Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-02-15

and entered the room at the end of il,
which j recognized as the office OF Cor
oner Goldberg. A considerable crowd
had already collected there.
Has the coroner arrived YETI" my
companion asked one of the clerks.
Yes, sir, he's in his private office"
Will you take him this card and say
that / would like to see him at ohce, IL
possible?"
The clerk hurried away with the card,
He was back again in a moment.
This way sir" he called.
We followed him across the room
and through a door at the farther
side.
"Ah. Mr.. Royce. glad to see you"
cried the coroner as we entered.
tried to find you last night, but learned
that you were out of town, and l was
just calling up you office again"
Miss Holiday asked for me, them"
Yes, at once. When we found we
couldn't get you, we suggested your
senior. but h said she'd wait till you
returned"
I could see our juniors face crimson
with pleasure.
You didn't think It necessary to con-
fine her. l trust ?" he asked.
"Oh, no: she wasn't disturbed. She
spent the night at home-under surveil-
lance
That was right. or course. it's slmp-
ly absurd TO suspect her"
Goldberg looked at him curiously.
II don't know, Mr.. Royce" he said
slowly. IF the evidence turns out as
1 think 1t will, 1 shall have to hole her
the district attorney expects It,"
Mr.. Royce's hands were clutching a
chair back, and they trembled a little
at the coroner's words.
He'll be present at the examination.
them" he asked.
Yes. we're waiting for him. You see,
it's rather an extraordinary case"
rs it?"
I'VE think so, anyway" sal the
coroner, just a trile impatiently.
l could see the retort which sprang
to our juniors lips. but he choked 1t
back. There was no use offending Gold-
berg.
Il SHOULD like to see Miss Holiday
before the examination begins" he
said. rs she present."
She's in the next room, yes. You
shall see her, certainly, at once. Jul
ius take Mr.. Royce to Miss Holiday"
he added to the clerk.
/ can see her yet, rising from her
chair with face alight, as we entered,
and l saw instantly how l misjudged
her. She came a step toward us, hold
ing out her hands impulsively; then
49, 0sA NAASAN S-AN SAASN AASA0SAA %AAN
clasped them before her.
"Oh, but I'm glad to see you!" she
cried in a voice so low l could scarcely
hear 1t. i've wanted you so much."
1t was my great misfortune that I
could come 10 sooner" said my chief,
his voice trembling a little despite him
self. II scarcely expected to see you
here with no one
oh" she interrupted, there was no
one 1 cared to nave. My friends have
been very ~kind-have offered to do any
thing-but l felt that l wanted to be
just alone n think. I should have
liked to have my maid, but"
she's one of the witnesses. I sup
pose" explained Mr.. Royce. We'll,
now that I'm here, 1 shall stay until
I've proved how utterly ridiculous this
charge against you is"
She sank back into her chair and
up at him with dark, appealing
eyes.
You think you cam" she asked.
Cam! Certainly, l can! Why, It's
too preposterous TO stand for a mo-
ment! We've only to prove an alibi-
to show that you were somewhere else,
you know, at the time the crime was
committed-and the whole business
falls to pieces In an instant. You can
do that easily, can't your"
h color had gone from her cheeks
again. and she buried her face in her
hands.
II don't know" she murmured, in
distinctly. II must think. oh, don't
let it come to that"
was Observation-Disclosures. With her
good name, her life, perhaps. in the
balance, she wanted tire TO think! L
could see that my chief was astonished,
too.
III try to keep 1t from coming to
that since you wish It," he said slowly.
I'll not be able to call you then. to
testify in your own behalf-and that
always hurts. But l hope the case
will break down al once-I believe IL
will. At any rate, don't worry. l want
you to rely on me-
She looked vi at him again. smil-
ing.
"I shall" she murmured softly. I'm
sure | could desire no better cham
pioni"
Well, plainly. If he won this case he
would win something else besides. 1
hin even the policeman in the corner
saw it, for he turned away with a dis
erection rare in policemen, and pre-
tended to stare out OF the indow
/ don't know what my chief would
have said-his lips were trembling SO
he could not speak for the moment
and Just then there came a tap at the
door. and the coroner's clerk looked in.
Were ready TO begin. sir" he said.
Very WE'LL" cried Mr.. Royce. I'll
at once. Goodbye for the moment.
Miss Holiday. l repeat. you may rely
me-" and he fastened from the
as confidently as though h had
told myself, she had bound him hand
and foot before casting him down into
the arena.