The Huttig news., 1913-01-25
CHAPTER XIII.
Time, Circumstances. and a Villains
 Heart

A
 Our first difficulty is this. We must prove motive. Now, I do not think it will be so very hard to show that this Brothersen cherished feel ings of revenge towards Miss Chal- loner. But I have to acknowledge right here and now that the most skill ful and vigorous pumping of the jani- tor and such other tenants of the Hicks street tenement as l have dared to approach, fails to show that he has ever held any communication with Mrs. Spotts, or even knew of her ex- istence tntil her remarkable death at- traetnd his attention"
 "Humph! We will set that down, then as so much against us"
 "The next, and this is a bitter pill too, is the almost insurmountable diff ticelty already recognized of determin- ing how a man, without approaching his victim. could manage to inflict mortal stab in her breast. No cloak of complete fnvisibility has yet been found, even by the cleverest criminals. But there's an answer to everything, and I'm sure there's an answer to this. Remember his business. He's an in- ventor, with startling ideas Oh, know that l am prejudiced but wait end see! Miss Challoner was well rid of him even at the cost of her life"
 sShe loved him. Even her father be- lieyes that now. Some lately diseoy- cred letters have come to light to prove that she was by no means so i heart free as he supposed One of her friends, it seems, has also con- fided to him that once, while she and Miss Challoner were sitting together, she cau9ht Miss Challoner in the act of scribbling capitals over a sheet of paper. They were all B's with the exception of here and there nearly i turned Q, and when her friend twitted her with her fondness for these two letters, and suggested pleasing monogram, Miss Challoner answered, o. B. transferring the letters, as you see1 are the initials of the finest man in the world.
 "Goshi Has he heard this story.
 T don't think so. It was told me in confidence"
 Told you, MT. Gryce? Pardon my curiosity"
 "By MT. Challoner."
 "Oh! by MT. Challoner
 .'He is greatly distressed at having the disgraceful suggestion of suicide attached to his daughters name He sent for me in order to inquire if any thing could be done to reinstate her in public opinion. He evidently does not like Brotherson either"
 And what-what did you-say?" asked Sweetwater. with halting ut terance and his face full of thought.
 ''I simply quoted the latest author ity on hypnotism, that no person even in hypnotic sleep could be influenced by another to do what was antagonis- tic to his natural instincts"
 Latest authority. That doesn't mean a final one. Supposing that it was hypnotism! But that wouldn't account for Mrs. Spotts' death Her wound certainly was not self-infiict- ed one"
 tsfIow can you be sure?"
 There was no weapon found in the room or in the court. The snow was searched and the children too. No weapon, Mir. Gryce not even a paper 1 cutter. Besides-bnt how did Mr. Ghallouer take what you said? Was i he satisfied with this assurance?"
 ''iIe had to be- I didn't dare to hold ut any hope based on so unsubstan-
 al theory. But the interview had his effect upon me. If the possibility remains of fixing guilt elsewhere than on fiss Challoner's inconsiderate inn '.ulse, I am ready to devote any mount of time and strength to the york. To see this grieving father re- iieyed from the worst part of his bur len is worth some effort and now you hnow why ] have listened so eagerly fo you. Swoetwater, l will go with iou to the superintendent. We may rot gain his attention and again we nay. If we don't-but we won't CT sis hat bridge prematurely. When will 5ou be -eddy for this business?"
 q must be at headquarters tomor- iow."
 Good. then let it be tomorrow A taXicab, SWeetwater. The subway for the young I can no longer manage the stairs"