“It’s a logical certainty,” insisted Landis. “Mrs. Graham has an old scar on her back of which she knows nothing. Therefore it probably dates back to her babyhood. Dressing her burn, Miss Mount could hardly fail to see the scar. Next morning she shows an intense interest in Ethel Graham and learns the address of her supposed parents. She lost no time but left the house at once and was away all day. When she came back she had a furious quarrel with Harrison. What more do you want?”
“But the motive?” rapped Bernard.
“Here’s the way I figure it. Harrison had an affair with Miss Mount, who must have been a beautiful girl. Miss Mount naturally went away somewhere to have her daughter. When the child was born, Harrison persuaded Miss Mount to come back, assuring her that the people with whom they left the baby would take good care of it. But probably he foresaw trouble ahead and hired the Cuddys to kidnap the baby when it was three years old. Then he told Miss Mount part of the truth—that the baby had been stolen. But he gave her to understand that he had been unable to find any trace of it. Such a situation fits both their characters. Harrison would be cold-blooded and brutal enough to do that. Miss Mount, if she knew where the child was, would never allow her to grow up among strangers. By the way, don’t forget Miss Mount’s growing and obvious attachment for Ethel Graham, after she saw that scar!”
“Interesting if true,” said Bernard dryly.
“Can you pick a hole in it?”
“Would Harrison run such a risk? Would he invite the girl to the house, knowing that Miss Mount would see her?”
“Where’s your risk?” Landis demanded. “Could Miss Mount recognize a grown woman from her dim recollections of a tiny baby? Probably Harrison knew nothing of that scar. Even if he did, there was less than one chance in a million that Miss Mount would see a part of the girl’s body which would always be covered, no matter what costume she wore. Harrison was sure that Mrs. Graham herself knew nothing of her real antecedents. She thought herself a Cuddy. She could tell Miss Mount all she knew of her own past without betraying Harrison’s secret. Harrison could see no risk!”
“Well, let’s hear Miss Mount’s motive for killing the father of her che-ild,” Bernard suggested.
“I’ve told you! Armed with the Cuddys’ address, Miss Mount goes to Long Island last Thursday, finds them, storms or bluffs or frightens out of them an admission that they kidnapped Ethel when she was three. Then she comes home and accuses Harrison of being a monster of cruelty. He sees the game is up and tries to bluff it out. Just imagine the feelings of a woman with Miss Mount’s temperament and character! Imagine her rage and hatred toward the man who had wilfully robbed her of eighteen years of motherhood, years that could never be recalled!”
“You ought to be writing plays!” declared Bernard.