The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-02-14

) HAS the coroner arrived YETI" m.
companion asked one of the clerks.
Yes, sir, he's in his private office.
Will YOU AXE him this card and sa,
7 that | would like TO see him at once. l
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 oroner, as we entered. I'VE
tried TO find you last night. but learned
that o were out of town. and l wa:
just calling up your office again.
Miss Holiday asked for me, them
Yes. at once. When we found WE
couldn't get you, We suggested your
senior, but she said she'd wait till you
returned
1 could see our juniors face crimson
with pleasure.
You didn't think 1t 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 simp-
ly absurd to suspect her."
Goldberg looked at him curiously,
Il don't know, Mr.. Royce he said
slowly. IF the evidence turns out as
l think it will, 1 shall AVE to hold her
the district attorney expects It,"
Mr.. Royce's hands We're clutching a
chair back. M 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 ito"
two tIjoJ- -otI 49,
coroner, just a trife impatiently.
l could see the retort which sprang
to our juniors lips, but he choked it
back. There was no use offending Gold
berg.
Il should like to see Miss Holiday
before the examination begins he
said. rs h PRESENT."
Shes 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.
l can see her yet, rising from her
chair with face alight, as we entered.
and ! saw instantly how l misjudged
her. She came a step toward us, hold
ing out her hands impulsively; hen
with an effort, controlled herself and
clasped them before her.
"Oh, but I'm glad to see you!" she
cried In a voice so low I could scarcely
hear 1t. I've wanted you SC much!"
1t was my great misfortune that I
could come no 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 cared to have. My friends have
been very kind-have offered to do any
thtng-but | felt that l wanted to be
just alone and think. I should have
liked to have my maid, but"
Shes one of the witnesses. I sup
pose explained Mr.. Royce. well,
now hat I'm here, I shall stay until
I've proved how utterly ridiculous this
charge against you is"
She sank back into her chair and
looked up at him with dark, appealing
eyes.
You think you can?" she asked.
Can! Certainly, I 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"
The color had gone from her cheeks
again. and she buried her face in he,
hands.
II don't know" she murmured, in
distinctly. II must think. Oh, don't
let it come to that"
I was puzzled-confounded. With her
good name, her life, perhaps, in the
balance, she wanted time to think!
could see that my chief was astonished.
too.
I'm try to keep it from coming to
that since o wish It," he said slowly.
TIL not be able to call you, then, to
testify In our own behalf-and that
always hurts. But / hope the case
will break down at once-I believe it
will. At any rate, don't worry. 1 want
you to rely on me-"
ing.
II SHALL" she murmured softly. I'm
sure / could desire no better cham
pion,"
Well, plainly. II he won this case he
would win something else besides.
think even the policeman In the corner
saw 1T, for he turned away with a dis
cretion are in policemen, and pre-
ended to stare out Of the window.
| don't know what my chief would
have said-hts lips We're 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 WELL" cried Mr.. Royce. ..I,u
come at once. Goodbye for the moment
Miss Holiday. I repeat, you may rely
on me" and he fastened from the
room as confidently as though she had
girded him fol- the battle. Instead I
told myself. she had bound him hand
and foot before casting him down into
h arena.
CHAPTER III.
IN THE GRIP OF CIRCUMSTANCE.
The outer room was crowded from
end to end, and the atmosphere reeked
with unpleasant dampness. Only be-
hind the little railing before the coron-
er's desk was there breathing space.
and we q n our seats at the table
there with a sigh of relief.
One never realizes how any news
papers there are In New York until one
attends an important criminal case
that brings their people out in droyes
and swarms. The reporters took in
most OF il space In this small room.
paper and pencils were everywhere n
evidence, and in onelcorner there was a
man with a camera stationed. deter
mined, I suppose. to get a photograph
OF U client, should she be called to the
stand, since none could be obtained n
any ether way.
saw Singleton, the district attorney
come In and sit down near the corner
and then the jury filed In from their
room and took their seats. I examined
them, man by man. with some little
anxiety. but they all seemed intelli-
gent and fairly well-to-do. Mr.. Royce
was looking over their names. and he