Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-11-23

"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."
"Ah. see" he said again, and
drained n glass Of absinth he had been
toying with. "Thank you, YER much,
SIR"
He arose and went slowly out. and
noted the strength Of his figure, the
short neck
The waiter came with bread and but
Ter. and / realized suddenly that 1t
was long past the half hour. Indeed.
a glance at my watch showed me that
nearly an hour had gone. ! waited
fifteen minutes longer, ate what I
could, and. taking a box lunch under
my arm, hurried back to the coroner's
office As entered il saw bowed
figure sitting at the table. and my heart
fell as | recognized our Junior His
whole attitude expressed a despair alb
solute. past redemption.
"I've brought your lunch. Mr.
Royce" I said, with whit lightncss I
could muster "Thc proceedings will
commence in half an hour You'd bet
ter cat something" and opened the
box
He looked at 1t for n moment. and
then began mechanically TO eat.
You look regularly done up" ven
tured. "Wouldnt better get you n
glass Of brandy? That'll tone you up"
| "All right" he asscnted listlessly
md hurried away on the errand.
The brandy brought little color
back to his checks. and he began TO
eat with more interest.
Must I order lunch for Miss Holla-
day" l questioned.
NO" he said. "She said she didn't
wish any"
lie relapsed again into silence. Plain
~ he had received some new blow dur
ing my absence.
After ALL" began. you know
we've only to prove an alibi TO knock
to pieces this whole house of cards.
Yes, that's all." he agreed. But sup
pose we can't do it, Lester?"
Cant do it," l faltered do yon
mean
II mean that Miss Holiday posi-
lively refuses to say where she spent
yesterday afternoon"
Does she understand the-the he
Cessity?" I asked.
Il pointed it out to her as clearly as
] could. I'm all at sea, Lester"
Well, II even he were beginning to
doubt, matters We're indeed serious.
Its ncomprehensible." sighed,
after moments confused thought.
"Its"-
"Yes-past believing"
But the ooachman"-
1.-THE coachman's evidence, fear.
won't help us much-rather the re-
verse;
actually gasped for breath. felt
like drowning man from whose grasp
the saving rope had suddenly, unac-
countably, been snatched.
"In that case" began and stopped
'Well, in that case"
I'VE must find some other way ont"
concluded lamely.
as there another way, Lester?" he
demanded. wheeling round upon me
fiercely. as there another way? II
there is wish you'd show it to me!'
'There must bel" protested DIES.
perately, striving to convince myself.
There must be. Only, l fe9r. it will
take some little time to find"
And meanwhile Miss Holiday will
be remanded! Think what that will
mean to her, Lester!"
had thought l was desperate as
he, but to find the flaw, the weak spot
In the chain, required, ! felt. better
brain than mine. was lost in whirl
wind Of perplexities.
well, we must do our best" he wen
on more calmly after moment. 81
haven't lost hope yet-chance often di
reefs these things. Besides, at worst
think Miss Holiday will change hel
mind. Whatever her secret, it were
better to reveal it than to spend Q
single hour in the Tombs. She simply
must change her mind. And thanks
Lester. for your thoughtfulness. Yol
have put new life into me-"
l cleared away the debris OF thu
lunch, and a few moments later tht