The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-02-15
The Holiday CaseI
BY BURTON E. STEVENSON. s
Copyright, 1905. by Henry Holt & G. uu..nzzm1ua S
pss@cs@ - sssassssxeaerssae.

oAsr GcIQDerS. y oiSlQeraOIe CTONt
had already collected there.
Has the coroner arrived yeti" my
companion asked one of the clerks.
Yes, sir. he's in his private office
will you take him this card and say
that l would like TO see him at once. il
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.
All, Mr.. Royce. glad to see you
cried the coroner. as we entered. we
tried to find you last night. but learned
that you were out of town, and l was
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 TIL 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. OF course. It's simp-
ly absurd to suspect her"
= 3 oohSd aN iiili SdI "a
II don't know. Mr.. Royce" he SAID
slowly. If the evidence turns out as
l think 1t will. l shall have to hold her
the district attorney expects It,"
Mr.. Royce's hands We're clutching a
chair back. and they trembled a little
at the words.
Hell be present at the examination.
them" he asked.
Yes, We're waiting for him. You see,
It's rather an extraordinary case
We think so, anyway" said the
coroner. just a trifle impatiently.
1 could see the retort which sprang
to our juniors lips. but he choked 1t
back. There was no use offending Gold
berg.
Il should like to see Miss Holiday
before the examination begins he
Said. rs she present?"
She's 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
chan with face alight, as we entered.
n l saw instantly how l %misjudged
her. She came a step toward US. hold
ing out her hands impulsively: then
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 l could scarcely
hear it. I've wanted you so much!"
1t was my great misfortune that l
could come no sooner" said my chief.
his voice trembling a little despite him
self. IL scarcely expected to see you
here with no one"
oh" she interrupted. there was no
one l cared to have. My friends have
been very kind-have offered to do any
thing-but I 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. We'll.
now that 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 CAM" she asked.
Can! Certainly, l 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 her
hands.
II don't know" h murmured. In
distinctly. II must think. Oh, don't
let it come to that
1 was puzzled-confounded. With her
good name, her life. perhaps. In the
balance, she wanted time to think. ]
could see that my HE was ~astonished
too.
III try to keep 1t from coming tc
hat since You wish It," he said slowly
III. not be able to call you, then. To
TESTIFY in you own behalf-and that
always hurts. But 1 hope the case
will break down at once-I believe ii
will. AT any rate, don't worry. l want
She looked up at him again. smil-
ing.
II shall" she softly. I'm
sure L could desire no better cham.
pion.'
Well, plainly. If he won this case he
would win something else besides.
think even the policeman in the corne
saw it, for he turned away with a dis
erection rare in policemen, and pre-.
tended to stare out of the window.
/ don't know what my chief would
have said-his lips We're trembling sc
he could not speak for the moment
and just then there came a tap at the
door. and the c%oroner's clerk looked in
"We're ready to begin. SIR" he said.
Very WELL" cried Mr.. Royce. I'll
come at once. Goodbye for the moment
Miss Holiday. l repeat, you may rely
on me-" and he fastened from thu
room as confidently as though she hac
girded him for the battle. Instead.
told myself, she had bound him hane
and foot before casting him down into
the arena.
CHAPTER II.
IN THE GRIP OF CIRCUMSTANCE
The outer room was crowded from
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