Part 14 (2/2)

Kennedy tossed over the anonymous letter, and Norton read it eagerly.

”Whom does it mean?” he asked, quickly glancing up, then adding, ”It might mean any of us who are trying to help her.”

”Exactly,” returned Kennedy. ”Or it might be Lockwood, or even de Moche. By the way, you know the young man pretty well, don't you? I wonder if you could find him anywhere about the University this morning and persuade him to visit me?”

”I will try,” agreed Norton. ”But these people are so very suspicious just now that I can't promise.”

Norton went out a few minutes later to see what he could do to locate Alfonso, and Kennedy replaced another blank sheet of paper for that under the rug on which Norton had stepped before we could warn him.

No sooner had he gone than Kennedy reached for the telephone and called Whitney's office. Lockwood was there, as he had hoped, and, after a short talk, promised to drop in on us later in the morning.

It was fully half an hour before Norton returned, having finally found Alfonso. De Moche entered the laboratory with a suspicious glance about, as though he thought something might have been planted there for him.

”I had a most interesting talk with your mother yesterday,” began Kennedy, endeavouring by frankness to put the young man at ease. ”And this morning, already, Senorita Mendoza has called on me.”

De Moche was all attention at the words. But before he could say anything Kennedy handed him the anonymous letter. He read it, and his face clouded as he handed it back.

”You have no idea who could have sent such a note?” queried Craig, ”or to whom it might refer?”

He glanced at Norton, then at us. It was clear that some sort of suspicion had flashed over him. ”No,” he said quickly, ”I know no one who could have sent it.”

”But whom does it mean?” asked Kennedy, holding him to the part that he avoided.

The young man shrugged his shoulders. ”She has many friends,” he answered simply.

”Yes,” persisted Kennedy, ”but few against whom she might be warned in this way. You do not think it is Professor Norton, for instance--or myself?”

”Oh, no, no--hardly,” he replied, then stopped, realizing that he had eliminated all but Lockwood, Whitney, and himself.

”It could not be Mr. Lockwood?” demanded Craig.

”Who sent it?” he asked, looking up.

”No--whom it warns against.”

De Moche had known what Kennedy meant, but had preferred to postpone the answer. It was native never to come to the point unless he was forced to do so. He met our eyes squarely. He had not the penetrating power that his mother possessed, yet his was a sharp faculty of observation.

”Mr. Lockwood is very friendly with her,” he admitted, then seemed to think something else necessary to round out the idea. ”Mr. Kennedy, I might have told her the same myself. Senorita Mendoza has been a very dear friend--for a long time.”

I had been so used to having him evasive that now I did not exactly know what to make of such a burst of confidence. It was susceptible of at least two interpretations. Was he implying that it was sent to cast suspicion on him, because he felt that way himself or because he himself was her friend?

”There have been other warnings,” pursued Kennedy, ”both to myself and Mr. Jameson, as well as Professor Norton and Dr. Leslie. Surely you must have some idea of the source.”

De Moche shook his head. ”None that I can think of,” he replied. ”Have you asked my mother?”

”Not yet,” admitted Kennedy.

<script>