Part 27 (1/2)
”I know. It's a pity she didn't die long ago.”
”This thing killed her, Dad.”
”I'm sure of it. She was a weak, though kind-hearted, woman and this trouble wore her out with fear and anxiety. How did the girl--Mary Louise--take her mother's death?”
”Rather hard, at first. She's quieter now. But--see here, Dad--are you still working for the Department?”
”Of course.”
”Then I'm sorry I've told you so much. I'm on the other side. I'm here to protect Mary Louise Burrows and her interests.”
”To be sure. I sent you here myself, at my own expense, both to test your training before I let you into the regular game and for the sake of the little Burrows girl, whom I fell in love with when she was so friendless. I believed things would reach a climax in the Hathaway case, in this very spot, but I couldn't foresee that your cleverness would ferret out that letter, which the girl Irene intended to keep silent about, nor did I know that the Chief would send me here in person to supervise Hathaway's capture. Mighty queer things happen in this profession of ours, and circ.u.mstances lead the best of us by the nose.”
”Do you intend to arrest Mr. Hathaway?”
”After hearing that letter read and in view of the fact that Mrs.
Burrows is dead, I think not. The letter, if authentic, clears up the mystery to our complete satisfaction. But I must get the story from Hathaway's own lips, and then compare his statement with that in the letter. If they agree, we won't prosecute the man at all, and the famous case that has caused us so much trouble for years will be filed in the office pigeonholes and pa.s.s into ancient history.”
Josie O'Gorman sat silent for a long time. Then she asked:
”Do you think Mr. Hathaway will come here, now that--now that--”
”I'm quite sure he will come.”
”When?”
”To-morrow.”
”Then I must warn them and try to head him off. I'm on his side, Dad; don't forget that.”
”I won't; and because you're on his side, Josie, you must let him come and be vindicated, and so clear up this matter for good and all.”
”Poor Mary Louise! I was thinking of her, not of her grandfather. Have you considered how a knowledge of the truth will affect her?”
”Yes. She will be the chief sufferer when her grandfather's innocence is finally proved.”
”It will break her heart,” said Josie, with a sigh.
”Perhaps not. She's mighty fond of her grandfather. She'll be glad to have him freed from suspicion and she'll be sorry--about the other thing.”
Sarah Judd--otherwise Josie O'Gorman--sighed again; but presently she gave a little chuckle of glee.
”Won't Nan be wild, though, when she finds I've beaten her and won the case for Hathaway?”
”Nan won't mind. She's an old hand at the game and has learned to take things as they come. She'll be at work upon some other case within a week and will have forgotten that this one ever bothered her.”
”Who is Agatha Lord, and why did they send her here as princ.i.p.al, with Nan as her maid?”