The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-10-27
THE ALTENBURG CASE
Bv GEORGE DYRE ELDRIDGE
COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY GEORGE DIRE E1DR1pGE

self to his consciousness If Calden
 came in contact with Trafford he | would tell the story. and then nothing
 could save Judith from all that it
 might entail. | Was the paper with my name the
 only paper on the desk?" he asked. | ''The only one I saw l Any papers spread out there?"
 "Oh. no. I should have seen them | if there were'
 l Grimbleshaw thought for a moment
 and then said:
 l That story might last at least two minutes with Trafford'' What do you mean?" demanded Calden. flushing with anger. yet clear
 ly disturbed beyond that. | Just what I say' | You think he'd be able to break it
 down?',
 1T don't think: know! Suppose he should ask you what Altenburg was writing on if there were no papers on the desk? Suppose. worse than that, that he shouldn't ask your" 1 Probably there were papers that l didn't see.'' Calden said. uneasiIy. I Yes. But before he was through with you you'd have stated positively i there were none. He'd have your at- tentfon directed to the piece with my
 name on it. because it was the only piece there. You looked over that
 desk; you looked through it. You were there after testimony which you thought existed. if at all. in the form
 of papers. and you didn't neglect this | nr,o <hn zi, I>- --- l cident. I'm trying to follow his line. you see. How long did it take you to
 got away after you telephoned?" Twenty minutes. perhaps Who came before you got away?' ''No one!" Calden exclaimed. in an almost panic. What do you mean?'' "Dr. Grimbleshaw-Im striving still to follow Trafford-was there in an hour. that is. twenty-five or thirty ] minutes after you left. He found the house ransacked. Do you mean to say some one came. found Altenburg hurt mortally, and yet set to work so deliberately and promptly as to have accomplished all this in the few min utes it gives him?''
 You have nothing to corroborate Grimbleshaw Grimb1eshaw had time to do it himself" Calden showed that he had given thought to the matter even if there was the break regarding the paper, break of which he was now warned. That's not bad.'' said Grimbleshaw, trying to satisfy himself, while yet keeping up. the conversation. just what effect this thing would have on Judith. : T should say either that he did the searching. or that the men who did do it must have been there before you left, even if you didn't see them. I've always thought two persons must have been concerned in getting Altenburg upstairs, but I see now how one could do it. I've no doubt Trafford was smarter and knew long since that he was dragged up.''
 Tt was the only way one man could ge him up." said Calden.
 You did not wait then until Horace returned?" demanded Grimbleshaw, suddenly. with something of the feel ing that this whole Altenburg affair was being thrust upon him. and that to shield Judith at every point would require the utmost ingenuity.
 "Who said anything about Horace returning?" Calden's voice was tense with Unsurpassed anger. The ques- tion had caught him completely off his guard.
 E You" replied Grimbleshaw. oHe was to rejoin you at the Altenburg house. You certainly couldn't have warned him YOU were leaving unless you telephoned him. too''
 This last he threw out in pity, for the other seemed at the point of col lapse so great was his mental agony. He threw himself into chair and did After a little Grimbleshaw spoke again:
 'In telling your story to Trafford you'd have to encounter a keen train ed mind. where.I am only a groper Pm simply showing you how he'd pick it full of holes" It was cruel. but he had the physicians instinct. which holds the disease responsible for all that the remedy entails. coupled with that of the lover. who knows no mercy where the loved one is in danger
 You think he'd believe murdered John Altenburg?" Calden said at last. There was a tone to his words almost like ring of hope
 T don't think he'd dream for one moment that you did" Grimbleshaw answered. Then. lowering his voice so that Mrs. Calden might not hear, he added, You know as we'll as I do what he'd think''
 Calden gasped. like a man who sud denly perceives as untenable a. posi- tion which alone has spelled safety to him. He glanced toward his wife, who, with a woman's instinct. even in the midst of dangers, was engaged in another part of the room in making it more tidy. and asked in the same low voice:
 What would you do?"
 Put myself across the line At the worst you can gain few days for counsel. which you can't count on here"
 It was the first concrete thought that came to Grimbleshaw. and he spoke it with the feeling that to man wholly adrift the first plank com mends itself. even if it be not very e<r IT.