Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-03-30

green. NJ prove that Rogers il color blind
and show that he has mistaken green for red.
Miss Holladay il discharged, the Coroners YER
dict being that her father was killed by "a per
son persons unknown and VII am
diued by stranger, who discusses the murder
with me- We decide that the crime COM
mitted by an illegitimate daufhter of the dead
man resembling Miss Frances. her motive being
unknown. The stranger is shown to have been II
reporter.
CHAPTER V tContinued).
paused to consider. The theory
was reasonable, and get 1t had its
faults.
Now, let's see where this leads U.s."
he continued. LET us assume that
Holiday has been providing for this
illegitimate daughter for years. At
last, for some reason. he Is induced to
withdraw this support, or. perhaps. the
girl thinks her allowance insufficient.
At any rate. after, let us suppose, in
effectual appeals by letter. she does
the desperate thing of calling at his
office to protest in person. She finds
him inexorable-we know his reputa-
ton for obstinacy when he had once
made up his mind. She reproaches
him-she Is already desperate. remem-
ber-and he answers with that singing
sarcasm for which he was noted. In
an ecstasy Of anger she snatches up
the knife and stabs him; then, In an
agony of remorse, endeavors to check
the blood. She sees at last that 1t Is
useless, that she cannot save him. and
leaves the Office. All this is plausible,
isn't it7'
every plausible" I assented, look
Ing at him IN some astonishment. you
forget one thing, however. Rogers tes-
titled that he was intimately acQuaint-
ed with the affairs Of his employer
and that he would inevitably have
known Of any intrigue such as you
suggest"
My companion paused for mo-
ments thought.
Il don't believe that Rogers would
so inevitably have known Of It." he
said at last. "But, admit that-then
there IL another theory Holiday has
not been supporting his illegitimate
child, who learns Of her parentage and
goes to him to demand her rights. That
ats the case, doesn't itf'
YES" admitted. 1T also is plausi-
ble."
1T is more than plausible" be said
quietly. Whatever the details may
be. the body Of the theory itself 10 un-
impeachable-it's the only ono which
ITS the facts. believe 1t capable Of
proof. Don't you see how the note
helps to prove tip
1.-THE noter
started at the word. and my suspi'
eions sprang into life again. I looked
at him quickly. but his eyes were on
the cloth and he was rolling up innu-
merable little pellets Of bread.
THAT note" he added. proved two
things. One was that the writer was
deeply interested in Miss Holidays
welfare; the other was that he or she
knew Rogers. the clerk, Intimately
more than intimately; almost as well
IA q physician knows an old patient"
II admit the flrst," said. You'll
have to explain the second"
1.-The second Is self evident. How
did the writer Of the note know Of Rog-
ers' inflrmityr'
"His inflrmityr'
"Certainly-his color blindness. ! con-
Tess I'm puzzled. How could any one
else know it when Rogers himself
didn't know IT. That's what I should
like to have explained. Perhaps there's
only one man OF woman In the world
who could know. Well. that's the one
NH hA ~ Now xxyhA 4 ~ ~
But" began quickly, then stopped.
Should set him right, or was this q
trap he had prepared for met
His eyes were not on the cloth now,
but on me. There was a light in them
I did not quite understand. I felt that
] must be sure Of my ground before !
went forward
1T should be very easy to trace the
writer Of the note," said.
1.-THE police have not found it So"
"NoY
mo. It was given to the doorkeepel
by a boy-just an ordinary boy Of from
twelve to fourteen years. The mar
didn't notice him especially. BE 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 Q
man stopped him at the corner and
gave him a quarter to take the note te
the coroner's Office"
Tile might give description of the
man." ventured.
what would a boys description be
worth? It would be at the best vague
and indefinite. Besides, they've moi
even found the boy. Now, to return tc
the note"
We had come to the coffee and cigars,
and felt 1t 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 patter?"
'The interest Of every Investigator
Of crime" he answered, smiling.
"You belong to the detective force,
then7"
Il have belonged to 1t. 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 a copy Of the
note"
But who was it pursued us up
Broadway"
"Oh, have rivalsw he chuckled. 81
datter myself that was rather neatly
done. Will you give me a copy of the
note, Mr.. Lester?'
NO" I answered sQuarely. you'll
have to 60 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.
"Ill tell you one thing, though" l
added: 'the writer Of the note knew