Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-02-15

Croydon. Which," he added in
thoughtful aside, from what you've
told me Of him, don't think at all i'm
possible"
"Not in the least" agreed. 81 be-
lieve Tremaine could win any woman
he really set his heart on"
| "At any rate, he learns of Drysdale's
Jealousy and Of Miss Croydon's prom
ise to explain things. He sees that at
plantation Monday morning he comes
to town with Delroy, and the latter
tells him that he intends giving the
necklace the salt water treatment
You'll remember it was Tremaine who
originally proposed this, though he
could scarcely at that time have fore
seen what would come Of It,"
Mere chance" nodded.
"Well, Tremaine takes the early train
back to Edgemere and lays his plans.
He writes the note"--
But you really haven't any evidence
that he did," objected
For answer Godfrey took from his
pocket the blotter he had found in
Tremaine's room.
II told you that these letters aren't
In Tremaines hand" he said, "but If
you'll compare them with the note
you'll see how nearly they resemble
Miss Croydon's. Again, they are only
capital BIS, G's and rs, which are the
| only capitals used in the note. That's
pretty good circumstantial evidence.
Tremaine, of course, burned the piece Of
paper he practiced on, but he didn't
think to burn this blotter. 1t was only
the freshest line at the bottom of the
paper that left these marks
But did Tremaine have a sample of
Miss Croydon's writing?"
"There's no reason to think he didn't
have, but If he didn't he could no
doubt have found plenty of samples
among Drysdale's things. He's prob
ably an adept at forgery as well as at
most other branches of crime"
"All right. Go ahead" said.
"Tremaine writes the note and leaves
1t In Drysdale's room," continued Cod
frey. Then he opens the trunk and
the revolver was there and perhaps he
didn't. If he hadn't found it he'd prob
ably have taken something else belong
ing to Drysdale for weapon.
Having secured the revolver, he re-
turns to his room by way Of the bal
cony. What passed in the early part
Of the evening you already know.
Drysdale goes to keep the rendezvous
| at the pergola, starting early, because
the house with Tremaine in it has be-
come unbearable to him. He stops for
chat with Graham, which the latter's
son overhears, and then goes on to the
pergola, which is quite at the other end
of the grounds from the boathouse.
Meanwhile Tremaine has spent the
early part of the evening talking with
Delroy and Miss Croydon. at last he
goes to his room on the pretense Of
writing letters, gets the revolver, lets
himself down by the vine and starts
for the pier. He enters the boathouse
softly, feels his way to the cot, whose
position he has already seen, and care
fully administers the chloroform. The
dose was no doubt nicely calculated,
and the boy would probably have
awakened naturally in few hours.
"That done, Tremaine walks boldly
out upon the pier. Old Graham sees
him, perhaps challenges him, but of
course allows him to approach as soon
as he recognizes him. They talk to-
gether for q moment. Then Tremaine,
swift as lightning knocks the other
down. Graham probably fell without
crying out l fancy 1 can see Ire
maine pausing to make sure his victim
is dead before he goes on to the end
Of the pier to get the necklace"
l shivered. I could see him, too, bend
ing over in the darkness, with a hor-
rible calmness.
"That throwing of the pistol into the
boat" continued Godfrey, was one Of
those flashes of inspiration which come
to man sometimes. 1t was superb!
1t proves that our friend is really an
artist Not one man in thousand
would have thought Of it. He must
have laughed with sheer satisfaction
when he heard it clatter safely into
the boat"
He paused for moment to think
of it, to turn 1t over, to taste 1t.
WELL" he continued at last, che
secures the necklace, throws away
the bottle and probably goes down to
the waters edge to wash his hands"
Ibid he take the necklace with him
to the house?" I asked.
mo-" said Godfrey decidedly.
''There was no reason whatever for
him to run that risk. He had doubt
less picked out safe hiding place for
it in the afternoon. The necklace once
deposited there. he hurries back to the
house, climbs up to the balcony and
re-enters his room. He assures himself
that there are no blood stains on him
anywhere. then he moves his table
near the window and sits down to walt
for Drysdale's return.
"As soon as he hears him enter his
room he gathers up the letters which
he had, of course, written during the
afternoon and goes downstairs. And
1t is here that he makes his most seri-
Gus mistake. He fancies, perhaps, that
he Is to have only the country police to
deal with-only your Heffelbowers-
that he must clinch the nail, that he
cannot make the evidence against his
victim too strong. So when he places
his letters in the bag on the hall rack
he also tears of the top button Of
Drysdale's raincoat.
ale returns TO the hall. talks with