The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-11-21
"I have but one idea lett on the sub.

81 have but one idea LETT on TIE sub.
lect"
And what is that?"
"The girl wore red cloak. II mis-.
take not, the lining was also red A
spot on it might not show to the cas-
ual observer. Yet it would mean
much to u.s."
"Sweetwater!"
A faint blush rose to the old mans
chaek.
Shall request the privilege Of
looking that garment over?"
YES"
The young fellow ducked and left
the room. When he returned, it was
with downcast air.
Nothing doing" said he.
And then there was silence.
A knock at the door was followed
by the immediate entrance of Mr. Chal
Toner. who had come in search of the
inspector, and showed some surprise
to find his place occupied by an un.
known old man.
Mr.. Gryce motioned Sweetwater
from the room. With a woeful look
the young detective withdrew, his last
glance cast at the cutter still lying In
full view on the table.
Mr.. Gryce, not unmindful himself Of
this. object, took it up, then laid Il
down again, with an air of SEEMING
abstraction.
The fathers attention was caught.
What Is that?" he cried, advanc.
Ing step and bestowing more than
an ordinary glance at the object thus
brought casually, as 1t were, to hia
notice.
Mr.. Gryce, observing the Others
emotion, motioned him to a chair. Al
MS visitor sank into it, he remarked,
with all the consideration exacted BY
the situation:
1T is unknown property. Mr.. Chal
loner But we have some reason ia
think it belonged to your daughter"
Il have seen it, or one like it, often
in her hand" Here his eyes suddenly
dllated and the hand stretched forth
to grasp it quickly drew back. where
where was it found?" he hoarsely
demanded. 20 God! am to be crushed
TO the very earth by sorrow!"
Mr.. Gryce fastened to give him
such relief as was consistent with
the truth.
1T was picked up-last night-from
the lobby floor. There is seemingly
nothing to connect it with her death
Yet"
Inc pause was eloquent. Mr.. Chal
loner gave the detective an agonized
look and turned white to the Inns
inen gradually, as the silence contin
ued, his head fell forward, and he NUT
tered almost unintelligibly:
Il honestly believe her the victim
of some heartless stranger. lido now.
Dut-but / cannot mislead the police
AT any cost I must retract state
ment l made under false Impressions
and with no desire to deceive. l said
that knew all of the gentlemen who
admired her and aspired to her hand
But 1t seems that I did not know her
secret heart as thoroughly IS I had
supposed. Amoz4e her effects / have
just come upon a batch of letters
love letters I am forced to acknowl
eoge-slgned by initials totally strange
to me. The letters are manly in tone
most of them-but one"
What about the one?"
Shows that the writer was dis
pleased. 1t may mean nothing. but
: could not let the matter go without
: setting myself right with the authort
ties. II it might be allowed to rest
nere-if those letters can remain sa
cred, it would save me the additional
pang OF seeing her inmost concerns
the secret and hottest recesses of
woman's heart, laid open to the pub
lie. For, from the tenor of most OF
these letters, she-she was not averss
to the writer
Mr.. Gryce moved little restlessly
in his chair and stared hard at the cut
ter SO conveniently placed under his
eye. Then his manner softened and
he remarked:
I I'VE will do what we can. But YOU
; must understand that the matter il
not simple one. That, in fact. il
contains mysteries which demand DO
lice investigation. We do not dare
to trifie with any of the facts. The
inspector, and, if not he, the coroner;
"AAA Aa'O " NC lOiU ABOUT THESE let
tiers and will probably ask to see
them"
They are the letters of a gentle
man."
with the one exception"
: Eyes. that is understood" Then in
sudden heat and with an almost
sublime trust in his daughter notwith.
standing the duplicity he had just dis
covered, he declared: 1.-THE deed
was an accident incredible-but still
an accident"
Mr.. Gryce had respect for this out
burst. Making no attempt to answer
! 1t, he suggested, with some hesitation.
that Miss Challoner had been seen
writing letter previous to taking
those fatal steps from the desk.which
ended so tragically. Was this letter
to one of her lady friends, as reported,
and was it as far from suggesting the
awful tragedy which followed, as he
ho fold