The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-04
CHAPTER III.
The Coil Tightens,

-: CHAPTER III.
.: The Coil Tightens.
From the breathless silence that fol-
lowed her answer, she saw that she had
blow, and the sobs burst out beyond
my chiefs face turned livid. IL had
driven another rivet in the chain
Just the one it needed to hold it firmly
together My head was whirling.
Could it be possible, after all, that this
fend at heart that she he could S strike
from me. It was monstrous, unbe.
lievable!
The coroner and the district attor-
ney were whispering together, and l
saw the former glance from the blood
stained handkerchief on the desk be-
fore him to the sobbing woman on the
LITIGATION Of that square of cambric-to
complete the evidence. He hesitated a
moment, said another word or two to
Singleton, then Strengthened up again
in his chair. Perhaps he though the
chain was strong enough; perhaps no
saw only that the witness was in no
condition to 90 on.
asked.
"Not at present, sir" answered our
junior, hoarsely. I think he was Just
beginning fully to realize how desperate
our case. was.
"We will dismiss the witness, then,
temporarily said the coroner. 1--WE
shall probably recall her later on.'
room On the verge Of hysteria, and
Goldberg looked over the papers on his
desk.
owe have one more witness,' he
said at last, "Miss Holladay's coach
man, and perhaps a LITTLE testimony in
rebuttal.. If you wish to adjourn for
lunch, Mr.. Royce, m quite ready to do
so.'
"TRank you, SIR" said my chief,
welcoming any opportunity to pull him
self together and prepare plan Of de-
every we'll, then; I'll adjourn till
two O'Clock" and he pushed back his
chair.
inlay I have one word with you,
sir7' asked Mr.. Royce.
7 "Certainly'
~ should like to see Miss Holiday
a few moments in private. We wish,
of course, to arrange our rebuttal.'
The coroner looked at him for a mo-
ment with eyes in which just a tinge
of curiosity hickered.
"I'n be very glad to allow you to
see her in private,' he answered read
) lily. 81 regret greatly that we couldn T
find you last night, so that you could
hearing. I feel ' that, in away way, we have ave
not been quite fair to you, tho I don It
see how delay could have altered mat
ters, and, in case Of this kind, prompt
action is important. I had no inten.
!; ton Of placing Miss Holiday on the
! witness stand, so thought it best to
proceed at once with the inquest. You
must admit, sir, that, as the case stands
there's only one course open to me"
~ fear so,' assented the other sad
ly. cts a most incomprehensible
case. The chain Of evidence seems alb.
solutely complete, and yet I m con
vlnced-as every sane man must be-
that there is in it some fatal flaw
which, once discovered, will send the
: whole structure tottering. It must be
my business to find that faw.'
Strange things happen in this world
Mr: Royce" observed Singleton with
."The impossible never happens, sirl'!
retorted our junior. IT hope to show
you that this belongs in that cate
d.. x We I hope ycq; VIM said the
district attorney. :.'I'd be glad to find
that !, some 20 one else is guilty.
! 'lIl do my best and Mr.: Royce
turned to, me. CHESTER, you'd better
go and get some lunch. You look quite
done up.'
asked. "Or, better still, have a meal
ready for you in half an hours Rotin i
is just around the corner.''
He would have refused, I think, had
not the coroner interfered.
.nsYou'd better CO., Mr.. Royce" he
self; Perhaps you can persuade Miss
Holiday to eat something. I'm sure
she needs it"
Every well, then; have two meals
said, "and a lunch we can bring back
with us. I'll 60 to Miss Holiday now
! and then come direct to Rotin 8.
re hurried away after the coroner
and walked SLOWLY over to Rotin g to
, table in snug corner, picked up a paper
, and tried to read. its one great item
of news was the Holiday case, and /
grew hot with anger, as 1 saw how I'M
questioningly, how complacently. it ao-
cepted the theory of the Daughter s
guilt. Still, I asked myself, was it to
i bIameY Was anyone, to blame for
AAOt uA1ty dIteI nearing CnC
eyidences How could one escape it,
Il Why, even T. -: I'D - -
i Preposterousl I tried to reason calm
1 ly; to find an opening in the net. Yet.
how complete it was! The only point
s we had gained, 50 far, was that the
mysterious visitor had asked for MI.
Holiday, not for her father-and what
an infnitesimal point itwasl Suppos.
ing there had been a quarrel, an es.
arrangement, would not she naturally
have used those very wordsF After
all Ibid not the black eyes, the full lips.
the deep colored cheeks bespeak
strong and virileN temperament, depth
Of emotion, capacity for swift and yio-
lent angerf But what cause could
there be for a quarrel so bitter, so fierce.
that it should lead to such tragedy
What. causof And then, suddenly a wave
). Of light broke in upon me. There could
be only one--yes, but there could be
onel Capacity for emotion meant ca.
pacity for passion. If she had lover,
If she. had chung. to him despite her
. father! I knew his reputation for Sc.
verify, for cold and relentless condem.
nation: Here was an explanation, Ger.
$ tainly! a
J; And then I shook myself together
tanarilY, Here was I. reasoning along