The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-12-29
GOOD HOUSEKEEPERS
Everywhere Endorse
XWELL-HOUSE
BLEND :: COFFEE
HAVE 1T ON YOUR TABLE
ALL GROCERS

chair.
May l have one word with you
sir?'' asked Mr.. Royce.
Certainly"
Il 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 tlickered.
'I'll be very glad to allow you to see
her in private" he answered readily
Il regret greatly that we couldn't find
you last night, so that you could have
opportunity to prepare for this hear
ing. | feel that i'll a way we haven
been quite fair to you, though | don t see
how delay could have altered mat ers,
and in a case of this kind prompt ac-
ton is important. l had no intention
of placing Miss Holiday on the wit
ness stand so / thought it best to pro
coed at once with the inquest. You
must admit, sir, that as the case stands
there's only one course open to me-"
Il fear So assented the other sadly.
Its a most incomprehensible case.
The chain of evidence seems absolutely
complete, and yet I'm convinced - as
every sane man must be-that there is
in it some fatal flaw, which, once dis
covered. will send the whole structure
tottering. 1t must be my business to
find that flaw"
strange things happen in this world,
Mr.. Royce" observed Singleton with
a philosophy born of experience.
The impossible never happens, sirw
retorted our Junior, Il hope to show
you that this belongs in that category"
well, hope you WILL" said the dis
trict attorney. I'D he glad to find
that some one else is guilty.
iii do my best" And Mr.. Royce
turned to me. Lester, you'd better go
and get some lunch. You look quite
done up"
"Shall / bring you something's
asked "Or better still, have a meal
ready for you in half an hour? Rotin's
is just around the corner"
He would have refused, think, had
not the coroner interfered.
You'd better go Mr.. Royce" he said
you're looking done up yourself. Per
maps you can persuade Miss Holiday
to eat something. I'm sure she needs
it."
Very well, then Have two meals
ready in half an hour, Lester" he said.
land lunch we can bring back with
MS. I'll go to Miss Holiday now and
then go direct to Rotins."
He hurried away after the coroner,
and ! walked slowly over to Rotfn's
to give the necessary orders. l chose
a table in snug corner, picked up
paper and tried to read. Its one great
item of news was the Holiday case,
and | grew hot with anger as l saw
low unquestioningly how complacently
It accepted the theory of the daughters
guilt. Still, | asked myself, was 1t to
blame? Was any one to blame for
her guilty after hearing the
evidence? How could one escape itr
Why, even L
Preposterous! tried to reason calm
"; to find an opening in the net, yet
how complete it was The only point
we had gained so far was that the
visitor had asked for Mr..
IN infinitesimal point 1t was! Suppos-
ing there had been quarrel, an es-
would not she naturally
have used those very words? After
all, did not the black eyes, the full
Ups. the deep colored cheeks bespeak
/ strong and virile temperament, depth
If emotion, capacity for swift and vi
)lent anger? But what cause could
here be for quarrel SO bitter. so
ierce, that 1t should lead to such a
tragedy? What cause? And then sud
lenly wave of light broke III upon
ne. There could be only one, Yes,
out there could be onet Capacity for
emotion meant capacity for passion. II
she had a lover, il she had clung to
lin despite her father. l knew his
equation for severity. for cold and
relentless condemnation. Here was
IN explanation, certainly!
And then I shook myself together
lngrily Here was l reasoning along
he theory of her guilt. trying to find
| motive for it, l remembered her as
had seen her often, driving with her
'ather; l recalled the many stories l
lad heard Of their DEVOTION reflected
low her whole life, SO far as l knew
t, pointed to a nature singularly calm
Ind self controlled charitable and low
ng. AS to the lover theory, did not
he light in her eyes which had greeted
BUR junior disprove that at once and
forever? Certainly, there was some
fatal flaw in the evidence, and 1t was
,or us to find 1t.
/ leaned my head back against the
wall with little sigh of relief. What
| fool had been! OF course we should
ind 1t. Mr.. Royce had spoken the
words; the district attorney had point
I'd out the way. We had only to prove
In alibi, and the next witness would
10 It, Her coachman had only to tell
where he had driven her, at what place
the had stopped, and the whole ques-
ion would be settled. At the hour the |
rhine was committed she had doubt |