Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-12-30

A Mystery
Of I w o
Continents /
BY
BURTON E.
STEVENSON
Copyright. 1908, by
Henry Holt and
Company
Gbe
Holiday
Case
,-sh,.-,.eR Observation-Disclosures

there be for quarrel so bitter, Sc
fierce, that it should lead to such a
tragedy? What cause? And then sud
denly wave of light broke in upon
me. There could be only one. Yes,
but there GOULD be one! Capacity for
emotion meant caIS city for passion. If
she had a lover, if she had chung to
him despite her father! l knew his
reputation for severity, for cold and
relentless condemnation. Here was
an explanation, certainly!
And then shook myself together
angrily. Here was i reasoning along
the theory Of her guilt, trying to find
q motive for it! l remembered her as
l had seen her often, driving with her
father; 1 recalled the many stories
had heard of their devotion; reflected
how her whole life, so far as l knew
it, pointed to nature singularly calm
and self controlled, charitable and low
ing. AS to the lover theory, did not
the light in her eyes which had greeted
our Junior disprove that at once and
forever? Certainly there was some
fatal flaw in the evidence, and it was
for us to find it,
leaned my head back against the
wall with little sigh Of relief. What
a fool l had been! OF course we should
find it. Mr.. Royce had spoken the
words; the district attorney had point
ed out the way. We had only to prove
an alibi, and the next witness would
do it. Her coachman had only to tell
where he had driven her, at what place
she had stopped, and the whole ques-
ton would be settled. At the hour the
crime was committed she had doubt
less been miles away from Wall street,
so the question would be settled-set-
tied, too, without the necessity Of Miss
Holiday undergoing the unpleasant
ordeal Of cross examination.
at is a most extraordinary affair"
said voice at my elbow, and turned
with start to see that the chair just
behind me had been taken by man
who was also reading an account OF
the crime. He laid the paper down
and caught my eye. "a most extraor-
binary affair."" he repeated, appealing
to me.
nodded, merely glacing at him, too
preoccupied to notice him closely. l
got an impression of ford face, Of
stout, well dressed body, Of an air I'M
mistakably French.
You will pardon me, sir" he add
ed, leaning little forward. "As a
stranger in this country, am much
Interested in your processes of law.
This morning 1 was present at the trial
I perceived You there. 1t seemed to
me that the young lady was in what
you call tight place"
He spoke English very we'll, with an
accent of the slightest. glanced at
him again and saw that his eyes were
very bright and that they were fixed
upon me intently.
''It does seem so,' I admitted, loath
to talk, yet not Wishing to be dis
: courteous.
..The YER thing said to myself"
he continued eagerly. '"Fhe-what you
call-coe- encidence of the dress now"
I did not answer. was in no hui
NOR to discuss the case.
"You will pardon me-" he repeated
persuasively, still leaning forward,
''but concerning one point l should
like much to know. II she is thought
guilty what will occur?'
'She will be bound over to the grand
fury" l explained.
"That is, she will be placed in
prison?"
"Of course"
"But, as understand your law, she
may be released by bondsmen."
mot in capital case" l said; mot
in case of this kind, where the pen
atty may be DEATH"
''Ah, l sce,~ and he nodded slowly.
:'She would then not be again released
until after she shall have been proved
innocent. How great time would
that occupy?"
II can't say-six months-a year, per
haps'