The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-02-21

cultured girl was really such . ficnd
ut heart That she could strike down :.
put the thought from me. IL was
rnonstrous. unbelievable.
The coroner and the district attorney
were whispering together. and 1 saw
the former glance from the blood
stained handkerchief on the desk before
him tn the sobbing woman ON the stand.
IL needed only that-her Identification
OF that square of cambric-to complete
the evidence. lie hesitated moment.
said another word ar two To Singleton.
then Strengthened up again la his chair.
Perhaps he :EoIght the chain was
strong enough. perhaps he saw only
that tn. witness Was In no condition to-
20 ola.
Anything further. Mr.. Royce" he
asked.
Not at present SIR" answered our
junior hoars-iy. I think he was just be-
ginning fully to realize how desperate
our case was.
We will dismiss the witness. then.
temporarily" said the coroner. We
shall probably recall her later ON.
The maid was led back tn the witness
room on the verge OF hysteria. and
Goldberg looked over the papers on his
desk.
we have ono more witness" he said
Mt last. Miss Hoiiaday's coachman.
and perhaps "A little testimony I'm rebuff
tai II you wish tn adjourn for lunch.
Mr.. Royce. I'm quite ready io do So"
Thank you. STR" said my chief, vel
coming an opportunity To pun himself
together and prepare "a plan OF defense.
Il 20 wish ia
VERY well. then: well adjourn TIL =
o'clock" and I've pushed back his chair.
May hsv. one word with you. SIR y
asked Mr.. Royce.
Certainly"
Il should like TO see Miss Holiday
n few moments I'm private, We wish. or
course. Ia arrange onr rebuttal.
The coroner looked nj him for mo-
ment with eyes Ia which just tinge or
curiosity nirk"red.
IN be very glad To allow you TO SEQ
her In private" he answered readily.
II regret greatly that We couldn't ind
YOU last night. 50 that you could have
opportunity To- prepare for this hearing.
I feel that, In y way. We haven't been
quite fair to YOU. though I don't see
how delay could have altered matters.
and. In a case of this kind. promp, ac-
ton IL important ! had no intention
OF placing Miss Holiday on the witness
stand, so I thought u best To proceed
ut once with tho Inquest. You must AL
nit, sir, that. as the case stands. there's
only one course open tn me.
II fear So" assented the Other sadly.
ITS n most inComrrehcnsiblc case. tn"
chain OF evidence Seems absolutely
complete and yet I'm convinccd-as
every sane man must be--that there Is
In ~ some fatal raw. which. once dis
covered, will send the whole structure
iottcring. II mus, pc my business 10
End that fnw."
"stranCc things happen I'm this world.
SIR. Royce" observed Singleton with
philosophy born OF experience.
The Impossible" never happens. sir
retorted our Junior. IL hop. To show
you that this belongs In that category.
We'll. I hope YOU WILL" said the dis
trict attorney. I'd he glad 20 md that
someone else In guilty"
"rn do my best" and Mr. Royce
turned TO me. Lester, you'd better so
and get some lunch. You look quite
done up."
shall I bring you something"
asked "Or. better still. have meal
ready for you Ia half an hour? Rotins
~ lust around the corner"
He would have refused. I think. had
not the coroner interfercd.
You'd better 30. Mr.. Royce" he
said. You're looking done up your
self. Perhaps you can persuade Miss
| Holiday tn eat something. I'm suro
she needs a."
Very well. then: have two meals
ready in half an hour. Lester" hs
said, and lunch we can bring back
with US I'll 20 to Miss Holiday now.
and then come direct To Rotin's
He hurried away after the coroner.
and walked slowly over TO Ro,in's
TO give the necessary orders. chose
n table In n snug corner. picked up a
paper and tried to read. Its one great
item OF news was the Holiday case.
and I grew hot with anger as ! saw
how unquestioningiy. how compliment
IL. 10 accepted the theory OF the daugh-
ier's guilt. still. ! asked myself. was
AZ to blame? Was anyone to blanc
for thinking her guilty after hearing
tho evidence. How could one escape
IL, Why. even T.
Prepostcrous, tried 10 reason
calmly: TO find an opening In the net.
Yet, how complete II was! The only
point we had gained. 40 far, was that
the mysterious visitor had asked for
Mr.. Holiday. not for her father--and
what an infin!tesimal point IL wasl
Surprising there had been n quarrel. an
cstrangemcnt. would not she naturally
have used those very Words After
all. did not the black eyes. the full
lips. the, deep-colored cheeks. bespeak
n strong and viriie temperament. depth
OF emotion. capacity for swift and vi
oient anger? But whit cause could
there be for quarrel 80 bitter. so
fierce, that IL should lead 70 such q
tragedy? what cause? And then.
suddenly. a wave of light broke In
upon me. There could be only one
yes, but there could DO one! Capacity
for emotion meant capacity for pas
sion. IL she had a lover. u she had
chung to him despite her father! I
knew his reputation for severity. for
cold and relentless condemnation.
In nat -