Evening star., 1909-08-19
VII-Coutinued.

Trafford looked at the speaker, on
whom the recital Of the story had acted
as an exciting force. as II he would read
him through. Beckwith bit his lip in
chagrin that he had not been quick
enough to foresee this and Interfere.
Trafford's look embarrassed Calden who
stopped until the detective said, coldly:
''Well, what more?"
VERY little." answered Calden "As l
told you, came after that at night only,
and then simply to my mothers rooms,
which she had furnished with more COM
fort, or at least with less discomfort,
Six months ago my mother went to see
my father, and something that hap
pened then, or that had happened before.
don't know which, caused her to stay
away. She did not return until yester-
day. when she came on account of her
brothers death. She had. however. in
tended returning on that day in any
event, for the reason that both she and
my father had come to believe that there
were papers or documents in her BROTH
er's possession that bear on my father s
affairs and may even help in the way of
evidence that will clear him of the
charge Of defalcation. They had already
applied for new examination to test
the question of my fathers sanity. He
was ready to face that. even after all
these years. and the probable disappear
ance. of testimony. rather than endure
longer the life he has lived for ten
years.
And you say she was coming here on
the very day after this affair happened
or let me put 1t the other way. You say
that this affair happened the very night
before she was coming here in the morn
ing to make an effort to get these sup
posed papers or documents from her
brother?"
Yes"
Doesn't that strike you as very re-
markable coincidence?'
1T strikes me as most unfortunate
one," replied Calden, "for now we shall
have thousand difficulties in establish
ing their existence. and shall be without
the testimony that l have no doubt John
Altenburg would have been forced to
give If we once had these in our pos
session"
"And you think your mother. or any
one else would have stood any chance Of
getting these papers. assuming their ex-
istence, from Altenburg. If they were of
such character as to force him on to
the witness stand?"
without regard to that we were oound
to try
THAT may be. but am trying to
weigh your theory that his death has
added to your difficulties in this regard.
with?
LAS a lawyer I say nothing" replied
Beckwith. sharply.
Trafford smiled as il he had the answer
he had expected, and it told him just
what he wanted to know.
Calden did not take up the story again.
but sat with the air of one who has fin
ished. Trafford, on the other hand,
seemed to expect to hear more. When
he understood that Calden felt himself
through he looked UP with sharp:
rs that all?"
That's ALL said Calden. 81 told, you
at the start there was little to tell-more
words than anything else
Trafford looked at Beckwith.
II think you've got the whole of it, Mr..
Trafford,' the lawyer said. unless you
care to ask questions that will bring out
the details
Trafford turned sharply on Calden.
II sent you a warning. Mr.. Calden. I'm
sorry you haven't seen fit to heed it,
Calden looked up. as questioning the
meaning OF this attack and turned to