The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-18


and before nlu7lP'
was something in this matter that
could not be explained away by her ar
gument, and his suspicion of that some
thing he felt perfectly sure was shared
by his son, toward whose cold. set face
he had frequently cast the most. I'M
easy glances. He was not ready, how
ever, to probe into the subject more
nearly. nor could he for the sake of
Frederick urge on to any further con-
fession young woman whom his I'M
happy son professed to love and in
whose discretion he had so little conf
dence. AS for Sweetwater, he had
now fully recovered himself and bore
himself with great discretion when
DIR. Talbot finally said:
We'll, gentleman. we have got more
than we expected when we came here
this morning. There remains. however,
point regarding which we have re-
ceived no explanation. Miss Page, how
came that orchid. which. l am told. you
wore In your hair at the dance, to be
found lying near the hem of Batsy's
skirts? You distinctly told US that you
did not go up stairs when you were in
Mrs Webb's house."
"Ah. that's sor' acquiesced the Bos-
ton detective dryly. How came that
flower on the scene of the murder?'
She smiled and seemed equal to the
emergency.
THAT is mystery for us all to
solve" she said quietly. looking into
the eyes OF her questioner.
"A mystery it is your business to
solve" corrected the district attorney.
Nothing that you have told us in sup
port OF your innocence would in the
eyes Of the law weigh for one instant
against the completely shown by that
one piece of circumstaDtial evidence
against you"
Her smile carried a certain high
handed denial of this to one heart
there at least. But her words were
humble enough.
81 am aware of that" said she. Then.
turning like lightning to where Sweet
water stood lowering upon her from
out his half closed eyes. she impetu-
ously cried: You. sir. you who with
out call TO do so have presumed to ar
rogate the office OF detective from
those whose right il was TO act In this
matter. prove yourself equal to your
presumption by finding out the OK
PLANTATION Of this mystery yourself. 1t
can be found out. for. mark. did not
carry that flower into the room where
IL was found. This l am ready TO swear
10 before God and before man.
Her hand was raised. her whole at
ritude spoke defiance and-hard as it
was for Sweetwater TO acknowledge it
truth. He felt that he had received
a challenge. and. with a quick glance
1t Knapp. who barely responded by a
shruG. he shifted over to the side OF
Dr. Talbot.
Amabel at once dropped her hand.
May I go?' she now cried appeal
ingly to Mr. Courtney. II really have
no more to say. and I am tired"
Did you see the figure OF the man
who brushed by you in the wood? Was
IS that OF the old man you saw on the
doorstep?"
AT this direct question Frederick
quivered in spite OF his logged self
control But she. with her face up
turned TO meet the scrutiny OF the
speaker. showed only childish kind
OF wonder Why do you ask that?
is there any doubt about Its being the
xnce!"
What an actress, Frederick stood
appalled,. He had been amazed at the
skill with which she had manipulated
her story so as TO keep her promise to
that further -confessisn1 which --wcel1