Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-11-24

Il
| point is too small TO be important
We've got 20 examine everything
| weigh everything. pile up every little
atom OF evidence. 10 we expect 20 tir
/ the scale In our direction It's very
| probable that Tremaine never made
| these mark at all: even II he did. they
| probably have no significance But in
any event it won't do any harm 90
make sure: and, besides. Ia Ike TO see
sample Of his handwriting. Just FOR
| its own sake-the handwriting OF a man
ike that ought 20 Doe interesting All
here is Thomas"
Here's q letter. sir said Thomas.
Godfrey opened II and glanced nc the
contents
He's a good penman." ne said. "see.
Lester" and ne handed me The sheet.
"but it's quite q different hand from
the one ON the blotter-much broader
J and moro mascul'ne-ius such hand
MS one would naturally expect a man
like Tremaine 20 write"
He explained % again for n moment.
then folded It up and handed It back to
/. Thomas.
"Perhaps Mr.. Delroy viii want II
again. be said.
'Now. let Us see Mr.. Drysdale's
room"
AS Dee got up from the table I no.
Jcei that he stiu held the Blotter ia
h.s hand. ana ] saw him place IL care
fully iu au inner pocket After an.
then. be did attach some Importance
TO So.
The room which had been occupied
by Drysdale was the counterpart Of
Tremalue.s. but % was ina great dis
order An open trunk stood ia the mid
die OF the floor. with clothing strewn
about 10. the bed had not been made.
1--WE was ordered not L do anything
toward settu this room to rights" ex-
planned Thomas opologeucaily, "tll
the coroner sent as word we might
lie amt sent no word yet"
IL was evident that prysdale had
been packing very hastily when he
was Interrupted by the arrival OF the
officers. The clothing which was IA
the trunk had been crammed in care
lessiy though. OF course. that might
have been done by the coroner after
searching b.
"Drysdalc evidently didn't spend
much time ln bed that night" observed
Godfrey and indicated pile OF ciga-
rette stubs heaped high on an ash
tray on The table. He must have had
some knotty problem 10 wrestle with
20 need so many"
He walked slowly about the room.
looking at everything keenly. but
touching nothing. He stood gazing az
the bed for long time. Then he
turned again 90 the table.
Here's Che diary" he said. picking
up a little book which lay there. $50
Heueibower didn't get It. Wen. /
guess Id better see lac doesn't have
another chance"
He weighed IL in his hand. and 1
could see how lt tempted him. Per
haps here lay the very key which he
had been seeking in vain, But In a
moment he slipped it unopened into
his pocket.
~ man is q fool TO make promises. %
he observed. with a wry smile, and
sat down at the table. Hello. what's
thistT he added suddenly. and stoop-
ing. he fished from the wastebasket
beside him the fragments OF cane,
IL was cane certainly OF at least
ordinary strength. and YET It had been
broken into half dozen pieces and
hurled iuto She basket
Whistling softly 10 himself. Godfrey
surveyed it "a moment; then he bent
over the basket and examined the re
mainder OF its contents piece by piece.
There We're scraps OF letters. torn
envelope. a crumpled sheet of paper
He sprang TO his feet with a cry OF
triumph AMI waved it in the air.
i've found it, he cried, his face
beaming. I've found il, Lesterr
Found whatf" ! questioned, more
and more astonished, for Godfrey was
usually master Of his emotions.
"Ah. Lester" he continued more
calmly as he smoOthed il out carefully
on the table. this takes a lot OF con-
ceit out or me. Had l been really
clever I'd have deduced the existence
OF this message long before l entered
the room. AS il is. it's luck-pure
luck. I'm glad 10 win on any terms,
but I'd rather win by scientific deduc-
ton. G. Auguste Dupin would have
come straight upstairs. walked straight
10 that basket and selected unerringly
this sheet OF paper; he would have
known that il was there. while well.
one can only do ones best, and this
point was a little too fine for me. Take
look AT it,"
1t was sheet OF the ordinary Edge
mere note paper. Across it two lines
were written:
Be at the pergola at 8 II I am late
wait for me. G.
"Wel," I faltered; ''welr'-
ooh, don't you see, Lester, it's the
key 10 the whole problem? It's the
light we've been looking for-with our
eyes shut. And to think that instead
OF coming straight here Cor 1t should
have stumbled about in the dark fol
SO long! It's the only possible explana-
ton, and yet didn't think OF IT, II
was inevitable from the first, and yet
/ couldn't see It. II disgusts me with