Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-03-01
was straining to find q ray of light
Tor u,,idnnno IL wa failed nav

4 WAS StTdIlIIH " YIN - q - Ao
for guidance. II we failed now
I read the note through agatha
gown Of dark greenland suddenly
by a sort of clairvoyance, the solution
OF the mystery leaped forth from 1t.
I leaned over to my chief, trembling
with eagerness.
Mr.. Royce" I WHISPERED hoarsely,
Il believe I've solved the puzzle. Hold
Rogers on the stand a few NOM
ents until / get back"
He looked up at me astoniShed; then
| nodded, as / 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
court room. Rogers was still on the
stand, but a glance at Mr.. Royce told
me that he had ELECTED nothing new.
You take him, Lester" he said, as I
sat down beside him. I'm worn out"
Quivering with apprehension, / arose.
1t 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, a little" he said. Moth
ing to amount to anything. How did
you knew"
My confidence came back again I
was on the right track, then!
Il did not know" l said, smiling for
the first time since l had entered the
room. But l suspected. L have here a
number of pieces OF cloth of different
colors. l should like you to pick out
the one hat most nearly approximates
tho nn1nr Of fhn unuyn un1tr NiSitnr yXynra
yesterday afternoon"
l handed him the bundle of samples,
and as l did SO. L saw the district at
torney lean forward owe his desk with
attentive face. The witness looked
through the samples slowly, while I
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, / heard the gas Of as
constituent which ran around the room.
The jurymen were leaning forward in
their chairs.
And what is the color Of that piece?"
l asked.
why, dark red. I've stated that al
ready"
l glanced t%riumphantly at the cor
oner.
Your honor l said, as calmly as I
could, II think we've found the flaw in
the chain. Mr.. Rogers is evidently col
or-blind. AS you see, the piece he has
selected is a dark green"
The whole audience seemed to draw
a deep breath, and a little clatter of
applause ran around the room. l could
hear the scratch, scratch OF the report
ers' pencils-here was a situation after
their hearts desire! Mr.. Royce had me
by the hand. and was whispering T
kenly in my ear.
MY dear fellow; you're the best Of
us all; I'll never forget it,"
But Rogers was staring in amaze
ment from me to the cloth in his hand,
and back again.
"Green!" he stammered. "C~olor-blind
Why, that's nonsense! I've never sus-
pected IT."
That's probable enough" I assent
ed. The failing is no doubt a recent
one. Most color-blind persons don't
know it until their sight is tested. OF
course, we shall have an oculist exam
inc you; but / think this evidence is
pretty conclusive"
Coroner Goldberg nodded, and the
district attorney settled back in his
chair.
We've no further questions TO ask
this witness at present" l continued.
only I'd like you TO preserve this piece
of cloth, sir" and 1 handed it to Gold
berg. He placed it with the other ex-
hibits on his desk, and l sat down again
beside my chief. He had regained all
his old-time energy-he seemed anoth-
er a
Il should like to recall Miss Holla-
days maid, if you please" he said;
and the girl was summoned, while
Rogers stumbled daZedly off to the witt
ness room.
You're quite sure your mistress
wore a lark red gown yesterday after
noon?" he asked when the girl was on
the stand again.
"Oh, yes, sir; quite sure"
1T was not dark green? Think care
fully now"
Il don't have to think" she retorted
sharply, with a toss of her head. Miss
Holiday hasn't any dark green gown
nor light one either. She never wears
green-she doesn't like tit 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 ofiice-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 yester-
day afternoon"
mo. sir"
But you saw her gown"
"Oh, yes. sir"
And what color was it,"
Dark green, SIR"