Page:Under three flags; a story of mystery (IA underthreeflagss00tayliala).pdf/67

 which you say Louise Hathaway received from her sister, but the contents of which she refuses to reveal, must have contained some reference to Ames which Miss Hathaway has reasons for concealing. At any rate, there is good ground for suspecting that Ames knows something of the murder of Roger Hathaway, whether or no his own hand was stained with the cashier's blood. Now," says Barker, turning to the blotter and the mirror on the table, and propping up the reflector with the water pitcher, look that over carefully, Ashley, and tell me what you find."

Ashley draws his chair up to the table and examines critically the characters on the blotter as reflected in the mirror.

"All of the words which are distinguishable were not, when blotted, on the same sheet of paper," he asserts. "At least two and perhaps three sheets of paper were used. The words, 'your personal account overdrawn,' must have been at the bottom of one sheet and those with the signature attached upon another, but whether top, middle, or bottom of the page is of no consequence."

"Very good," approves Barker. "That was the first conclusion I arrived at when I examined the blotter. Now, how about those words, 'Come to the bank immediately'?"

"Their position is not so clear to me. Their nature would indicate that they began the letter, but if so I cannot see why they should blot and the words following them should not appear."

"But if they were part of another letter—what then?"

"Ah," remarks Ashley, thoughtfully.

"I am assuming, and I think reasonably, that the blotter was first used upon the letter or letters whose contents we are attempting to guess," says Barker. "There are many faint marks around the legible words, but naturally only the words concluding each page would be distinguishable. Those above would be either dry or in process of drying. But what else do you deduce, Ashley?"

"Well, the writing does not display, in my opinion,