El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-16
a point regarding which we have re-
ceived no explanation. Miss Page, how


ceived no explanation. Miss Page, how
came that orchid. which. am told. you
wore III your hair at the dance, to be
found lying near the hem of Batsys
skirts: You distinctly told us that you
did not go up stairs when you We're in
Mrs. Webb's house"
All. that's SOL acquiesced the Bos-
ton detective dryly. How came that
flower on the scene of the MURDER
She smiled and seemed equal to the
emergency.
THAT is 4 mystery for us all to
solve" she said quietly. looking into
| the eyes of her questioner.
"A mystery it is your business to
solve" corrected the district attorney.
Nothing that you have told us in sup
port of your innocence would in the
eyes of the law weigh for one instant
against the completely shown by that
one piece of circumstantial evidence
against you"
Her smile carried Il certain high
handed denial of this to one heart
there at least But her words were
humble enough.
IL am aware of that" said she. Then.
turning like lightning to where Sweet
water stood lowering upon her from
out his half closed eyes. she impetu-
ously cried: You. sir, you who with
out call to do so have presumed to ar
rogate the office of detective from
those whose right it was to act in this
matter. prove yourself equal to your
presumption by finding out the ex-
PLANTATION OF this mystery yourself 1t
can be found out, for. mark. I did not
carry that flower into the room where
il was found This am ready to swear
to before. God and before manr'
Her baId was raised, her whole at
titude spoke defiance and-hard as It
was for Sweetwater to acknowledge it
truth. He felt that he had received
a challenge. and. with a quick glance
at Knapp. who barely responded by a
shrug, he shifted over to the side Of
d.. Talbot.
Amabel at once dropped her hand.
MAY | go?' she now cried appeal
lngIy to Mr.. Courtney. 81 really have
no more to say. and am tired"
did you see the figure of the man
who brushed by you in the wood? Was
is that of the old man you saw on the
doorstep?"
At this direct question Frederick
control But She with her face up
turned to meet the scrutiny of the
speaker. showed only 4 childish kind
Of wonder. why do you ask that?
Is there any doubt about It, being the
same?'
What an actress. Frederick stood
appalled,. He had been amazed at the
w n rod
her story so as to keep her promise to
him and yet leave the way open for
that further confession which would
alter the whole into 4 denunciation of
himself which he would find it diff
cult if not impossible to meet. But
this extreme discrimination made him
lose heart. 1t showed her to be an an
tagonist of almost iliimitable resource
and secret determination.
Il did not suppose there could be any
doubt she added, in such Il natural
tone of surprise that Mr.. Courtney
dropped the subject and DR.. Talbot
turned to Sweetwater who for the mo-
ment seemed to have robbed Knapp of
his rightful place as the coroners con-
hdant.
Shall we let her go for the PRESENT."
poor girl.'
The public challenge which Sweet
water had received made him wary,
and his reply was a guarded one.
II do not trust her. yet there is much
to confirm her story. Those sand
witches. now. She says she dropped
them in Mrs. Webb's yard under the
pear tree and that the bag that held
no r6
were so busy there on the morning aft
err the murder that l could not but no.
tice them. Notwithstanding my absorb
ton in greater matters. | remember
wondering what they were all pecking
at so eagerly. Then the length of time
that elapsed between the moment "a
bel was seen rushing from Mrs. Webb's
gate and the hour in which he bought
the bread has never been quite ac-
counted for. Though I doubt that so
old man would find strength for that
Journey to the woods. l can but &C.
knowledge that it would account for
those very minutes we have had some
difficulty in filling up. But the flower
whose presence on the scene of guilt
she challenges me to explain! How
about that. sirs? And then the money
so deftly reburied by her-can any ex-
PLANTATION make her other than acces-
sorry to crime on whose fruits she
lays her hand in way tending solely
to concealment? No, SirS, and so |
shall not relax my vigilance over her
actions even if. in order to be faithful
to it. l have to suggest that warrant
be made out for her Imprisonment"
You are right" acQuiesced the cOro-
ner, and, turning to Knapp, he sug-