The sun., 1908-01-19
THE SWEET PEA
| BLOSSOM
And Detective Cronkite's Idea About
0Thrsad Of Native Silk Floss
IN a Murder Case.

But you know, Mrs. ROSCOE, no salo'
shat never undertake the trial OF a GRIM
inal CASE
Il know You DON'T the lady retorted
quickly. but you often prevent the trial.
That is what I want t-cOnolusive evidence OF
my stepson's innocence. You need not
even appear in the case. Alfred's lawyers
are competent to do the rest
Very well, sighed the Judge resignedly.
Il can't refuse any reasonable service TO
the widow OF my old client Reuben Roscoe
a. she very we'll knows And he touched
the button on his desk, quickly bringing
Abe Cronkite from the outer ofiice.
1T seems. Abe. he went on. @thet must
interest myself. passively at least, in this
mysterious murder OF Edwin Halidom. just
tell US. won't you. what you know about the
case"
showed, perhaps q little more. the detective
began. Deceased was stabbed through
the heart in the entrance to tho Hapidan
apartment house, where he lived and to
which he was returning late ct night
-No clue was discovered except sweet
pea blossom lying on the mat. Evidence
was adduced that Hslidcr and Alfred Ros-
coe had QuarTelled over q GENE OF piquet at
the club that evening. Loud voices in dis
pute had been heard, snd then h9hdom
inhamed face, while on the ftoor lay scat
tered pack Of cards.
-Roecoe left the clubhouse half an hour
ahead OF Hahdon. saying he was tired and
was going directly home. He wore a sweet
pea blossom In his buttonhole.
~He did not, however, resch his rooms
at the Rapidan. where he also lived. until
early the next morning, rbout the time the
body was discovered; The l9nltor VINO let
him in says that he did not have flower
in his buttonhoIe and chat his appearance
and speech were Wild.
-when accorded chance to explain any
or all OF these damaging circumstances he
chose to stand mute. The Jury really
couIdn't do anything else but hold him, but
yet
SNow comes the perhaps so Of, vour
trained observation" interposed Mrs Ros-
coe. pray go on.
Cronkite that | am prod sposad toward
the prisoner. I watched his bearing in
court and it seemed to me to be that OF one
inspired by a high purpose rather than
obstinntelY set and silent.
~StiIl. looks are deceptive. and the fear
Of death may change into finished actor
one who Under ordinary circumstances
would stumble and stsmmer over single
line. Therefore, madam, II may well be
that / give too much Importance to my
st was this: the veriest thread Of silk
hoes which chung lengthwise along the stem
Of the sweet pea blossom in such way as
10 seem filament Of the plant managed
10 take II awav with me unohserved Under
the glass il proved to be a bit OF the fringe
OF mauve ribbon
%The point is Just here Could this shred
have clung TO the stem Of flower worn
IN the buttonhole Of a mans coatp-
Not in Alfreds,' cried Mrs. Roscoe.
sHe has an elastic hand back OF the button
hole through which he always ,thrusts the
stem. I have often heard him say that
nothing looked more untidy than flower
But that isn't the main point. the real
point the point Of vital INTEREST," Don't
you seep Don't you see9
flowers bound together with mAuye
ribbbn-why. il wasn't a man at all who
'~Eore, who dropped the blossom. who killed
Edwin Halidom.'
II was wonderful to note the change in
Mrs Roscoe Mildly interested before. n
an altrlistic sort of way, OF an instant she
had become a creature Of fire and vim.
alert intense. absorbed and shaken. The
Judge turned uneasily in his chair. and his
expression deepeued In anxiety; hut Cron-
kite met the suggestion with cordial agree
ment.
sTo be sure. madam. TO be sure" he rs
sented. seek the woman, ia the solution
OF the problem OF the case.
SAh how the prospect widens when hcT
shadow begins 20 steal across its borders
There is absolutely an embarrassment OF
motives in any case where woman Is
concerned.
st seems to me our procedure is simple
The blossom Is Of a rare variety. 10 won't
he hard TO learn who had a sufficient quan-
tity Of such blossoms TO make corsage
bouduet"
Trust that to me-" interrupted Mrs
Roscoe, already az the door. Il can 6nc
out In an hour or less. Wait here anC
cay. for me-
ii.
sYou don't seem very jealous in thii
case. Judge said the detective when Mrs
Roscoe had hurried away. Il miss tn,
fervor with which you adopt a cause
Like you. Cronkite.' explained Judg'
Marcellus, Il must admit predisposition
or rather a prejudice. I never approves
Of old Reuben Roscoe's marriage with q
woman so much younger. Of unknown
Antecedents.
-she made him a good wife; she hat
always displayed the same friendly interes
IN Alfred which brought her here to-day
but yet have this lack OF confidence
Let me be fair. Under her husband
will she had a large discretion as to Alfred
income. but she gave him at once tn
greatest possible sum-
then the young man never inherit
absolutely
"Only in the event OF his marriage Will
Ruth Mayne, Reuben Roscoe's gOddaughter
whom he loved az much as his own sol
and respected far more. Reuben wa
won't TO say that Alfred was an inspireC
idiot who was sure TO throw himself int
Rome bottomless pit like Curtius unless h,
was put In charge Of a good woman.
well, it is the old story OF the best laiC
psNkh haa N n n - n -