at 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
a