Part 48 (2/2)
Peter jumped.
”Tell me about Carly,” he said, speaking thickly. ”Is she engaged to Shelby?”
”No, she isn't!”
”I heard she was.”
”Probably he hinted it, and the report started. He's eternally after her, but, to my certain knowledge she hasn't yet said yes.”
”Oh, my G.o.d! Dear little Carly! What can I do?”
”She would go with you,--into a new life----”
”No; don't be absurd! This secret must be kept inviolably. Nor could I marry her under an a.s.sumed name, even if she were willing. Also, she may have forgotten me.”
”No, she has not. Oh, Mr. Peter, you must come home.”
”I can't. But tell me more,--tell me of mother, of Julie,--why, I sent a reporter to the house just to get a line on home life,--on present conditions,--oh, little girl, you don't know what I suffered; it's all so foolish,--so absurd,--the spook stuff, I mean,--yet, as I've learned, it's the very breath of life to my Dad.”
”It is; but, look at the thing from another angle. Couldn't you help unravel the Blair mystery. Here's Mr. Thorpe held for a crime I don't think he committed; here's Julie crying her eyes out because of it----”
”Julie! She and Thorpe!”
”Yes, didn't you know that?”
”No; are they engaged?”
”In a way. If Thorpe should be freed Mr. Crane will give his consent. If Thorpe is convicted----”
”He shan't be convicted! He never killed Blair! I'll find out who killed Blair, and then I'll go away after that. I'll help Julie,--why, Thorpe wouldn't kill Gilbert, why should he?”
”You've read the case?”
”Yes, and thought how little evidence there was against Thorpe. But, I'm ashamed to say, my own affairs rather blotted the matter out. But if Julie's concerned, that's another matter. I'll free Thorpe,--and I can do it, too!”
”Then it's most certainly your duty, for many reasons. Look here, Mr.
Peter, don't let your ideas of duty get over-sentimental regarding your father.”
”Oh, I don't!” Peter waxed impatient. ”But I've mulled over the thing to the very end, and I know, I _know_ father would be happier left to his delusions. Yes, and mother, too. You see, I've read the book, and knowing Dad as I do, I read between the lines, and I see how it would be like stabbing his heart and draining his life blood to stultify that book. No, Zizi, don't tempt me,--indeed, you can't.”
”Well, then, come back to the murder case. Have you any suspect other than Thorpe?”
”Why, sometimes, I think I have. But it's a serious thing to accuse, without evidence. Now, I think I can get evidence, but mainly from Madame Parlato. You see, she has been bribed by a powerful influence,--she is absolutely under orders from some one, and it is because of that she is so frightened for fear of exposure. I think in the ordinary _seance_ with my father, where my spirit--ugh!--appears and talks guff and rubbish, the medium is more fool than knave. But when the spirit gives information concerning the murderer,--and wrong information,--it's criminal work itself, and ought to be shown up.”
”Showing up the medium would expose the falsity of your father's book, even without your reappearance.”
”I've thought of that, but there's duty there, too. If I can free Mac Thorpe from unjust accusations, and incidentally, I'm thinking of Julie,--it's in all ways my duty to do so,--even if----”
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