"It came in that letter. That letter I wanted to open, and which you
persuaded me not to!" She mustered all her damning facts one after
another. "And it was postmarked from Craterville. Vance, you have been in
Craterville lately!"

He seemed to consider.

"Could I have told anyone? Could I, possibly? No, Elizabeth, I'll give
you my word of honor that I've never spoken a syllable about that subject
to anyone!"

"Ah, but what have you written?"

"I've never put pen to paper. But--how did it happen?"

He had control of himself now. His voice was steadier. He could feel her
recede from her aggressiveness.

"It was dated after you left Craterville, of course. And--I can't stand
imagining that you could be so low. Only, who else would have a motive?"

"But how was it done?"

"They sent him an article about his father and a picture of Black Jack
that happens to look as much like Terry as two peas."

"Then I have it! If the picture looks like Terry, someone took it for
granted that he'd be interested in the similarity. That's why it was
sent. Unless they told him that he was really Black Jack's son. Did the
person who sent the letter do that?"