Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-24
The Sealed Trunk
By Henry KitchelI Webster
wNU Services

know what he's got to do with II. Tell
him. Martin"
Uncle Williams attitude and ges-
ture showed that he meant 70 pro-
test. but before he could speak Mar
tin cut In.
Forster admitted 20 Rhoda and
me this evening that the whole case
against her father was a 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 Profess
o McFarland's resignation from
the university 80 that he'd come
10 work for him, which happened.
Forster never paid the woman the
money he promised her. And II
was her quarrel with him that en-
abled US TO find out about Il. That's
the bones or the story. II would
take an hour to give you al 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. like a partly debated balloon
tire. But before her lover had
finished speaking he managed
somehow 70 pump himself I'D again
He said now. In his booming
voice, Il don't want the details at
this or at any time There's no
possible good to be gained by rak-
Ing up that old story. And IL could
do harm in o ways than one.
The scandal hurt the university at
the time. It's forgotten now. and
president OF the board OF trustees,
which I happen to be. / should be
unwilling TO see II revived"
Revived" Rhoda blazed at him.
we aren't going 70 revive it:
were going 70 kill IL. We're going
to prove that 1t 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 fa-
Their IL dead. Technically there Is
no stain on his character. since the
jury acquitted him. Any attempt
to 20 beyond that. even II there
were no other aspect OF the affair
to 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 1t II she hadn't been
aware that Martin looked at
him with sudden sharpening inter
est She found herself overpov-
cred BY hopeless anger and she
knew that In another minute. IN
spite or herself. she was going 10
begin 70 cry. Her eyes were al
ready blurred with tears but she
put the last squirt Of her energy
into a final 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 20
make him give me up to yDu7"
Il don't remember" be rekorted.
Having sid anything that went be-
yond what the situation seemed TO
call for. But that's not what / want
to talk about tonight. It's not the
reason I eame all the way from
California to find you"
Rhoda. turning desperately away
from him. saw n harbor and went
to II. In Babes arms She heard
what william Royce went on say
ing. but with no other emotion than
q passionate wish that he would
stop talking.
Your father wrwte 10 me shortly
before his death requesting me to
take care Of you and look after
your interests I couldn't End you
at that time The management ar
the hota where you had lived -
formed me that ycm hAd rome e
Live with friends In Denver. q
sumed you were In good hands and
there seemed 10 be nothing for ne
70 DO IN the matter until I raw