Semi-weekly herald., 1911-12-11

CHAPTER XVI.
The Assistant District Attorney.
l2f/TL nm mn CnAT1r

ric OF the diamond mystery, the dis
trict attorneys office was not inactive.
With the slow stealthiness OF cat
approaching its prey it combined the
disconnected fragments of evidence
gathered by the police into the sem
blance OF a perfect case. and prepared
to present 1t to a jury. The grand
jury had indicted Elinor Holcomb. and
again she was dragged into the glare
of courtroom. this time to plead to
the Indictment There remained only
the verdict of petit Jury to open the
gates of states prison for her Her
lawyer was served with the fateful
notice OF trial. and sne was made to
realize the great struggle was about
to begin.
Assistant District Attorney Mott
was taking a last survey of the depo-
siuons in the case, mentally picturins
the curtain of gilt he would weave be.
fore the jury. To his mind the evil
dence was conclusive. II pointed ire
sisdbly to Miss Holcomb as the thief.
And yet. the prosecutor felt there
was something strangely lacking in
the structure; something that made it
appear hollow and unreal No other
reasonable explanation OF the disap-
pearance Of Mrs. Missioner's neck
lace offered itself. and still 1t was
hard to conceive Miss Holcomb as the
thief. Mott knew that the same un-
certainty in the minds of the jurors
would inevitably result in a verdict of
acquittal. The benefit of any reason
able doubt as to her guilt must 60 to
her. and he realized he had yet to
eliminate that last slim possibility of
verdict favorable to the prisoner
Were 1t an ordinary larceny case he
would be content to offer the testi-
mony at hand and leave the verdict
to the conscience of the jurors. But
this trial would fill thousands OF news
paper columns. The press of the en-
tire country was on the alert for IT.
1t meant much to struggling assist
ant to obtain conviction in SO ia
nous case. To lose, he feared,
would reflect on his own competence.
The entrance OF Britt brought the
prosecutor out OF his absorption.
Just the man wanted to see," he
greeted.
And I'm equally glad to find you
in." the detective returned
I've got the evidence down pat"
Mott responded. 1T seems complete;
and yet, somehow. feel that It is
not entirely convincing. | want to get
something to clinch 1t. It's pretty
tough proposition at best to get con
vlctlon on circumstanual evidence
when the defendant is a woman of
good appearance, and | don't want to
slip up on this case. We haven't got
ach time left. The case is on the
calendar for next Monday"
'HThats what | came to see you
about" informed Britz. Il want to
get you to adjourn the trial month"
New facts?" anxiously inquired the
prosecutor.
Yes"
who do you think did the trtck?"
suddenly questioned Mott.
Sands, Griswold or the Indian serv-
ant" came from the detectives hesi-
tant lips.
The prosecutors hands went above
his head in despairing gesture.
rs that as far as you've arrived?
Three suspects, and you've no idea
which one you want! What sort of
weak stuff is in your possession that
you don't know whom you're after?"
THE circle is narrowing very quick
ly." Britz observed In the next few
days I'll know who committed the
robbery. how It was committed, and
where the jewels were taken. But
have got to have the necessary time"
"All right" agreed the prosecutor.
He called a clerk and directed him
to inform Miss Holcomb's lawyer that
the case had been withdrawn from the
calendar for a month.
The detective was reaching for his
hat when Donnelly and Carson burst
into the room. Donnelly's face was
r.Nshed with the news of great dis
fovery, Carson was smiling approx
ingly on his partner,
We've got the motive for tho
crime" the two men shouted in one
breath
= Britt assumed an attitude Of eager
interest The prosecutor looked sig
nificanuy at him.
What have you discovered" he
asked
That man Fitch is mixed up IN the
case just as | always thought" DON
nelly informed him. She stole those
diamonds for his sake. It's another
case of the girl turning thief to help
her lover"
We've run the whole thing down
and We have 1t here in black anu
white" His fingers clasped three or
four letters which he Haunted tempt
ingly before the eyes OF the prosecu-
ter. They confirm our suspicion that
Fitch is at the bottom of the whole
case. Rather. that he's the man high.
exap.'"
Mott gathered the contents of the
missives In three or four sweeping
Glances as he handed them to Britz.
He perused them closely. as If weigh
ing their import while noting their
contents. His impassive face masked
the emotions they aroused in him,
and he returned them to the assistant
district attorney with an air Of indif.
ference.
These letters are conclusive" Mott
Dsenounced.