Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-27
AMystery |
Of T w o
Continents
BURTON e E. |
STEVENSON
Copyright. 1905. by
Henry Holt and
Company |
6be
HoHadaY
Case


ness. He seemed another man.
II should like to recall Miss Holla-
days maid. If You please" he said, and
the girl was summoned, while Rogers
stumbled da2edly off to the witness
room.
You're quite sure your mistress
wore dark red gown yesterday after
noon:" he asked when the girl was on
the stand again.
''Oh, yes. sir: quite sure
at was not dark green? Think
carefully now
Il don't have to Think she retorted
sharply, with toss of her head
Miss Holiday hasn't any dark green
gown. nor light one either. She never
wears green. She doesn't like 1t. 1t
doesn't suit her"
THAT will do" said Mr. Royce, and
the girl went back to the witness room
without understanding In the least the
meaning Of the questions "Now, let
us have the Office boy again." he said.
and that young worthy was called
| out.
You say you didn't see the face of
that woman who left your Office yes
terday afternoon"
NO, SIR"
But you saw her gown?"
"Oh, yes, sir.
"And what color was it?'
Ozark green, SIR
'That will do said our Junior, and
sank back in his chair--with sigh of
relief. The solution had been under
our hands in the morning and we had
! missed it. Well, we had found it now.
Gentlemen" he added, his voice
airing, his face alight, as he sprang
to his feet and faced the jury, I'm
ready for your verdict wish only
to point out that with this one point
the whole case against my client falls
to the ground! 1t was preposterous
from the very first!'
He sat down again and glanced ut
| the coroner.
Gentlemen of the jury" began
Goldberg, 81 have merely to remind
you tina. your verdict, whatever it
may be, will not finally affect this
case. The police authorities will con-
tinue their investigation In order that
the guilty person may not escape. /
conceive that 1t is not within our prov
ince to probe this case further-that
may be left to ADLER and more expe-
| rienced hands--nor do / think we
should inculpate any one SO long as
there is reasonable doubt of his guilt.
We await your verdict"
The jury filed slowly out, and /
watched them anXiously. In face of
the coroner's instructions, they could
bring in but one verdict, yet l knew
from experience that jury is ever an
unknown quantity, often producing the
most unexpected results.
The district attorney came down
from his seat and shook hands with
both Of us.
"That was great stroke!" he said,
with frank admiration. whatever
made you suspect"
Mr.. Royce handed him the note for
answer. He read it through and stared
back ut US in establishment.
"Why," lie began, who wrote thisY'
'"Thats the note that was delivered
to us awhile ago" answered Mr.. Royce.
You know as much about 1t as we do.
But it seems to me a pretty important
piece of evidence. turn it over to
you.''
"Inportant!' cried Singleton. az
should say SO! Why, gentlemen and
his eyes were cleaning. "thls was writ
ten either by an accomplice or by the
woman herself!"
My chief nodded.
Precisely" he said. I'D get on the
track of the writer without delay"
Singleton turned and whispered
few words to II clerk, who hurried
from the room. Then he motioned to
| two smooth faced, well built men who
sat near by, spoke word to the cOrO-
her aud retired with them into the lat
ter's private Office. The reporters
crowded about us with congratulations
and questions. They scented q mys-
terry. What was the matter with Sin
gleton? What was the new piece of
evidence: Was it the note? What
was in the note?
MI. Royce smiled.
Gentlemen" he said, II trust that
my connection with this affair will end
in Il very few minutes. For any fur
Their information must refer you to
| the district attorney The case is in his
hands"
But those men he had summoned into
his office were Ilarlc and Johnson, the
cleverest detectives OH the force. What
| did he want with them? Mr.. Royce
merely shrugged his shoulders, where
| at the reporters deserted him and
| massed themselves before the door into
| the coroners room. 1t opened in mo-
ment, and the two detectives came hur-
rylng out. They looked neither to the
right nor left, but shouldered their way
cruelty through the crowd, paying not
the slightest attention to the questions
showered upon them. Then the dis
trict attorney came out and took in the
situation at glance.
Gentlemen" he said, raising his
voice. II can answer no questions.
must request you to resume your seats
or shall ask the coroner to clear the
rGom.'
They knew that he meant what he
said. so they went back to their chairs
chagrined, Disguised, biting their nails,
striving vainly 10 work out a solution
to the puzzle. 1t was the coroner's
clerk who created diversion.
"l'he jury is ready to report, sir" he
announced.
VERY well; bring them out" And
the iurymen filed slowly back to their
seats. gaZed ut each face and cursed
the Responsiveness of the human
countennnce.
Have you arrived Mt verdict. gen.
tlemen:" asked the coroner.
I'VE have. sir" answered one of them
and handed paper to the clerk.
'Is this your verdict, gentlemen%
asked the coroner. "Do you all concur
in it?'
They answered in the affirmative as
their names were called.
''The clerk will read the verdict"
said Eo1Ilary