Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-02

and that he would inevitably nave
known of any intrigue such as you
suggest
NV companion paused for mo-
ment's thought.
II don't believe that Rogers would
so inevitably have known Of It," he
said at last. But, admit that-then
there is another theory. Holiday has
not been supporting his illegitimate
child. who learns Of her parentage and
goes to him to demand her rights. That
fits the case, doesn't it?'
YES" admitted. ut also Is plausi-
ble."
ut is more than plausible" be said
quietly. "whatever the details may
be, the body of the theory itself Is I'M
impeachable-it's the only one which
fits the facts. I believe 1t capable Of
proof. Don't you see how the note
helps to prove IT."
1.-THE note?'
l started Mt the word. and my suspt-
cions sprang into life again. Doked
ut him quickly, but his eyes were on
the cloth md he was rolling up innu-
merabie little pellets of bread.
"That note" he added, proved two
things. One was that the writer was
deeply interested in Miss Holladay's
welfare; the other was that he or she
knew Rogers, the clerk, intimately
more than Intimately; almost as well
as physician knows an old patient"
II admit the flrst," said. You'll
have to explain the second"
"The second Ia self evident. Flow
did the writer Of the note know OF Rog-
ers' inirmity?"
Ellis infirmity?"
"Certainly-his color blindness. I con-
fess I'm puzzled. How could any one
else know it when Rogers himself
didn't know it? That's what should
like to have explained. Perhaps there's
only one man or woman in the world
who could know. Well. that's the one
who wrote the note Now, who is it?"
But" began quickly, then stopped.
Should set him right or was this
trap he had prepared for me?
His eyes were not on the cloth now,
but on me. There was light in them
I did not quite understand. felt that
| must b. sure Of my ground before l
went forward.
cit should be very easy to trace the
writer Of the note" said.
1.-THE police have not found 1t 80"
"No"
mo. 1t was given to the doorkeeper
by boy-just an ordinary boy of from
twelve to fourteen years. The man
didn't notice him especially. He said
there was no answer and went away.
How are the police to find that boy?
Suppose they do find him. Probably
all he could tell them would be that a
man stopped him at the corner and
gave him a quarter to take the note to
the coroner's Office"
"He might give description Of the
man." injured.
'What would boys description be
worth? 1t would be at the best vague
and indefinite. Besides, they've not
even found the boy. Now, to return to
the note"
We auu GULLY W lAC SoAASS eA0 SAe3sAAs'S
and felt it time to protest.
Before we return to the note, Mr..
Godfrey" said, I'D like to ask you
two direct questions. What interest
have you In the matter?"
"The interest Of every investigator
Of crime" he answered, smiling.
"You belong to the detective force.
them"
~ have belonged to it. At present
I'm in other employ"
"And what was your object in bring
ing me here this EVENING""
zone portion Of my object has been
accomplished. The other was to ask
you to write out for me copy Of the
note"
"But who was it pursued US up
Broadway"
ooh, have rlvalsw he chuckled. II
hatter myself that was rather neatly
done Will you give me copy Of the
note, Mr.. LesterT
NO" l answered squarely. you'll
have to go to the police for that. I'm
out Of the case"
He bowed across the table to me
with little laugh. As looked at him
his imperturbable good humor touched
me.
"I'll tell you one thing, though" l
added; 1.-The writer of the note knew
nothing of Rogers color blindness.
You're off the scent there"
Il ana" ne asked Mmazedly. Then
how did you know 1t, Mr.. Lester"
II suppose you detectives would call
{ deduction. deduced it,"
He took contemplative pun or two
s he looked at me.
We'll" he exclaimed At last. X must