Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-04
CHAPTER XV-Continued.

CdAkxEn AV-CO0Cl0ue0.
What do you think Of Gregory Hall?'
said, suddenly.
las a man or as a suspect?" inquired
Mr.. Crawford.
Both"
well. as a man, I think he's about the
average. ordinary young American. of the
secretary type. He has little real ambi
ton, but he has had a good berth will
Joseph, and he has worked fairly hard t.
keep it. AS suspect the notion is alb
surd. He wasn't even in West Sedg
wick.
How do you know"
Because he went away at 6 that even
ing and was in New York until nearly
noon the next day
How do you know"
Philip Crawford stared at me.
He says So I went on: but no one
can prove his statement. He refuses tc
say where he was in New York or VIVA,
he did. Now, merely as a superstition
why couldn't he have come out here-say
on the midnight train-called on Mr.. 10.
seph Crawford and returned to New York
before daylght?'
absurd. Why, he had no motive fol
killing Joseph
HE had the same motive Florence
would have. He knew of Mr.. Crawford's
objection to their union and he knew OF
his threat to change his will. Mr.. Hal
is not blind to the advantages of a for
tune"
Right you are there. In fact. l always
felt he was marrying Florence for heI
money l had no real reason to think
preston
ME. too. Moreover. I found a late ex-
ira of a New York paper in Mr.. Craw-
ford's Office. This wasn't on sale until
about half-past II that night, SO whoever
left it there must have come out from
the city on that midnight train or later. .
A change came over Philip Crawford
face. Apparently he was brought to see
the whole matter in a new light.
What? What's that?" he cried. ex,
citedly. grasping his chair arms and half
rising. "A late newspaper! An extra"
YES: the liner accident. you know
"But-but-Gregory Hall. Why. man.
you're crazy! Hall is good fellow. Not
remarkably clever, perhaps. and fortune
hunter. maybe, but not-surely not a MUIR
derer!'
Don't take it so hard. Mr.. Crawford,
l broke in. Probably Mr.. Hall is inno-
cent. But the late paper must have been
left there by some one after, say.
o'clock
This is awful, This is terrible.' groan-
ed the poor man. and couldn't help won
dering if he had some other evidence
against Hall that this seemed to corrobo-
rate.
Then, by an effort, he recovered himself
and began to talk in more normal tones.
Now, don't let this new idea run away
with you, Mr.. Burroughs he said. III
Hall had an interview with my brother
that night, he would have learned from
him that he intended to make new will
but hadn't yet done So
Exactly; and that would constitute a
motive for putting Mr.. Crawford out OF
the way before he could accomplish his
purpose
But Joseph had already destroyed the
will that favored Florence"
I'VE don't know that ] responded
gravely. "And. anyway, If he had done
so, Mr.. Hall didn't know it, This leaves
his motive unchanged
But the gold bag said Mr.. Crawford,
apparently to get away from the subject
of Gregory Hall.
IF. as you say I began. that is
Florence's bag"
I couldn't go on. A strange sense OF
duty had forced those words from me-
but / could say no more.
Fleming Stone might take the case il
they wanted him to; or they might get
some one else. But / could not go on
when the only clues discoverable point ed
in a way dared not look.
Philip Crawford was CHASTITY now. His
face was working and he breathed
quickly.
Nonsense. dad" cried a strong, young
voice, and his son Philip, jr.. bounded into
the room and grasped his fathers hands
II overheard few of your last words
and you two are on the wrong track
Florries no more mixed up in that hor.
rible business than l am. Neither is Hall
He's a fool chap, but no villain. 1 heard
what you said about the late newspaper
but lots Of people come out ON that mid
night train. You may as we'll suspect
some peaceable citizen coming home from
the theater. as to pick out poor Hall
without a scrap Of evidence to point tc
him.
1 was relieved beyond all words at the
hearty assurance Of the boy and 1 pluck
ed up new courage. Apprehension had
made me faint-hearted. but II he could
show such fiawless confidence in Florence
and her betrothed, surely / could do a:
much
Good for you. young man. l cried
shaking his hand. you've cheered me
up lot. I'll take a fresh start and sure
ly we'll find out something. But I'd like
to send for Stone
wait a bit, wait bit said Mr. Craw
ford. ''Phil's right: there's no possibility
of Florrie or Hall in the matter. Leave
the gold bag. the newspapers and the vel
low pOsies out of consideration and go tC
work in some sensible way.
How about Mr.. Joseph's finances
asked. Are they in satisfactory shape?'
Never finer said Philip Crawford
Joseph was very rich man, and all due
10 Ills OWL CleNoT anu cdFeIul invest
ments. bit of a Spectator, but always
on the right side of the market. Why
he fairly had a corner in X. Y. stock
Just that deal-and it will go through il
a few days-means a fortune In itself
shall settle that on Florence"
''Then YOU think the will will never bt
found?' I said.
Mr.. Crawford looked a little ashamed
as well he might, but he only said:
IF IT is no one will be more glad thar
l to see Florrie reinstated in her OWL
right. II no will turns up Joes estate is
legally mine. but I shall. see that Flor
ence is amply provided for
He spoke with a proud dignity, and ]
was rather sorry I had caught him ur
so sharply.
I went back to the inn, and. after vain.
ly racking my brain over it all for q
time, 1 turned in, but to a miserably
broken nights rest.