The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-01-19

f-.glt. &C., O., Dos :, We might a.
well be going"
They fled out after him, and heard
them go singing up the street Then
sank back into my chair and thought
again of Godfrey's Theory. 1t SCENE !
to fit I've case precisely, point by point
overland l started at the thought
to Miss Holidays reticence as to her
whereabouts the afternoon before. The
whole mystery lay plain before me. In
some way she had discovered the ex-
istence of her half sister, had secured
her address; she had gone to visit her
and had found her away from home
it was probable, even, that the half
sister had written her, asking her to
come-though, in that case, why had
she not remained at home to receive
her? At any rate, Miss Holiday had
awaited her return, had noticed her
agitation; had, perhaps, even seen GER
tain marks of blood upon her. The
news of her fathers death had pointed
all too clearly to what that agitation
and those blood spots meant. She had
remained silent that she might not be-
smirch her fathers name, and also.
perhaps, that she might protect the
other woman. l felt that held in my
hand the key to the whole problem.
Point by point-but what snarl 1t
was! That there weuld be vigorous
search for the other woman | could
not doubt, but she had a long start aud
should easily escape. Yet perhaps she
had not started. She must have re-
manned in town, else how could that
note have been sent tn us? She had re-
NAMED, then-but why? That she
should feel any affection for Frances
Holiday seemed absurd, and yet how
else explain the note?
felt that l was getting tangled up
in the snarl again There seemed no
limit to its intricacies; so, In very de-
spair, l put the matter from me as
completely as could and went to
bed.
The mornings Record attested the
truth of Rankin's prophecy. 1 had
grown famous in a night, for Godfrey
had in a measure made me responsible
for his theory, describing me with a
wealth OF adjeetiyes which blush 10
remember and which have even yet
not quite forgiven him. l smiled as
read the first lines:
A Record representative had the pleas
ure yesterday evening of dining with Mr.
Warwick Lester, che brilliant young at
torney who achieved such a remarkable
victory before Coroner Goldberg yester-
day afternoon in the hearing of the Hol-
laday case, and, OF course, took occasion
to discuss with him the latest Develop
ments of this extraordinary crime. Mr.. |
Lester agreed with the Record in a the
DRY, which Is the only one that fits the
facts of the case and completely and sat
isfactorily explains all it's ramifications.
The theory was then developed at |
great length, and the article concluded |
with the statement that the Record |
was assisting the police in a strenuous |
endeavor to find the guilty woman.
Now that the police knew in which |
quarter to spread their net, had little |
doubt that she would soon be found, |
since she had tempted Providence by |
remaining in town.
Mr. Graham and Mr.. Royce were
looking through the Record article |
when l reached the Office, and l ex-
planned to them how the alleged inter-
view had been secured. They laughed |
together in appreciation Of Godfrey's |
audacious enterprise.
1T seems pretty strong theory"
said our senior. "Im inclined to be- |
lieve 1t myself"
pointed out how it explained Miss
Holidays reticence-her refusal to as
slst us in proving an alibi. Mr. Royce
nodded.
Precisely. AS Godfrey said, the the J
DRY touches every point of the case.
According to the old police axiom, that
proves it's the right one"