The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-06-22
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MaXWell IIILeQ HIS uehu HOpeAully. "Gentlemen, I think that Coral's request should be granted. . If these two young people are not guilty, we would be committing a far greater crime than. that of which they are suspected, by con- demning them. Go ahead, Coral"
 Coral looked questioningly at Norton. After a long moment each nodded his assent. With that she went over and sat down on the has, sock which stood beside Donna,S chair. Donna, her blue eyes almost black with fear and distruSt, crouch ed farther back into the corner of her chair as Coral began to speak.
 Donna" she said. T thought at first that you took the process, but I want you to know that I don't believe that any longer. I am convinced though, from what you told me when I talked to you in our room, that Hoyt took it. Is that true?"
 Tt is not!" Donna's voice was sullen.
 Coral went on, imperturbably. Donna, isn't it true that after I left you that Friday afternoon, you took Hoyt to te lab? Didn't you tell him about the process as you walked over there, and got him interested in talking to David about it?"
 Donna did not answer, but her face was pale and her hands clutched the arms of the chair. Coral continued. Didn't you hope that David would let out some of the details of the process and that you could relay them to your father as your own discov- cry, thus making up to him for the trouble you've gotten into lately?"
 Suppose I did" answered Don na in low voice. That doesn't prove anything. The process was stolen Thursday, and David Arm strong lent you his keys so that you could get into the lab and take it."
 That's not true, Donna, and you know it. I'll tell you what happened. Nobody was in the lab on Thursday. The process was not stolen till Friday. You and Hoyt went to the lab. David wasn't there, he was outside smoking, but the door was open and you went in. You showed Hoyt around, and just for fun, showed him the secret drawer in David's desk which you had seen at some time when you were working in the lab. You didn't mo- tice that the paper on which the process was written was in the drawer, but Hoyt, while your back was turned, noticed it, pulled it out and read it, and was putting it in his pocket when you turned around and saw him. Isn't that true?""
 "No!" No!" Donna cried hysteri- cally. Its all lies"
 "Let me finish" said Coral "Just then, David came back. to the lab and you didn't have time to say any thing to Hoyt Later, when you had left the lab, you accused him of talk ing it. He probably denied it at first, but when you kept at him. I think he must have admitted it and told you he was going to- use It against me. For instance, put the theft on David and if refused to marry him in spite of his other threats He didn't know, then, ttat'I was mar ried You agreed to keep quiet about it and nothing more happened until the next morning when you had breakfast with him."
 At that moment. David inter-y rupted. Unless I, miss my guess, after Coral told Hoyt at the prom that we were married, he decided that the best kind of revenge would be to get me fired from my position here. branded as a thief. How about it, Donna? Am I right?"
 Donna still kept her terrified silence and Coral went on "The next morning, he outlined all his plans to you and you promised to keep the process for him. You didn't hide it in a very good place, and tonight I found it. She drew a long breath. Can you deny that, Donna? Isn't that just about as it happened? Don't look away, Donna. It's true,~ isn't it? An swer mel" She caught both Don- mas hands. Don't be afraid, Don na. It's true. it's Hoyt, not you, who will bear most of the blame Why don't you admit that what you told me before, and what I've said just now is true in general, even if have misguessed some of the details" Coral was close