s! That there would be a
vigorous search for the other woman I could not doubt, but she had a
long start and should easily escape. Yet, perhaps, she had not
started--she must have remained in town, else how could that note have
been sent to us? She had remained, then--but why? That she should feel
any affection for Frances Holladay seemed absurd, and yet, how else
explain the note?

I felt that I was getting tangled up in the snarl again--there seemed
no limit to its intricacies; so, in very despair, I put the matter
from me as completely as I could and went to bed.

* * * * *

The morning's _Record_ attested the truth of Rankin's prophecy. I had
grown famous in a night: for Godfrey had, in a measure, made me
responsible for his theory, describing me with a wealth of adjectives
which I blush to remember, and which I have, even yet, not quite
forgiven him. I smiled as I read the first lines:

A _Record_ representative had the pleasure, yesterday
evening, of dining with Mr. Warwick Lester, the
brilliant young attorney who achieved such a remarkable
victory before Coroner Goldberg yesterday afternoon, in
the hearing of the Holladay case, and, of course, took
occasion to discuss with him the latest developments of
this extraordinary crime. Mr. Lester agreed with the
_Record_ in a theory which is the only one that fits
the facts of the case, and completely and
satisfactorily explains all its ramifications.

The theory was then developed at great length and the article
concluded with the statement that the _Record_ was assisting the
police in a strenuous endeavor to find the guilty woman.

Now that the police knew in which quarter to spread their net, I had
little doubt that she would soon be found, since she had tempted
providence by remaining in town.

Mr. Graham and Mr. Royce were looking through the _Record_ article
when I reached the office, and I explained to them how the alleged
interview had been secured. They laughed together in appreciation of
Godfrey's audacious enterprise.

"It seems a pretty strong theory," said our senior. "I'm inclined to
believe it myself."

I pointed out how it explained Miss Holladay's reticence--her refusal
to assist us in proving an alibi. Mr. Royce nodded.

"Precisely. As Godfrey said, the theory touches every point of the
case. According to the old police axiom, that proves it's the right
one.