The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-03-01

mad heard OF their devotion, reflect
&c how her whole life. so far as Iknep
IT, pointed to u nature singularly calm
and s-elf-controlled, Charitable anC
loving. As to the lover theory. did no
the light in her eyes which had greeted
our Junior disprove that, at once ana
forever? Certainly. there was some
fatal flaw in the evidence, and it was
for US to find it.
leaned my head back against the
wall With a little sigh of relief. VIVA,
a fool l had been! or course. We
should find it, Mr.. Royce had spoken
the words. the district attorney had
pointed OIL the way. We had only to
prove an alibi! And the next witness
would do 1t. Her coachman had only
to tell where he had driven her. at
what places she had stopped. and the
whole question would be settled. AT
the hour the crime was committed she
had doubtless been miles away from
Wall street! So the question would
be settled-settled, too, without the
necessity of Miss Holiday undergoing
the unpleasant ordeal of cross-eXalni-
nation.
1T is a most extraordinary affair"
said a voice at my elbow, and l turned
with a start to see that he chair just
chino me had been X by a man
who was also reading an account of
the crime. He laid the paper down,
and caught my eye. "A most eXtraor-
rdinary affair."" he repeated. appealing
to me.
1 nodded, merely glancing at him. too
~preoccupied to notice him closely. l
got an impression of a florid face, of a
stout. we'll dressed body. of an air UNI
tnistakably French.
You will pardon me. sir he added,
leaning a little forward. a stranger
In this country | am much Interested
in your processes of law. This norm
tnp NO nr9cart az 4 H., rio rar-r
ceived you there. 1t seemed TO me
that the young lady was in-what you
Gala tight place.
He spoke English very well, with
an accent of the slightest. 1 glanced
at him again, and saw that his eyes
were very bright and that they We're
fixed upon me intently.
1T does seem So" | admitted, 10th
to talk, yet not wishing to be discour-
teous
The YER thing 1 said to myself"
he continued eagerly. "The-what you
tcall-coe-encidence Of the dress. now!"
l did not answer; l was in no hu-
NOR to discuss the case.
You VIII pardon me-" he repeated
persuaslvely, still leaning forward, but
concer-rning one point l should like
much to know. If she is thought guilty
what will occur?"
She will be bound over to the grand
jury, 1 SAplalIleu.
That is. h will be placed in pris-
on"
"Of course"
But, as l understand your law, she
may be released by bondsmen.'
Not in a capital case | said; not
In a case of this kind. where the pen
atty may be death."
AN, l see" and he nodded slowly.
she would then not be again released
until she shall have been proved in
noeeat. How great a time would that
occupy?"
Il can't say-sfx m%onths-a year. per-
haps."
All. l see" he said again and
drained a glass of absinthe he had bee.
toying with. THANK You. YER much,
sir"
He arose and went slowly out, and L
noted the strength Of his figure. the
slior neck
The waiter came with bread and but
ter and l realized suddenly that it was
long past the half hour. Indeed, a
glance at my watch showed me that
nearly an hour had gone. l waited
fifteen minutes longer. ate what l
could. and taking a lunch box under
my arm, hurried back to the coroner's
office. AS l entered 1t, ] saw a bowed
heart. fell as I recognized our junior.
His whole attitude expressed a despair
absolute. past redemption.
I've brought your lunch, Mr..
Royce,' 1 said. with what lightness 1
could muster. The proceedings will
eat something" and l opened the box
He looked at it for a moment, and
then began mechanically to eat.
You look regularly done up" 1 ven
tured. Wouldn't l better get you a
glass of brandy? Thatll tone o up"
tAl) yioht'b L~ ~o,t );,Ia-.1.
and / hurried away on the errand.
The brandy brought a little color
back to his cheeks, and he began to
eat with more interest.
Must l order lunch for Miss Holla-
day" L questioned.
No he said. She said she didn't
wish any"
re relapsed again into silence. Plain
ing my absence.
After ALL" / began, you know
We only to prove an alibi to knock to
pieces this wheie house OF cards"
Yes, that's ALL" he agreed. "But
suppose we can't do it. LESTER"
Cant do it?' l faltered. Do you
meant"
Il mean that Miss Holiday positive
ly refuses to say where she spent yes
terday afternoon"
Does she understand the-the neces-
w 1 dShcI.
II pointed it out to her as clearly as
1 could. I'm all at sea. Lester"
Well. if even he We're beginning to
doubt. matters We're indeed serious,
Its incomprehensible," [ sighed, aft
err Il moments confused thought. It's
"Yes-past believing"
But the coachman-'
The coachman's evidence, / fear
won't help US much rather the re-
verse
actually gasped for BREATH felt
like a drowning man from who's gasI
the saving rope had suddenly, unac
countably, been Snatched.
In that case" l began and stopped.
We'll. in that caseo"
w must find some other way out
/ concluded lamely.
rs there another way. Lester" he
demanded, wheeling round upon me
fiercely. rs there another wayo II
there is, l wish to God you'd show it te
me-"
There must be-" 1 protested desper.
ateiy, striving to convince myself
There must be; only. l fear, it viii
take some little time to find"
And meanwhile, Miss Holiday will
be %remanded! Think what that vii
mean to her, I-ester!"
/ had thought. ! was desperate AS hi
- ,,tt Is G~l 49, a-.-L ~ =.