Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20

unbelievable!
The coroner and the district attorney
We're whispering together, and saw
the former glance from the blood
stained handkerchief OH the desk be-
fore him to the sobbing woman on the
stand. 1t needed only that-her iden-
tification of that square of cambric-to
complete the evidence. He hesitated u
moment, said another word or two to
| Singleton, then Strengthened up again
| in his chair. Perhaps he thought the
chain was strong enough; perhaps he
saw only that the witness was in no
condition to so on.
anything further. Mr.. Royce" he |
asked
Not III present, sir" answered our
junior hoarsely. / think he was just
beginning fully to realize how desper-
ate our case was.
I'VE will dismiss the witness, then,
temporarily" said the coroner. I'VE
shall probably recall her later on"
The maid was led back to the wit
ness room OH the verge of hysteria, and
Goldberg looked over the papers on
his desk.
I'VE have one more Witness" he
said at last, Miss Holidays coach
man, and perhaps little testimony in
rebuttal. II you wish to adjourn for
lunch, Mr.. Royce. I'm quite ready to
do So"
"Thank you, SIR" said my chief, vel
coming an opportunity to pull himself
together and prepare plan Of de-
Tense 81 do wish It,"
every well, then. Wen adjourn till
2 O'clock" and he pushed back his
chair.
MAY have one word with you.
, sir?" asked Mr.. Royce.
Certainly"
II should like to see Miss Holiday
n few moments in private. We wish.
, Of course, to arrange our rebuttal."
The coroner looked ut him for mo-
ment with eyes In which just tinge of
!, curiosity 1lickered.
an be very glad to allow you to see
her in private" he answered readily.
:. II regret greatly that we couldn't find
il you last night. SO that you could have
opportunity to prepare for this hear
ing. l feel that in n way we haven't
+ been quite fair to you, though don't see
n how delay could have altered matters,
d and in case Of this kind prompt ac-
ton is important. had no intention
l. of placing Miss Holiday on the wit
ness stand, SO thought it best to pro-
v coed at once with the inquest. You
must admit sir, that as the case stands
there's only one course open to me-"
d 81 fear So" assented the other sadly.
Its most incomprehensible case.
The chain of evidence seems absolutely
II complete, and yet Pm convinced as
: every sane man must be-that there is
. in it some fatal flaw, which, once dis
b covered, will send the whole structure
J. tottering. 1t must be my business to
n find that fiaw.'
a Strange things happen III this world,
Mr.. Royce" observed Singleton. with
}, a philosophy born of experience.
Il "The impossible never happens, sir"
l. retorted our Junior. 81 hope to show
< you that this belongs in that category"
well, hope you WILL" said the dis
d trict attorney. I'D be glad to find
e that some one else is guilty."
"Ill do my best" And Mr.. Royce
v
,e and get some lunch. You look quite
,s done up"
re "Shall l bring you something's
asked. "Or. better still, have a meal
If ready for you in half an hour? Rotins
ID is just around the corner"
g He would have refused, think, had
10 not the coroner interfered.
or you'd better go, Mr.. Royce" he said
ID you're looking done up yourself. Per
n. maps you can persuade Miss Holiday
GO to eat something Pm sure she need.
it."
= Very well, then. Have two NEAL
w. ready in half an hour, Lester" he said
~ land lunch we can bring back witt
a+ us. I'll 60 to Miss Honaday new ant
- then go direct to Rotin's."
y, He hurried away after the coroner
aa and l walked slowly over to Rotin'
wv. to give the necessary orders. chos
81. table in snug corner. picked up
w paper and tried to read. Its one grea
~ Item of news was the Holiday cast
and grew hot with anger as l sa'
lad how unquestioningly. how complacentl
~. it accepted the theory of the daughter
u guilt. Still. l asked myself, was it I
-, blame? Was any one to blame fc
mo thinking her guilty after hearing til
mn evidence: How could one escape i
lad Why, even L
wi. Prepostcrous! tried to reason cal1
nd ~; to tnl an opening in the net, y
ed. how complete it was. The only poll
me we had gained So far was that Il
| IN Oft 1oI cEn for
Holiday, not for her father, and VIII
or an infinitesimal point 1t was. Suppo
,cn Ing there had been quarrel, an e
arrangement, would not she natural
have used those very words? Aft
ess all, did not the black eyes, the fl
lips, the deep colored checks bespcc
in q strong and virile temperament dep
of emotion, capacity for swift and ,
ess client anger: But what cause cou
there be for q quarrel so bitter,
z n fierce, that 1t should lead to such
I'D tragedy? What cause? And then SUI
ing denly wave Of light broke III upt
the me. There could be only one. Ye
Ter but there could be one! Capacity f
l emotion meant capacity for passion.
ess she had a lover, If she had chung
en-. him despite her father! knew Ii
md reputation fer severity, for cold al
She relentless condemnation. Here W;
ed an explanation, certainly!
And theil l shook myself togeth
Int angrily. Here was l reasoning alo.
the theory Of her guilt, trying to fiji
thu motive for 1t! l remembered her
not had seen her often, driving with Ii
out father; l recalled the many stories
had heard Of their devotion; reflect,
er- how her whole life, SO far as / kne
it, pointed to n nature singulary cal
RS and self controlled. charitable and 10
ear ing AS to the lover theory, did IL
the lirllt in hnr ewes which had lrreetI