Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-25
XVI.
Trafford Discusses Grimbleshaw.

Trafford Discusses Grimbleshaw.
| From Beckwith's office Trafford hur-
ried to the Lanceboro House for a con-
ference with Fry and to pack for a quick
| trip out of town.
! 'You don't seem to have made much
out of the Canuck, David" said Traf-
ford, slancing up at Fry from papers
!! that he was examining.
| Fry grew confused under sense OF the
concealment OF which he had been guilty.
! He felt that Trafford suspected, and so
far as to make for confusion, suspicion
| was as good, or bad, as knowledge. He
knew, at least, that his confusion would
not escape Trafford, and that intensified
| his uneasiness.
| There wasn't anything to make out =
he said. 1T was genuine drunk, and
that was all there was to it,
| ooh, yes" assented Trafford. "there
was nothing make believe about that
drunk. 1t was one Of those that only
this vile prohibition STUFF can be guar
anteed to produce. Did you ever happen
to think, though, that twas little odd
1t should have come on that particular
night?''
my experience is that there's nothing
particularly odd about Canuck who
odd thing is that he's ever sober
"Generalizations have their place, Fry.
and are all right in their way" an
sWered Trafford, taking from his closet a
but their place isn't when you're deal
| ing with an individual and especially
| with an individual incident in the life Of
! that individual. The man David had
been drunk only two weeks before. His
| regular outbreaks occur once a month. at
Christmas and at one rather prolonged
tumble Of Fourth Of July, Dominion day
and midsummer's day"
Rather an irregular orbit, should
J say" sneered Fry. who at times de-
tected flaws in the general radiance OF
| his chief, and held 1t for the good of
Trafford's soul that they should be
pointed out.
But the point is. it doesn't anywhere
about here for twelve years and this is
only the second time this irresularity has
IT should think the remarkable thing
was that it hadn't come oftener," sug-
gested Fry.
"That only adds to the weight Of its
occurring at all. and especially OF Its oc-
curing on this particular date" said
Trafford. sticking to his point.
first time, excepting, Of course, the very
remarkable thing Of Canuck getting
drunk when he hadn't ought top
| NO" replied Trafford. giving the ques-
ton an amount of time that Fry began to
fear was rather addressed to the tone in
which it was asked than to its sub
stance. "'Twas about a week after he'd
been on a fine regular drunk. He was
working in the fields, stranger came
along and offered him some brandy, just
struggled through from Canada. That
caught him and disarranged his orbit
most confoundedly."
"Your theory" began Fry, but Traf-
| ford interrupted him.
II know. One swallow doesn't make a
summer, and single observation isn't
sufficient to determine an orbit. but here s
the fact. On the afternoon before Alien
burg was killed man came through the
woods, went into the Altenburg barn by
the rear door, talked with David, who
was at work there. and he and David
had a drink together out of bottle.
which the stranger produced Two boys.
young Malhon and Jack Reed, saw the
drinking through a crack in the barn
boarding. They ran away when the man
started to leave and don't know which
way he went
what sorter looking man was he?"
(To be continued tomorrow)