"I believe it with all my soul," said Mrs. Knapp. "But there was no
evidence--not a particle. I tried to find it, but it was beyond the
power of the doctors to discover."
"And his motive?"
"He thought he was heir to her fortune. When he found that she had left
it with Mr. Knapp and me, in trust for the boy, his rage was frightful
to see. His servants told me of his dreadful ravings. He dared not say
a word to Mr. Knapp, but he came and spoke to me about it. I was afraid
for my life that time. He said that the money was his, and he said it
with such meaning that I felt assured he would stop at nothing to get
it. But when he spoke, I cut him so short that he visited the house but
once again. Before he had time to put any of his wicked thoughts into
action I took the boy to my home, thinking that there I could keep him
in safety. Mr. Knapp pooh-poohed my fears, and when Mr. Lane made a
demand for the child was in favor of giving him up. 'The father is the
one to care for the boy,' he said, and washed his hands of the whole
matter."
"Then Mr. Knapp had nothing to do with the affair, one way or the
other?"
"Oh, no--nothing at all. I believe, though, that Henry did use his name
with the police, to deter them from interfering with our plans."
I remembered Detective Coogan's words, and knew that she was correct in
this supposition.
"Mr. Lane," she continued, "threatened legal proceedings. But, knowing
his own past, and knowing that I knew something of it, too, he dared
not begin them.
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