She opened it wide and saw that on the middle sheet, under a photograph of Bonnie Doon, ran the words in huge letters:
THE TERRIFORD MYSTERY
JEAN BOWER’S STATEMENT
BY AN OLD FRIEND
“Miss Jean’s not given any statement,” said Elsie fiercely. “It’s all a lie, from beginning to end.”
“Well, you just read what’s there.”
“I hope the doctor will have the law on this dratted paper. I never heard of such a thing. How dare they?” she cried indignantly.
But she was rapidly reading the short double-column, large-print article, and as she did so she was impressed in spite of herself.
Every man, woman and child in Terriford village will tell you that Jean Bower, the sweet-faced heroine of what promises to be one of the big murder mysteries of our time, is a simple, gentle-natured girl with an exceptionally kind and feeling heart for those in any sorrow or distress. That is why the hearts of all her neighbours, gentle and simple, go out to her in the terrible and overwhelming sorrow which has come to her.
While utterly refusing to be interviewed by any pressmen, I have had the privilege, as one of her oldest friends, to have a short talk with her on the subject of what has come to be called the Terriford Mystery.