“William Mapleson.”
Everet merely glanced at this, then taking his wallet from one of his pockets, he drew from it a folded paper.
It was the other half of the torn letter.
He laid the two portions together; the ragged edges fitted exactly, the writing was identical, and the epistle was complete, and read thus:
“Santa Fe. June 10, 18—.
“My Dear Annie:
“It is with deep pain and
regret that I have just learned of the death of
your mother. Of course I know that this leaves
you alone, and that the annuity which was hers