The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-11
CHAPTER V. The Scarlet Blossom.

True to his promise, Cairns ran out to White Plains and saw Miss Carroll. Blatchley was not in evil dence, and the interview was a short one, though satisfactory. He recog- nized a decided asset in this girl, who possessed a personality unbound by conventional ideas, and who was in thorough sympathy with the course that he was pursuing. She strength ened his belief that F'orsythe had been murdered, despite all lack of evidence And the more he talked with her, the more he reformed his opinion of BIatch1ey. He had been inclined to consider the lawyer a person of un- bridled thought and action, but he felt that 8 girl like this could not love an unworthy man.
 She was interested in the mysterious Henry Paxton, and considered it a clue. Cairns was confronted with this result of her feminine instinct. There had been times when the trail seemed hopeless. From her also he obtained the name and, better than that, the address of the journalist who had written the article in the Sunday Planet. The interview had taken place some two years before it seemed, and had been inexplicably delayed. This was before Forsythe had bought the dogs, but after he had become something of a hermit. The interview had been obtained through the presentation of a letter from an ardent fellow collector of orchids, the only excuse upon which a newspaper man could have broken through F'orsyth'e's increasing reserve.
 This letter she did not have, but the card of the interiew had been pre- served in the filing system established h he irI hv7d Tai,- Irc+ f in looking him up.
 This he did in characteristic fashion by inviting the man to lunch with him at the exclusive Loungers, a bid not to be lightly turned down by a man who knew his New York. And the acceptance came promptly over the telephone the next morning after Cairns had mailed it.
 Ralph Grantley was a keen-appear- ing journalist who had lately blos- somed from special articles into the magazine market. Cairns found him, somewhat to his surprise, already established in Who's Who," and spent two or three hours looking up some of his stories in magazine files.
 Talk on these lines was a bait no author could refuse, and the middle of the luncheon found them close to- gether. The stuff that Grantley WI oIS IldO d dtiln1Ie purpose, a Sy III pathetic touch with human nature and showed a certain leaning to psy- chology.
 After the meal Cairns toted him off to a secluded corner in the famous red room of the club and frankly told him the story of the death of Forsythe and his own intentions re- garding the unraveling of the mystery. Grantley met him half way. charmed with the exquisite courtesy that was inherent in Cairns.
 I'll tell you all I know he said.
 You can glean what you want and pump me for anything I have left out that you think pertinent. I was lucky to get the interview. Never would have got it had it not been for my godfather, a member of this club. by the way"
 Yes?" inquired Cairns, warming. 'rWho?"
 ''JoeI Dalzeu. Didn't you know he was a connoisseur on orchids? II don't imagine he talks of it. Kind of sen sitive on his hobby. Wants a con fidant to be a kindred spirit
 .I didn't know" said Cairns. stHe Is the sort of club member who only shows at important meetings and otherwise Then he hunts the libra ".
 That's the man. Grizzled, wizen, good-hearted old c1ss- always afraid someone will get at his weak side and work him. He's been grafter or. often enough Fond of me He gave me the letter and it worked. Forsythe gave newell you've read the article.