Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-09-22

effort must be made at the preseo'
time to clear her"
What" exclaimed DR.. Fitch. Per
NIT my tiancee to suffer the tortures
Of this prison and live under the suS-
ma OF this terrible accusation?
1T is necessary" assured Br1tz.
The two detectives who arrested
her seem to be convinced OF her
guilt" Fitch said angrily. They In
hicted tortures on her that might
have crushed a stronger woman; she
told me as best she could what TOOK
place at the inquisition in Police
Headquarters"
Very we'll" said Britt. Il am
working independently, regardless OF
anything Donnelly INC Carson, the
two men who made the arrest, may
do. They Numbered ~grievously when
they arrested the young we
must overcome that blunder, but the
time is not ripe for her release. Ii
she leaves the Tombs, 1t must be with
her name cleared of suspicion"
DR.. Fitch returned to the prison and
was permitted to see the prisoner In
the little reception room on the ground
floor of the women's wing. Her law.
yer had left instructions hat the
physician be allowed to consult with
his iancee at any time. On his first
visit, he had found her d1straught,
hardly able to tell a coherent story.
His call had a cheering effect on her,
however, and she entered the recep-
ton room with a frmer step.
Il hope you have brought good
news" she called.
Il have just talked with Lieutenant
Britt, who is in charge Of your case"
he replied. He has assured me he
will do everything to prove your in
and find the rea criminal,
but he wants you to remain here until
you can leave with your name entire
ly cleared"
"You believe me, don't your" she
murmured.
All those who know you must be-
lieve in you," he answered. The very
innocence Of you nature is sufficient
reply to the accusation against you"
AS he fastened down the steps OF
the prison, he again met Britt. h
two men walked to Broadway and up
that thoroughfare to Twenty-third
Street. When they parted, Britt knew
the life history of Miss Holcomb.
She had been born in good circum-
stances, and was a graduate Of Smith
College. All her life, she a been
reared to the belief that her future
was we'll provided for. AS the only
obi15 oP , poctop hankar she lived in
an environment of tranquil use that
seemed her permanent heritage In
life. Her father and mother died
within a year Of each other, during
the stress of a financial panic. When
the estate came to be settled, 1t was
found insufficient to meet the out
standing obligations of the father.
Left penniless. amid the luxur1es OF
her birth, she found employment as
a ~governess, and two years before the
discovery of the substituted paste
jewels, she was engaged by Mrs. Mis-
sioner as secretary.
Fitch met Miss Holcomb in Boston.
and their friendship was renewed in
New York. Their engagement was an
nounced only a month before her ar
rest. Britt, trying to square the cir
cumstances surrounding her arrest
with the. conclusion of guilt, decided
that if she took the Jewels, 1t must
have been in a sudden temptation
born of the luxury Of her past.
| But. on more mature reflection. he
concluded that her birth, her breeding,
all the training of her life placed her
above any such temptation; and when
he entered his home to study the a
in the quiet of his library. he was pos
sessed of the strong conviction that
Miss Holcomb was gu1ltless OF the
charge entered against her on the rec
ords Of the Court.
tTO BE CONTINUED)