One of My Sons

is, Miss Meredith? There is nothing wri

red, and laughe

o words, no words at all? Let me see. I certainl

word. The brothers had all drawn off, and for the first time began to whisper among themselves. As for myself, I did not know what to do or think. My position, if anything, had changed for the worse. I seemed to have played some trick. I wanted to beg her pardon and thei

ou," I made out to say. "I certainly thought from Mr. Gillespie's actions, above all from the expressions which accompanied them

, and her cousins in deciding to what extent their position had been improved by the discovery of a blank sheet of pape

ave fulfilled your commission according to the dictates of your own conscience. That you have failed to effect all you hoped for is not your fault. As a

f Miss Meredith, whose attention the word lawyer had seemingly caugh

. Do not let him go yet." And advancing, she stood be

tered in the peremptory tones

e denoted what it cost her to disobey the voic

s. They are too closely connected with the sorrows brought upon us all by this event. Besides, I find it easier to depend on a stranger,-one who does not care for me, as Dr. B

e! H

ghton even took a step towards her.

ll I have seen you

ned, putting down the

myself, perceived why she had be

is time-worn but kindly visage, was standing in the place occupied by the coroner a moment before.

tters he regarded her with a

on the few questions I have to put on behalf of the coroner who has just been called to the telephone. A few explanations are all I w

s,

riting of these five lett

s,

-ni

s,

hat h

r time and hal

e had acknowledged having

th him until ha

r there

the enjoyment of

appearan

ur cousin Leighton

for

r. Gillespie through with

k so, but I was tired, and

usual

es

an anxious to

N

id the chil

at

mmedia

r of an hour

h him then a quarter of a

so; I do

moment, then his hand c

to Simpson & Beals, Attorneys, Dubuque, Iowa; another to Howard MacCartney, St. Augustine, Florida; this to the presid

ely so

would write who expected to close all acco

on

for a girl scarcel

hen, as you know it, he show

ink, he made an appointment for to-morrow. My uncle was very exact in business m

of George broke in. "Are you trying to

leag

ryce, as he called himself, may have seen it, but he appeared to be looking at the slip of paper he

"it looks like a piece

. It was given me in an envelope by the gentleman at the door, who sa

your uncle tore this scrap of paper? You

d in the typewriter. At least I su

bring me th

who had before shown himself

s mean?" asked Ho

George had reached t

the old man rem

own on the library table, towards which they all immediately moved, he composedly strolled my way. We were

but my hearing being good and that of the young detective still better, we both ma

when it was carried past me, and it was to this piece o

er here, as you see. Did yo

but when she did, it was with a

ne else in the house wh

n used it when he was i

ou think it was he w

was no one el

r voice a choked sound which spoke of so

he worked off this last line. I doubt if you ever made a better copy yourself, Miss Meredith. But why is it

than hers was followed by certain short exclamations

e of you read it as it lies here

ered by George or Alfred, then Leighton

it necessary to hear what my father had to say concerning them, th

N. Y., Oct

. Taylo

tate

on,

r S

tion on the 12th inst., it is of the utmost importance that I am placed

you say. Do you conside

n, before a rejoinder could be made by anyone in the startled group about him, "that a strip seemingly of this same paper was received by Miss Meredith in an envelope a few minutes ago. Indeed, I have it here. But though it was evidently stripped from this same sheet-from the bottom par

le

answer," breathed

ve expected a reply? I had not. Silence ha

o one which the police deems important. We shall have to search for that connecti

e broke in-that of Leighton

a measure should not be necessary. Someone here ought to be able to direct us where to fi

no a

oom-but there was no fire. Or h

nes again enjoined. "You

p must be found. Its remarkable disappearance shows that it h

as still Leighton who was speaking. "George, Alfred, let us accept the si

than his, or possibly less under control. But they offered no obj

the young man loitering at my si

ered. "I don't know the house at

was possible. Such fellows worm themselves into the con

admitted, none too encouragingly. "Bu

ding, I suppose. All th

a four-st

deprecating air. Suddenly he began to back away. Someone was coming out. It was Miss Meredith. When she was in full sight and he brought to a stand-still by the wall against which he had retreated

r, second bedroom floor, and the attic! Where shall I begin? Ha

pressure to her hands when

received an intimation of her uncle's death before an alarm had been raised or her cousins fully aroused, and felt forc

red above, followed only by Leighton, who had asked the privilege of accompanying him for fear of some alarm being given to his little child who was upstair

ife and death! I would not probe my doubts too closely. I steeled myself against her look, resolving

on of the doctor, who was chatting confidentially with the coroner. What he said I could in a measure gather from the expression of Miss Meredith's face, who was nearer h

rs with persistent iteration. It rang so loud I thought everyone on that floor must have heard it. But I saw no change in Alfred's restless figure hovering on the threshold of the library door a few feet behind Miss Meredith; whi

er's return. I could discern this by the change that passed over her face just when his steps began to be heard; and was conscious of qu

opening on my right. But I speedily stepped back again. Miss Meredith, who seemed to have gained some confidence by my presence, h

ls, entered into conversation with her, urging her to

s its father,

hands in her anxiety, and showed no relief till her cousin, fo

s he so slowly descended that he had been successful in his search, and that the piece of paper which rustled so gently in his hand was the one Mr. Gryce had declared to be of such importance, and which she-but what ma

ing Miss Meredith in her present ordeal. As Sweetwa

has rebuked me. N

mine did, and it did not make my heart any lighter to see from the glance he tossed her

ntercepting the young detective in her anxiety to e

mile. Meantime the paper he held had

th a doubtful look at the slip in his hand; "I

t well-nigh intolerable. Then we saw the detective's finger rest on a certain portion of the paper they were mutually con

ed. "What do you

ch had been in the envelope he fitted it to the one held by the

noring the anxious looks bent upon him from every side. Passing by us all, he laid the three pieces togethe

?" urged Alfred. "Why, this

l portion came to be on the attic floor, I wil

e completed sheet answered instantly, and witho

me indication of this, and saw-George, Leighton, Alfred," she vehemently cried, facing them with a look before which each proud and spirited head sank in turn, "I do not know upon which of your three souls the weight of this crime rests.

rance of that lett

N. Y., Oct

. Taylo

tate

on,

r S

12th inst., it is of the utmost importance that I am placed as soon as possible in f

ecessary equipment for same both for freight and passenger ser

out in instinctive emphasis from her lips. "Contradict me, George! Contradict me, L

but not a voice was lifted, not a hand raised. This suggestion