The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-02-28

| And then I shook myself together
angriiy. Here was I. reasoning alons
the theory of her Euilt--trytng tn fint
q motive for a.. I remembered her a,
Ind seen her oft driving with hei
father: recalled many stories
had heard OF their yotion. I reflect.
ed how her whole life. so far as knew
IL. pointed to a nature sinsulariy calm
and rc.f-cortroiied. charitable and
loving. As TO the lover theory. did not
the light In her eyes which had greeted
our junior dlsprove that. at once and
forever: Certainly. there was SONS
fatal flaw I'm the evidence. and II was
for us to Ind u.
I leaned my head back against the
wall with a little sigh OF relief. What
| q fool I had been! OF course, VIZ
should Ind ~. Mr.. Royce had spoken
the words. the district attorney had
pointed out the way. We had only "a
prove an alibi. And the next witness
would do a. Her coachman had only
TO tell where he had driven her. n,
what places sho had stopped. and the
whole question would be settled. A,
the hour the crime was committed she
had doubtless been miles away from
Wall street. 40 the question would
be scttled--settled. too. without the
necessity OF Miss Holiday undergoing
the unpleasant ordeal OF cross-exani-
1 nation.
1t Is a most exsraor- rdinary AFFAIR.
said a voice at my elbow. and I turned
| with n start 10 see that the chair just
\ behind me had been taken by a man
who was also reading an account OF
the crime. He laid the paper down
and caught my eye. "A most extraor-
rd.uary AFFAIR."" he repeated. appealing
| TO me.
I nodded. merely glancIug at him. toe
preoccupied To notice him closely.
got an impression 81 fiorid face. OF a
stout. we'll dressed body. OF an air un-
rnis,akably French.
| You will pardon me. sir" he added
leaning a little forward. AS n stranger
| In this country ! am much inter- rested
In your processes OF law. This morn
ing was present At the trial. perez
ccivcd you there. II seemed To me
that the young lady was in-what you
Gala tight place"
lie spoke English very well. with
an accent ~ the slightest. I glanced
| al him again. and saw that hts eyes
were very bright and that they wcr,
fixed upon me intently.
1t does seem so" I admitted. 10th
20 talk. yet not wishing To be dlscour
teous.
The YER thing said 10 myself
he continued eagerly. 'The-what you
call--coe- cncidence OF the dress. now
I did not answer. was In no hu-
NOR To discuss the case.
You wili pardon me-" he repeated
persuasiveiy. still leaning forward, but
concrr-rnlng one point I should like
much TO know. IL she 10 thought guilty
what will occur"
''she viii be bound over to the grand
jury" I explained.
That Ii. she viii be placed In pris-
on"
"of course"
But, as I understand your law, she
may be released by bondsmen."
Not la capital case" I said: mot
In case OF this kind. where the pen
atty may be death"
"Ah. I see." and he nodded slowly
she would then not be again released
until she shall have been proved In
nocent. How great time would that
occupy"
Il can't say-siK months-a year. per.
haps"
"Ah. I see" he said again and
drained a glass Of absinths he had been
toying with. Thank you. YER much.
| sir"
| He arose and went slowly out. and I
noted the strength OF his figure. the
short neck
The waiter came with bread and but
| te- and I realized suddenly that IL was
| long past the half hour. Indeed. a
| glance at my watch showed me that
nearly an hour had gore. waited
fifteen minutes longer. ate what
could. and taking a lunch box under
my arm. hurried back TO the coroner
ONCE. As entered u. I saw n bowed
figure sitting at the table. and my
heart fell as ] recognized our Junior.
Hts whole attitude expressed a despair
absolute. pas, redemption.
i've brought your lunch. Mr..
4 ..sNs IA. n
could muster. THE proceedings Will
commence In half an hour-you'd better
eat something" and opened the box.
He looked at IL for moment. and
then began mechanically to eat.
You look regularly done up I ven
4 turcd. Wouldn't I better get you a
glass or brandy! Thatli tone you up"
"All right" he assented listlessly.
and I hurried away on the errand.
The brandy brought a little color
back to his cheeks. and he began tn
eat with more interest.
Must order lunch for Miss Holla
day" 7 questioned.
NO" he said. She said she didn't
J wish any
lie reIapSed again into silence Plain
~. he had received some new blow dur
ing my absence.
After ALL" began. You know
we've only 10 prove an alibi To knock to
pieces this whole house OF cards.
Yes. that's ALL" he agreed. But
suppose We can't do Il. Lester"
Can't do ~" faltercd. Do you
| mean"
II mean that Miss Holiday positive
~ refuses TO say where she spent yes
terday afternoon"
Does she understand the--the neces-
sity'" asked.
! Il pointed II out Tn her az clearly as
] could. Tim all az sea Lester"
J Well. n even he were beginning Co
( doubt matters were indeed serious,
IT'S incomprchensible" I sighed. aft
or a moments confused thought. It's
| -
"Yes-psst believing"
| But the Coachman-
| The coachman's evidence I fear
won't help us much-rather the re.
| verse"
actually gaspcd for BREATH felt
| like a drowning man from whose gaAp
the saving rope had suddenly. unac-
| counlably, been snhtched.
In that case. ! b.tan and stopped.
| Well IN that caEeg''
| We must md some other way out, "
concluded lamsly.
| rs there another way. LESTER he
demanded. wheeling round upon ire
| nerceiy. lis there another way? III
there II. wish TO God you'd show Il 10
| me-"
There must be-" I protested desper.
II -.