initials only-第9部分

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　will　tell　you　so。　　The　deed　was　an　accident　…　incredible　…　but　still　an　accident。〃

Mr。　Gryce　had　respect　for　this　outburst。　　Making　no　attempt　to　answer　it；　he　suggested；　with　some　hesitation；　that　Miss　Challoner　had　been　seen　writing　a　letter　previous　to　taking　those　fatal　steps　from　the　desk　which　ended　so　tragically。　　Was　this　letter　to　one　of　her　lady　friends；　as　reported；　and　was　it　as　far　from　suggesting　the　awful　tragedy　which　followed；　as　he　had　been　told？

〃It　was　a　cheerful　letter。　　Such　a　one　as　she　often　wrote　to　her　little　protogees　here　and　there。　　I　judge　that　this　was　written　to　some　girl　like　that；　for　the　person　addressed　was　not　known　to　her　maid；　any　more　than　she　was　to　me。　　It　expressed　an　affectionate　interest；　and　it　breathed　encouragement　…　encouragement！　　and　she　meditating　her　own　death　at　the　moment！　　Impossible！　　That　letter　should　exonerate　her　if　nothing　else　does。〃

Mr。　Gryce　recalled　the　incongruities；　the　inconsistencies　and　even　the　surprising　contradictions　which　had　often　marked　the　conduct　of　men　and　women；　in　his　lengthy　experience　with　the　strange；　the　sudden；　and　the　tragic　things　of　life；　and　slightly　shook　his　head。　He　pitied　Mr。　Challoner；　and　admired　even　more　his　courage　in　face　of　the　appalling　grief　which　had　overwhelmed　him；　but　he　dared　not　encourage　a　false　hope。　　The　girl　had　killed　herself　and　with　this　weapon。　　They　might　not　be　able　to　prove　it　absolutely；　but　it　was　nevertheless　true；　and　this　broken　old　man　would　some　day　be　obliged　to　acknowledge　it。　　But　the　detective　said　nothing　of　this；　and　was　very　patient　with　the　further　arguments　the　other　advanced　to　prove　his　point　and　the　lofty　character　of　the　girl　to　whom；　misled　by　appearance；　the　police　seemed　inclined　to　attribute　the　awful　sin　of　self…destruction。

But　when；　this　topic　exhausted；　Mr。　Challoner　rose　to　leave　the　room；　Mr。　Gryce　showed　where　his　own　thoughts　still　centred；　by　asking　him　the　date　of　the　correspondence　discovered　between　his　daughter　and　her　unknown　admirer。

〃Some　of　the　letters　were　dated　last　summer；　some　this　fall。　　The　one　you　are　most　anxious　to　hear　about　only　a　month　back；〃　　he　added；　with　unconquerable　devotion　to　what　he　considered　his　duty。

Mr。　Gryce　would　like　to　have　carried　his　inquiries　further；　but　desisted。　　His　heart　was　full　of　compassion　for　this　childless　old　man；　doomed　to　have　his　choicest　memories　disturbed　by　cruel　doubts　which　possibly　would　never　be　removed　to　his　own　complete　satisfaction。

But　when　he　was　gone；　and　Sweetwater　had　returned；　Mr。　Gryce　made　it　his　first　duty　to　communicate　to　his　superiors　the　hitherto　unsuspected　fact　of　a　secret　romance　in　Miss　Challoner's　seemingly　calm　and　well…guarded　life。　　She　had　loved　and　been　loved　by　one　of　whom　her　family　knew　nothing。　　And　the　two　had　quarrelled；　as　certain　letters　lately　found　could　be　made　to　show。



VII

THE　LETTERS

Before　a　table　strewn　with　papers；　in　the　room　we　have　already　mentioned　as　given　over　to　the　use　of　the　police；　sat　Dr。　Heath　in　a　mood　too　thoughtful　to　notice　the　entrance　of　Mr。　Gryce　and　Sweetwater　from　the　dining…room　where　they　had　been　having　dinner。

However　as　the　former's　tread　was　somewhat　lumbering；　the　coroner's　attention　was　caught　before　they　had　quite　crossed　the　room；　and　Sweetwater；　with　his　quick　eye；　noted　how　his　arm　and　hand　immediately　fell　so　as　to　cover　up　a　portion　of　the　papers　lying　nearest　to　him。

〃Well；　Gryce；　this　is　a　dark　case；〃　he　observed；　as　at　his　bidding　the　two　detectives　took　their　seats。

Mr。　Gryce　nodded；　so　did　Sweetwater。

〃The　darkest　that　has　ever　come　to　my　knowledge；〃　pursued　the　coroner。

Mr。　Gryce　again　nodded；　but　not　so；　Sweetwater。　　For　some　reason　this　simple　expression　of　opinion　seemed　to　have　given　him　a　mental　start。

〃She　was　not　shot。　　She　was　not　struck　by　any　other　hand；　yet　she　lies　dead　from　a　mortal　wound　in　the　breast。　　　Though　there　is　no　tangible　proof　of　her　having　inflicted　this　wound　upon　herself；　the　jury　will　have　no　alternative；　I　fear；　than　to　pronounce　the　case　one　of　suicide。〃

〃I'm　sorry　that　I've　been　able　to　do　so　little；〃　remarked　Mr。　Gryce。

The　coroner　darted　him　a　quick　look。

〃You　are　not　satisfied？　　You　have　some　different　idea？〃　he　asked。

The　detective　frowned　at　his　hands　crossed　over　the　top　of　his　cane；　then　shaking　his　head；　replied：

〃The　verdict　you　mention　is　the　only　natural　one；　of　course。　　I　see　that　you　have　been　talking　with　Miss　Challoner's　former　maid？〃

〃Yes；　and　she　has　settled　an　important　point　for　us。　　There　was　a　possibility；　of　course；　that　the　paper…cutter　which　you　brought　to　my　notice　had　never　gone　with　her　into　the　mezzanine。　　That　she；　or　some　other　person；　had　dropped　it　in　passing　through　the　lobby。　But　this　girl　assures　me　that　her　mistress　did　not　enter　the　lobby　that　night。　　That　she　accompanied　her　down　in　the　elevator；　and　saw　her　step　off　at　the　mezzanine。　　She　can　also　swear　that　the　cutter　was　in　a　book　she　carried　…　the　book　we　found　lying　on　the　desk。　The　girl　remembers　distinctly　seeing　its　peculiarly　chased　handle　projecting　from　its　pages。　　Could　anything　be　more　satisfactory　if　　…　I　was　going　to　say；　if　the　young　lady　had　been　of　the　impulsive　type　and　the　provocation　greater。　　But　Miss　Challoner's　nature　was　calm；　and　were　it　not　for　these　letters　…〃　here　his　arm　shifted　a　little　…〃　I　should　not　be　so　sure　of　my　jury's　future　verdict。　Love　…〃　he　went　on；　after　a　moment　of　silent　consideration　of　a　letter　he　had　chosen　from　those　before　him；〃　disturbs　the　most　equable　natures。　　When　it　enters　as　a　factor；　we　can　expect　anything　　…　as　you　know。　　And　Miss　Challoner　evidently　was　much　attached　to　her　correspondent；　and　naturally　felt　the　reproach　conveyed　in　these　lines。〃

And　Dr。　Heath　read：

　　〃Dear　Miss　Challoner：

　　〃Only　a　man　of　small　spirit　could　endure　what　I　endured　from　you　　　the　other　day。　　Love　such　as　mine　would　be　respectable　in　a　　　clod…hopper；　and　I　think　that　even　you　will　acknowledge　that　I　　　stand　somewhat　higher　than　that。　　Though　I　was　silent　under　your　　　disapprobation；　you　shall　yet　have　your　answer。　　It　will　not　lack　　　point　because　of　its　necessary　delay。〃

A　threat！

The　words　sprang　from　Sweetwater；　and　were　evidently　involuntary。　Dr。　Heath　paid　no　notice；　but　Mr。　Gryce；　in　shifting　his　hands　on　his　cane　top；　gave　them　a　sidelong　look　which　was　not　without　a　hint　of　fresh　interest　in　a　case　concerning　which　he　had　believed　himself　to　have　said　his　last　word。

〃It　is　the　only　letter　of　them　all　which　conveys　anything　like　a　reproach；〃　proceeded　the　coroner。　　〃The　rest　are　ardent　enough　and；　I　must　acknowledge　that；　so　far　as　I　have　allowed　myself　to　look　into　them；　sufficiently　respectful。　　Her　surprise　must　consequently　have　been　great　at　receiving　these　lines；　and　her　resentment　equally　so。　　If　the　two　met　afterwards　…　But　I　have　not　shown　you　the　signature。　　To　the　poor　father　it　conveyed　nothing　…　some　facts　have　been　kept　from　him　…　but　to　us　…〃　here　he　whirled　the　letter　about　so　that　Sweetwater；　at　least；　could　see　the　name；　〃it　conveys　a　hope　that　we　may　yet　understand　Miss　Challoner。〃

〃Brotherson！　　〃　exclaimed　the　young　detective　in　loud　surprise。　〃Brotherson！　　The　man　who　…〃

〃The　man　who　left　this　building　just　before　or　simultaneously　with　the　alarm　caused　by　Miss　Challoner's　fall。　　It　clears　away　some　of　the　clouds　befogging　us。　　She　probably　caught　sight　of　him　in　the　lobby；　and　in　the　passion　of　the　moment　forgot　her　usual　instincts　and　drove　the　sharp…pointed　weapon　into　her　heart。

〃Brotherson！〃　　The　word　came　softly　now；　and　with　a　thoughtful　intonation。　　〃He　saw　her　die。〃

〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃

〃Would　he　have　washed　his　hands　in　the　snow　if　he　had　been　in　ignorance　of　the　occurrence？　　He　was　the　real；　if　not　active；　cause　of　her　death　and　he　knew　it。　　Either　he　…　Excuse　me；　Dr。　Heath　and　Mr。　Gryce；　it　is　not　for　me　to　obtrude　my　opinion。〃

〃Have　you　settled　it　beyond　dispute　that　Brotherson　is　really　the　man　who　was　seen　doing　this？〃

〃No；　sir。　　I　have　not　had　a　minute　for　that　job；　but　I'm　ready　for　the　business　any　time　you　see　fit　to　spare　me。〃

〃Let　it　be　to…morrow；　or；　if　you　can　manage　it；　to…night。　　We　want　the　man　even　if　he　is　not　the　hero　of　that　romantic　episode。　　He　wrote　these　letters；　and　he　must　explain　the　last　one。　　His　initials；　as　you　see；　are　not　ordinary　ones；　and　you　will　find　them　at　the　bottom　of　all　these　sheets。　　He　was　brave　enough　or　arrogant　enough　to　sign　the　questionable　one　with　his　full　name。　　This　may　speak　well　for　him；　and　it　may　not。　　It　is　for　you　to　decide　that。　　Where　will　you　look　for　him；　Sweetwater？　　No　one　here　knows　his　address。〃

〃Not　Miss　Challoner's　maid？〃

〃No；　the　name　is　a　new　one　to　her。　　But　she　made　it　very　evident　that　she　was　not　surprised　to　hear　that　her　mistress　was　in　secret　correspondence　with　a　member　of　the　male　sex。　　Much　can　be　hidden　from　servants；　but　not　that。〃

〃I'll　find　the　man；　I　have　a　double　reason　for　doing　that　now；　he　shall　not　escape　me。〃

Dr。　Heath　expressed　his　satisfaction；　and　gave　some　orders。　Meanwhile；　Mr。　Gryce　had　not　uttered　a　word。



VIII

STRANGE　DOINGS　FOR　GEORGE


That　evening　George　sat　so　long　over　the　newspapers　that　in　spite　of　my　absorbing　interest　in　the　topic　engrossing　me；　I　fell　asleep　in　my　cozy　little　rocking　chair。　　I　was　awakened　by　what　seemed　like　a　kiss　falling　very　softly　on　my　forehead；　though；　to　be　sure；　it　may　have　been　only　the　flap　of　George's　coat　sleeve　as　he　stooped　over　me。

〃Wake　up；　little　woman；〃　I　heard；　〃and　trot　away　to　bed。　　I'm　going　out　and　may　not　be　in　till　daybreak。〃

〃You！　　going　out！　　at　ten　o'clock　at　night；　tired　as　you　are　…　as　we　both　are！　　What　has　happened…Oh！〃

This　broken　exclamation　escaped　me　as　I　perceived　in　the　dim　background　by　the　sitting…room　door；　the　figure　of　a　man　who　called　up　recent；　but　very　thrilling　experiences。

〃Mr。　Sweetwater；〃　explained　George。　　〃We　are　going　out　together。　　It　is　necessary；　or　you　may　be　sure　I　should　not　leave　you。

I　was　quite　wide　awake　enough　by　now　to　understand。　　〃Oh；　I　know。　You　are　going　to　hunt　up　the　man。　　How　I　wish　…〃

But　George　did　not　wait　for　me　to　express　my　wishes。　　He　gave　me　a　little　good　advice　as　to　how　I　had　better　employ　m