The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-10-20
q don't believe he has. though

q don't believe he has, though l had not thought of it before. hs an swered. .He probably knowsxand has interpreted as I haye-that ris. that your father was here that fatal night and. of course. is still here.'
 She gave sharp cry.
 Do you rnean,'' she demanded, in her earnestness laying her hand On his arm to check him if he should try to interrupt. that any one learning that my father had-leet the asylum would conclude that he came here?'
 That is exactly what I mean" he responded. "He could have no object in leaving there unless he expected to re-establisf himself as sane and inno- cent. If there was 8 man in the worl1 who could do this it was John Alten- burg. But his chance with Altenburg was to take him by surprise To wait until Altneburg knew he was out would be to- throw away the only chance he had. for in the first place Altenburg would be on his guard, and in the second place it would mean immediate recapture. Therefore, he came straight here. as a matter of course. He'd argue that peorle worldn t look for him here both because of his bitterness against Altenburg and be- cause your mother wasn't here. There's where he made his mistake. He over looked the fact that people who thi 1lS would see that he must move quickly in the matter of proving his inno- cence. and also the fact that very few knew that the so-called Mrs Alten- burg was his wife. Whoever did know this would see at once that your mother was gone expressly to throw the scent Probably Trafford did know. but that only made it the more certain that he couldn't miss the meaning of the whole thing
 ..How do you know all this?'' she de- manded. almost with sheer.
 .-Know?" he repeated. Why, it's simple common sense. Given the situa- ton anything else is unthinkable''
 He had scarcely been prepared for the degree of fear which seemed to seize her at this exposition of what seemed to him the simplest of reason ing Yet he felt that he must finish and show Fher just what the situation was as he saw it.
 More than this.'' he went on, "Traf- ford will, as a matter of course. learn the time of his leav,rr -Hackleberry and how long it would take to come here From these he will surely con- clude that your father was here that fatal night
 Do you know what you are say ing?" she demanded. sharply and as if her pentup agony refused longer to be held in bounds. After all these years, when his fate hangs on the one chance of vindication left him, at this mo- ment this new wrong is to crush him?'
 She could keep her seat no longer. She sprang to her feet with a nervous energy that quivered in every fiber of her body, and began walking up and down the room. In spite of her agony her tall form was drawn up to it's full height, as though she would defy fate, even while she knew it invincible. For the moment Grimbleshaw would not speak again, fearing to draw her from this mood and her magnificent def ance It was something to have a girl like this love so that she could resist even heartbreak that she might pro- test against the wrong to the loved one While he paused the door was suddenly flung open and young Calden entered too intent on his errand to think of aught else, or even to care to understand the scene which opened to him.
 1T believe that d--d Trafford thinks I murdered John Altenburg." he ex- claimed. Then ha stopped short and