Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-02-22
cultured girl was really such q fend
at heart that she could strike down .

cultured girl was really such q 1end
! at heart that she could strike down . !.
l put the thought from me. II was
monstrous, unbelievable!
The coroner and the district attorney
were whispering together, and / saw
the former glance from he blood
stained handkerchief on the desk before
him to the sobbing woman on the stand.
1t needed only that-her Identification
Of that square of cambric-to complete
the evidence. He hesitated a moment.
a another word or two to Singleton,
then Strengthened up again in his chair.
Perhaps he thought the chain was
strong enough. perhaps he saw only
that h witness vas in no condition to
20 on.
Anything further, Mr.. Roger" he
asked.
Not at present SIR" answered our
junior hoarsely. l think he was just be-
ginning fully to realize how desperate
our case was.
I'VE will dismiss the witness. then.
temporarily" said the coroner. w
shall probably recall her later on"
The maid was led back to the witness
room on the verge OF hysteria, and
Goldberg looked over the papers on his
desk.
I'VE have one more Witness" he said
at last, "Miss Holidays coachman.
and perhaps a little testimony in rebuilt
tai. If you wish to adjourn for lunch.
Mr.. Royce, I'm quite ready to do So
Thank you, sir" sal my chief. well
coming an opportunity to pull himself
together and prepare a plan OF defense.
Il do wish it,
Very we'll, then: well adjourn till 2
o'clock" and he pushed back his chair.
May I have one word with you. sir2"
asked Mr.. Royce.
Certainly"
II should like TO see Miss Holiday
a few moments In private. We wish, OF
course. to arrange our rebuttal."
The coroner looked at him for a mo-
ment with eyes in which just a tinge OF
curiosity iickered.
"Ill be very glad to allow o to see
her in private" he answered readily.
II regret greatly that We couldn't find
you last night, so that you could have
opportunity to prepare for this hearing.
/ feel that, in a way, we haven't been
quite fair to you though l don't see
how delay could have altered matters,
and, in a case of this kind, prompt &C
ton Is important. | had no intention
Of placing Miss Holiday on the witness
stand, so I thought 1t best to proceed
at once with the inquest. You must ad-
NIT, sir, that, as the case stands, there's
only one course open to me-
II fear So" assented the other sadly.
TITS a most incomprehensible case. The
chain OF evidence seems absolutely
complete, and yet I'm convinced-as
every sane man must be-that there Is
In It some fatal flaw, which, once dis
covered, will send the whole structure
lettering. 1t must be my business to
find that flaw"
Strange things happen in this world.
Mr.. Royce" observed Singleton with a
philosophy born of experience.
THE impossible never happens, sir!"
retorted u junior. Il hope to show
you that this belongs In that category
well, 1 hope you will" said the dis
trict attorney. "Td be glad to find that
someone else Is guilty"
I'll do my best" and Mr.. Royce
turned to me. Lester, you'd better &C
and get some lunch. You look quite
done up"
Shall I bring you something" I
ask ed. cor. better still, have a meal
ready for you in half al hour? Rotin's
is just around the
He would have refused, l think. had
not the coroner interfered.
You'd better go, Mr.. Royce he
said. You're looking done up your
self. Perhaps o can persuade Miss
Holiday to eat something. I'm sure
she needs It,"
Very well, then; have two meals
ready in half an hour, Lester" he
said. and a lunch we can bring back
and then come direct to Rotin's."
He hurried away after the coroner.
and walked slowly over to Rotin's
TO give the necessary orders. | chose
a table In a snug corner, picked up a
paper and tried to read. It's one great
item of news was the Holiday case.
and / grew hot with anger as I saw
how unquestionlngly. how compliment
ly, 1t accepted the theory Of the daugh-
ter's guilt. Still. / asked myself, was
1t to blame? Was anyone to blame
for thinking her guilty after hearing
the evidence? How could n escape
1t? Why, even L
Preposterous! 1 tried to reason
calmly: to find an opening In the net.
point we had gained, so far, was that
the mysterious visitor had asked for
Mr.. Holiday, not for her father-and
what an inf1nitesimal point 1t was!
Surprising there had been a quarrel, an
arrangement, would not she naturally
used those very words? After
all. did not the black eyes, the full
lips, the ~deep-colored cheeks. bespeak
a strong and virile temperament, depth
of emotion, capacity for swift and vi
client anger? But what cause could
there be for a quarrel so bitter, SO
fierce, hat II should lead to such a
tragedy? What cause? II then.
suddenly, a wave of light broke in
upon me. There could be only one
yes, but there could be one! Capacity
for emotion meant capacity for pas
sion. If she had a lover, IL she had
chung to him despite her father! l
knew his reputation for severity. for
cold and relentless condemnation
Here was an explanation. certainly!
Continued Next Week.
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