Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-24
The Sealed Trunk
BY Henry Kitchell Webster
Copyright BY me Bsohs-Marrm Co wsU Services

know what he's got to do with IL Tell
him. Martin"
Uncle Williams attitude and ges-
ture showed that he meant TO pro-
test, but before he could speak Mar.
tin cut In.
Forster admitted 10 Rhoda and
me this evening that the whole case
against her father was n frame-up.
The woman was planted On the
train and instructed to pretend
she'd lost her ticket In order TO
trick Professor Mcfarland into pay
Ing her fare. He fell for the trick
but didn't fall for her. She ad-
mits that herself. But she went
ahead under instructions. and per-
jured herself on the stand. Fors-
ter's motive was to force Profes-
sor McFarland's resignation from
the university so that he'd come
TO work for him. which happened.
Forster never paid the woman the
money he promised her. And It
was her quarrel with him that en-
abled US to find out about 1t. That's
the bones OF the story. 1t would
take an hour to give you all the
details. but we've got them and
we'll furnish you with them when
ever you like-now or later"
Rhoda's gaze from the time Mar
tin had begun speaking had been
fixed upon her uncle's face. Shed
seen him wilt: she'd have said he
actually sagged and spread a lit
tie, Ike a partly Debated balloon
tire. But before her lover had
finished speaking he managed
somehow 70 pump himself up again.
He said now. in his booming
voice, II don't want the details az
this or nc any time. There's no
possible good 70 be gained by rak-
ing up that old story. And II could
do harm Ia more ways than one.
The scandal hurt the university at
the time. It's forgotten now, and
president Of the board OF trustees,
which ! happen to be. / should be
unwilling TO see IL revived"
"RevivedI- Rhoda blazed &C him.
we aren't going TO revive Il /:
were going 70 kill II. We're going
to prove that II wasn't true"
You're going to attempt to prove
that IL wasn't true Uncle william
answered. ~and that, my dear child,
is a very difficult thing. Your In
Their is dead. Technically there II
no stain or his character, since the
Jury acquitted him. Any attempt
TO 70 beyond that. even II there
were no other aspect OF the affair
70 be considered. would be most IN
wise"
Rhoda didn't know what he
could have meant by that. she
would hardly have noticed that
he'd said II II she hadn't been
aware that Martin looked 1t
him with sudden sharpening inter
est She found herself oveFpow-
cred BY hopeless anger and she
knew that In another minute IN
spite or herself. she was going to
begin TO CRY. Her eyes were al
ready blurred with tears but she
put the last squirt Of her energy
into a nnal appeal
Don't you remember" she re-
minded him. the things you said
TO him the day you came to our
house after the trial and tried to
make him give me up to your"
Il don't remember" he retorted.
-having sid anything that went be-
yond what the situation seemed 70
call for. But that's not what I want
70 talk about tonight. It's not the
reason ! came all the way from
California to find you"
Rhoda. turning desperately away
from him. saw n haFbor and went
to Il, I'm Babes arms she heard
what William Royce went on say
ing. but with no other emotion than
a passionate wish that be would
stop talking.
~Yeur father wrote % me shoFtlv
before his death requesting me 20
take are Of you and look after
your interests. | couldn't find you
al that time. The management az
thu hotl where yuu had lived ~
formed me that you hnd guns To
live with friends In Denver. as-
sumed you were II good hands and
there seemed 70 be nothing FOR me
70 % IN the matter until I saw