Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-08-29
THE HEART OF A WOMAN
BY BARONESS ORGY.
Author Of 1.-THE Scarlet PimperneL" "Pettieoat Rule" Etc.

Again a pause. The coroner closed
his eye and stroked his heavy chin.
He had not yet succeeded in chipping
the smooth surface Of the ice.
AT what precise hour then did you
last See the deceased alive?' he asked,
allowing his voice once more to appear
harsh and his more peremp-
tory.
AT Q o'clock or Whereabouts. the
night before last"
where was that?"
He was in the lobby of the Vet
Grams club n 1 Just outside"
III made certain remarks to the
porter at that moment. which Of
Tended you very deeply, I understand"
Mr.. Philip de Mountford was not al
ways guarded In his speech when he
spoke to servants"
And his remarks offended you?"
my opinion on this point is of no
consequence. 1 imagine"
You then left h door step Of the
Veterans club. and a moment later the
deceased Joined you in the street"
II finally left the club coon after 9,
put l did not again see MI. Philip de
Mountford alive"
The deceased suggested that you
should come with him then and there to
see Lord Radcliffe at rosyen
square; he hailed a taxicab and you
entered 1t with him." insisted the coro-
ner with sudden. slow emphasis.
II last saw Mr.. Philip de Mountford
alive In the lobby of the Veterans
club" reiterated Luke calmly. soon
after 8 o'clock.
He overlook you in the street out
side the club?"
1T is not true"
and hailed a cab?"
III NAV have done so h,,t MT In INV
company"
You entered the cab with him. and
ne told the driver to follow along Pic
cadilly.''
may have done So" once more
reiterated luke In the same calm and
even voice. but not in my company"
"You parted from him in the lobby
Of the club"
II have told you So"
AND you never saw him again after
that?'
Never"
you We're not with him when he
came out Of the club?"
mo-"
When he hailed a taxicab?"
NO.
me answers had come clear. sharp,
n distinct, quick ripostes Of the foils
against the violent attack. Now the
adversary drew breath. The pause was
dramatic in Its effect, far reaching In
Its significance. The coroner with eyes
steadily fixed on the witness made a
quick movement with his hand. He
drew away the long narrow strip of
green baize in front of him, revealing
q snakewool stick with ferrule stained
n furnished.
lis this your stick?" he asked curt
ly.
1T is my stick" replied Luke.
He had not finched,, yet there were
many scores of pairs Of eyes fixed upon
MIN. When that green baize covering
Was removed. But not me of those
VINO gazed so steadily upon him could
boast that he or she had seen the
slightest tremor Of the lids or the
merest CULVER Of the mouth. The voice
sounded perfectly clear, the cheeks,
though pale, had assumed no grayish
hue.
Very we'll. That will do said the
coroner quietly.
dagger stick, stained and rusty, told
the most graphic tale there was to
tell. Yet Luke de Mountford stepped
quietly away from the table looking
neither self-conscious nor dazed. He
Went back to his seat, beside Mr.. Dob
son. and leaning toward him answered
some Whispered questions which the
solicitor was putting to him. He fold
ed his arms before him and after
awhile allowed his head to fall forward
a little. closing his eyes as he did so.
He seemed a little tired, but otherwise
unperturbed. even though the hall por-
ter now was recalled and was busy
identifying the stick which lay across
the coroner's table with the one which
he himself had handed to Mr.. de
Mountford's visitor at 8 o'clock the
night before last.
And the police too added its share
to this work that was going on OF en-
meshing a criminal. There was the
constable who had found the tick in
side the ratings Of Green park and had
taken 1t straight away to his chiefs
at Scotland yard before the stains on
It had been further disturbed; and
there was finally DR.. Blair. the district
medical officer. also recalled. who ex-
amined the dagger which fitted into
that snakewood stick.
He had been shown 1t yesterday 1t
seems n found how accurately 1t
throat. To this he swore now in open
court. for the coup de theater, the pro-
duction OF the dagger stick, had been
kept back until now. in order that 1t
should work it fullest and most dra-
matte effect.
Colonel Harris. sitting near his
daughter. would have given worlds to
kno what h thought. He himself
did not know what to think. His sim
pie. unsophisticated mind was in a
maze. The question OF Luke's possible
guilt had suddenly lOomed up before
him, diesipating the former blind Inn
pulse Of p~artisanship and loyalty. Mr..
Dobson too looked puzzled, the old
family solicitor who had seen Luke
and his brothers and sister grow up.
who q few hours. a minutes. ago
would have sworn to his clients inno-
now was face to face with q hideous
feeling of doubt.
Not n other person In the room
either. believe me. who was not con