The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-06-22
CAsT oF CHARACTERs
CHAPTER XII

l The silence which followed Pro- lessor Maxwell's words hung heavy and deep over the six people in the room. No one seemed willing to break it. At last David spoke, ad- dressing himself to Bendorff, Max well and President. Norton. Coral and I kept our marriage a secret knowing that the university would disapprove of it, and perhaps ask Coral>to leave schol without receiv- ing her degree. We expected to an- nounce it immediately following commencement. Until Coral told me earlier in the evening that Donna had discovered the marriage license shortly after we were married I had no idea that anyone besides ourselves and Hoyt Marquis knew anything about it.
 Granted, that we disobeyed the universitys wishes in the matter, I am still unable to see how our marriage provides the motive for the theft of the process. Even if were forced to leave Elton, I feel positive I should be able to gain another position which would enable me to support my wife. " He glanced proudly at Coral and held her hand tighter. "The money gained from selling the process to a chemical manufac- turer without the permission of my .- two colleagues would be in no way necessary to us. Besides, to the best of my knowledge, no attempt has been made to sell the process"
 Professor Bendorff spoke quiet 1y. q have said nothing about this to anyone since the letter only arrived this afternoon, but I re- ceived a letter from the Allen Chemical Manufacturing Company in Chicago, signed by the president who is Donna Aliens father, say ing that he had received a letter from someone at Elton signing him. self DAVID CRANDALL. offering the process for sale. MT. Allen had heaxd of the discovery through his daughter and felt sure that the ,et- ter was in some way spurious since he knew that both Maxwell and my self were also instrumental in the discovery. The price asked for the process was .$l5,000." He pulled the letter from his vest pocket and handed it to President Norton. ''David Crandall is of course, a not very ingenious combination of the names of the two culprits.'
 Coral and David were too stun- ned to speak, to answer by even a gesture of denial the accusing looks of Bendorf and President Norton. l. Professor Maxwell sat at the desk, his head in his hands, too deeply shocked by this last revelation to act further.
 Then Donna spoke. T can clear up the matter of why they needed the money. Carols father owes $10,- 900 to the father of Hoyt Marquis, the boy whom she's tried to drag into this affair with me. He and Coral had been engaged for a long time, and when she tried to get out of it after meeting David, he threat ened to have his father call in MT. Crandall's loan on the day Coral graduated Hoyt told me this him. self, and Coral confirmed it. Ob- yiously if Coral could get the money she could save her father from fin- ancial ruin. The extra $5,0OO,' she glanced at Coral maliciously, would just about pay for nice long honeymoon trip around the world until the storm blows over."
 These words stung Coral out of the black lethargy, of despair into which she had sunk. She rose to her feet. T know that all these things piled together seem to point to our guilt. But I tell you it isn't so, that we are innocent. Don't condemn us without another chance. Let me talk to Donna right. here before all of you, with no interruptions except from David. Give me IS minutes. If, by the end of that time I haven't proved our innocence, do what you like"
 President Norton looked uneasy, Bendorff scornful, but Professor