Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-25

ing such q theory, for I felt it would
be the height Of cruelty even to hint
such a thing to Louise at time when
the father was helpless to explain.
Yet the following phrase, seemed in
evitable," might well fit into some
theory such as this, followed as it was
in the next line with the word "dis'
grace"
For moment I felt that was on
the track of the solution of the nyS-
terry Some specter from the generals
past had risen to haunt his declining
years, 10 threaten his good n%na. 70
Worry him into his grave. His elder
daughter had discovered il aud had
been unable to carry the burden OF
shame. Could this have been the
secret that these two shared and kept
Louise in ignorance of? i word from
Louise all at once upset MY theory.
81 wonder" she said, "if this isn't
part Of a letter about Hugh Crrndall."
Both she and I were convinced that
In some way Crandall was involved.
My theory would not account fer Ais
connection with the case and at once
abandoned it, listening intcntly TO one
Louise advanced.
There must have been some con"
nection between his having telephoned
her and what she did this afternoon.
Before she shot herself she burned
this letter, or most of it. Father must
have known about the letter, so | am
certain that it concerned Crandall."
HAS Crandall as sister,"
81 do not know" said Louise. II
know nothing about his family. 1t
seems strange, too, when for months
and months we saw so much o! him.
do not recollect his ever having men
toned any Of his relatives"
Ny brain recorded victory for
womans intuition over mans logic.
Her theory seemed infinitely better
than mine. After all it was absurd TO
suspect skeleton in the life OF man
like General Parrish. who had been
constantly under public scrutiny FOR
many years 1t was much more prob
able that the letter referred to some
incident in the life of Crandall, some
thing so discrpditable that the general
had been forced to forbid Katharine
having anything to do with him. This
theory would account for the quarrel
between father and daughter, for Gran
dalls reticence about his family, for
katharine's distress, and naturally
the sight of the letter that had caused
all the trouble would upset the gen.
eral. I began TO see plan for action.
Louise, dear" How quickly ad-;
versity strips off conventionality and
puts us where our hearts would have
us! Louise, dear" I said, 1T will
probably be days before either your
father or Katherine will be able to
give us any assistance, yet the knowl-
edge that everything has been cleared
up, that the specter has been driven
away, undoubtedly would hasten the
recovery of both. SO ! feel that We
must go ahead"
"Oh, Harding" she breathed. Her
hand stole out and sought mine. What
a comfort you are to me! What would
have done this afternoon without
you. You're right, dear, we must solve
this awful mystery at once. We must
THE first thing for me to do" l.
went on. lis to find Hugh Cranda!l.
He can probably tell Us all about this
letter. Even if he can't he can say
why he telephoned Katharine and
where she went this. afternoon. When
we have learned this much We shall
at least have made 4 good start. The
next thing will be TO trace the letter.
If Crandall does not know about it, we
will try to learn from whom it came
That's impossible" objected Lou
Use. Haven't We looked everywhere
in Katharine's room for the envelope
in which it came. I am positive that
she burned it. Without the envelope
you can never discover where it was
a HHraSsni ~