The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-01-05

with Holiday wore a gown of dark
| green Who was the writer Of the
note? How did he know the color of
her gown? There was only one pos
sible way he could know-he knew
the woman. Plainly, too, he must
have been present at the morning hear
ing But, if he knew so much, why
did he not himself come forward? To
this, TOO, there was but one answer
he must be an accOmplice. But then.
again, If ne were an accomplice. why
should he irlperil himself by writing
this note, for it could very probably
be traced? l found myself deeper in
the mire, farther from the light, at
every step.
"Do you wish to summon any wit
nesses, Mr.. Roger" asked the coroner
again. 81 shall be glad to adjourn the
hearing until tomorrow if you do
Mr. Royce reused himself with an eff
fort
"1hank you, sir" he said. 81 may ask
you to do that later on. Just at present
| wish to recall Mr.. Rogers"
"Very WELL" said the coroner. And
Rogers was summoned from the wit
ness room.
looked at him attentively, trying to
fathom his thoughts, to read behind his
eyes; but, look as l might, l could see
nothing in his face save concern and
grief. He had grown gray in Holladays
Office, he had proved himself hundred
times a man to be relied on, he had
every reason to feel affection End graf
ltude toward his employer, and was
certain that he felt both. He received
liberal salary, knew, and was com
fortably well to do.
That he himself could have commit
ted the crime or been concerned in it
in any way was absolutely unthinka-
BILE Yet why should he lie? Above
ALL why should he seek to implicate
his employers daughter? Even if he
wished to implicate her, how could he
have known the color of her gown?
What dark. intricate problem was this
that confronted us?
In the moment that followed l saw
that Mr. Ro~ce was studying him, too:
was straining to find a ray of light for
guidance If we failed now
l read the note through again ga
gown of dark green" And suddenly,
by kind of clairvoyance the solution
of the mystery leaped forth from 1t. 1
leaned over to my chief, trembling with
eagerness.
"Mr Royce" 1 whispered hoarsely,
II believe I've solved the puzzle. Hold
Rogers on the stand few moments
until get back"
He looked up at me astonished, then
nodded as l seized my hat and pushed
my way through the crowd. Once out
side the building, ! ran to the nearest
dry goods house-three blocks away it
was, and what fearfully long blocks
they seemed!-then back again to the
courtroom. Rogers was still on the
stand, but a glance ut Mr.. Royce told
me that he had ELECTED nothing new.
''You take him, Lester he said as |
sat down beside him. I'm worn out"
Quivering with apprehension, arose.
It was the first time ! had been given
the center of the stage In so important
a case. Here was my opportunity!
Suppose my theory should break down,
after all
Mr.. Rogers" began, you've been
having some trouble with your eyes,
haven't you?
He looked at me In surprise.
"Why, yes, little" he said. "Noth-
ing to amount to anything. How did
you knowf"
My confidence had come back again.
I was on the right track then!
II did not know" l said. smiling for
the first time since ! had entered the
room, "but / suspected | have here
a number of pieces of cloth of different
colors. / should like you to pick out
the one that most nearly approXimates
the color of the gown your visitor wore
yesterday afternoon"
| handed him the bundle of samples,
and as / did so | saw the district at
torney lean forward over his desk with
attentive face. The witness looked
through the samples slowly, while
watched him with feverish eagerness.
Mr.. Royce had caught an inkling of
my meaning and was watching him
too.
There's nothing here" said Rogers
at last, (which seems quite the shade,
but this is very near it,
He held up one of the pieces. With
leaping heart, l heard the gasp of as
constituent which ran around the room.
The jurymen were leaning forward in
their chairs.
"And what is the color of that pieceT'
| asked.
"Why, dark red. I've stated that al
ready"
] glanced triunphantly at the coro
ner.
"Your honor" said as calmly as l
could, 81 think we've found the flaw in