Canyon City news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1903-1908, 1907-02-08
By BURTON E. STEVENSON

Fl Story Of Manhattan
of "The Holiday Case"

light on the myStery-they were abSo'
lutely worthless.
| laid them down in despair. Yet if
they were worthless, why had Miss
Croydon taken them: Why had Ire
maine sought for them? Were they
mistaken too? Had they imagined the
clippings told Il secret which in fact
they did not tell? But perhaps they
did tell it-perhaps had overlooked it.
They must have some connection with
the tragedy? Why could not per
ceive it?
| ran through them feverishly again,
but with no better result. At last l
laid them down and took up my pipe.
| must submit them to Il kcener brain
than mine. If Godfrey were only here!
heard step come down the hall,
stop ut my door. Some one Knocked
l hastily stuffed the clippings into
my pocket and opened the door. But
it was not Tremaine who stood there.
1t was Godfrey.
"Wel, of all thngsr' cried. II was
Just wishing for you. Come in"
With that quiet smile of his he step
ped over the threshold.
"That must mean you've got some
new problem to solve" he said, still
smiling.
Il have the worst yet; impenetrable
as the countenance of the sphinx. But
first give me your coat and hat"
They were dripping with water, and
for the first time heard the rain beat
ing savagely against the windows.
| Il happened to he across the street
talking with Simmonds," he said, "and
l thought I'd run over and see you II
moment"
"Whcn did you get back from Wash
ington:"
Just this evening, and I've got to
put in tomorrow at Boston, worse
lucL."
| handed him cigar and took one
myself. l confess that the match with
which | lighted it was not wholly
steady.
Come" said Godfrey, smiling in
sympathy with my excitement, whats
the great discovery? Some news from
the house party
mo. haven't heard word from
the house party"
What is it, then? Out with It,"
Godfrey" | cried, I've found the
clippings!' And plunged my hand
into my pocket and drew them forth.
He was out of his seat in an instant.
"The clippings! Not the ones
"Thc very ones.' I nodded trium-
phantly.
LET me see them. But wait" and
| he held himself back. Il confess you
surprised me- Lester. | wasn't expect
ing such bomb. This is great luck.
| Where did you find them?"
| told him of Higgins chance remark
| that had put me on the track. and Ill
| the same breath related what Cecily
had told me of Tremaine and his EN-
counter with his zombi.
Good boy" Godfrey commended
when l had finished. you're worth
all the rest of us put together. You
see, we're beginning to get the threads
| In hand. Now bring the clippings over
here to the desk under the light"
laid them on the desk and lie sat
down before it.
"But here" he said, starting up
again, you'll want to see them too
mo, no." | protested. "Sit down.
I have seen them," and then suddenly
I remembered how | had been disap-
! pointed They contained no secret.
they gave us no clew.
$50" he said, sitting down again;
$50 you're in the secret, them
"fve looked them over,' l repeated
despondently, 'but I'm not in the
secret. They don't tell any secret or
anything else that concerns this case.
don't believe they'll help us bit
Godfrey. They're about everything
under the sun but the one thing we're
| interested in"
! went back to my chair and ap
piled myself to my cigar; | hardly
dared look at Godfrey, his disappoint-
ment would be so intense. \ silence
of three or four minutes followed,
broken only by the rustlng of paper
and the bowling of the wind about the
building.
Then glanced at Godfrey. His
cheeks were flushed, his eyes were
beaming with triumph.
"Whatr l cried, starting up. DO
you think"-
He looked up with little nod.
Yes he said; they tell us the
whole story, Lester"