove it?'.
1.-THE noteW ~;
I started at the WORD, and my suspi.
ons sprang into life again. looked
!. him quickly. but his eyes were on
le cloth and he was rolling up innu
erahle little pellets of bread.
~ hat note" he added, proved twc
iugs. One was that the writer was Y