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

4
aIrer the whole into a denuncIatfon OF
himself which he would find Il diff
cult If not impossible to meet But
this extreme discrimination made him
lose heart. 1t showed her to be an an,
tagonist of almost illimitable resource
and secret determination.
Il did not suppose there could be any
doubt she added. in such a natural
tone of surprise that Mr.. Courtney
dropped the subject and DR.. Talbot
turned to Sweetwater. who for the mo-
nent seemed to have robbed Knapp Of
his rightful place as the coroner's con
fdaDt.
Shall we let her go for the present.
he whispered. She does look tired,
poor girl"'
The public challenge which Sweet
water had received made him wary,
and his reply was a guarded one.
II do not trust her. yet there is much
to confirm her story. Those sand
witches, now. She says she dropped
them in Mrs. Webbs yard under the
pear tree and that the bag that held
them burst open. Gentlemen, the birds
were so busy there on the morning aft
err the murder that | could not but no.
tice them. Notwithstanding my absorp-
ton in greater matters. | remember
wondering what they were all pecking
at so eagerly. Then the length of time
that elapsed between the moment Ia
bel was seen rushing from Mrs. Webbs
gate and the hour In which he bought
the bread has never been quite &C
counted for. Though | doubt that SO
Il nd ctr Tor
Journey to the woods. / can but ac-
knowledge that it would account for
those very minutes we have had some
difficulty in filling up. But the flower
whose presence Oh the scene of guilt
she challenges me to explain! How
about that, sirs? And then the money
so deftly reburied by her-can any ex-
PLANTATION make her other than acces-
sorry to a crime on whose fruits she
lays her hand in a way tending solely
to concealment? No, sirs, and so
shall not relax my vigilance over her
actions even If, in order to be faithful
to 1t. l have to suggest that a warrant
be made out for her Imprisonment"
"You are right" acquiesced the coro-
ner, and. turning TO Knapp. he sug-
gested that Miss Page was such an inn
portant witness in this matter that
perhaps it would be better to have her
down in the town where she could be
more easily under his eye.
Nothing could have pleased Mr.. Suth-
erland better. CHANGING at Frederick
and seeing that he was rather pleased
than disturbed by this suggestion, he
gave his unqualified approval, and
Miss Page was notified Of the coroner's
wishes.
She made no objection. On the con-
trary, her cheeks dimpled, and she
turned away with alacrity to prepare
herself for departure. But before go
ing she approached the coroner and
said persuasively:
at have told you all that came to my
mind this moment. But after thinking
it over may remember some little de-
tails that have escaped me today"
"Call her back" cried Mr.. Courtney. /
"She has kept back something; let us
hear it all"
But Mr. Sutherland. with a side look 4
at Frederick, whispered: Wait. She
is a subtle creature and under the ex-
element of the moment will contrive
to elude you. Catch her alone. Mr..
Courtney: catch her alone and if she
has secret, you of all men will sue
ceed in surprising it,"
He had noted that the rest were too
preoccupied to observe that Frederick
had reached the limit of his strength +
and could not be trusted TO preserve
his composure any longer under this
examination into the con-
Iuct of woman from whom he had so
ately detached himself.