The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1912-10-25


paper columns. The press of the en-
tire country was on the alert for it.
It meant much to a struggling assist
ant to obtain a conviction in so ia
nous a 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, l feel that 1t is
not entirely convincing. want to get
something to clinch 1t. It's a pretty
tough proposition at best to get con-
viction on circumstantial evidence
when the defendant is a woman of
good appearance, and don't want 10
slip up on this case. We haven't got
much time left The case is ON the
calendar for next Monday"
That's what came to see you
about" informed Britt. 81 want to
get you to adjourn the trial month"
New facts?" anxiously inquired the
prosecutor.
yes"
who do you think did the trickY-
suddenly questioned Mott.
Sands, Griswold or the Indian sery.
ant" came from the detectives hest
tant lips
The prosecutors hands went above
his head in a despairing gesture.
is that as far as you've arrived7
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," Britt observed. I'm 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the case had been withdrawn from the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. Donnellys face was
flushed with the news of great dis
covery. Carson was smiling approx
ingly on his partner
We've got the motive for the
crime" the two men shouted in one
breath.
Britt assumed an attitude of eager
interest. The prosecutor looked sig.
nif1cantly at him.
What have you discovered?" he
asked
THAT man Fitch is mixed up IN the
case just as l always thought" Dom
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 It here in black and
white" His fingers clasped three or
four letters which he Haunted tempt
ingly before the eyes of tho prosecu-
tor. They confirm our suspicion that
Fitch is at the bottom OF the whole
case Rather, that he's the man high
er up"
Mott gathered the contents of the
missives in three or four sweeping
glances as no handed them TO Br1tz.
He perused them closely, as II 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
pronounced.
Conclusive of what?" demanded
Britt.
THAT Miss Holcomb was the tool
of her flance, and that the two have
combined to enlist your sympathy"
II guess 1t wasn't bad bit of de-
tective work to get those letters"
Donnelly smiled.
81 guess not" agreed Carson, anx-
ious to justify his partners little out
burst of self-adulation.
Britt turned to them abruptly.
Their flippant tones irritated him. His
nature revolted at the ill-bred rejoic-
ing over the prospective degradation
of woman.
How did you get the letters?" he
asked brusquely.
DOnnelly, ready to burst with the
Importance he had gathered, needed
no urging to impart the desired In
formation.
Il had Doctor Fitch Swallowed from
the day he appeared at headquarters
to inquire about Miss Holcomb," he
said. That's how | got on that he
was negotiating with real estate
agent. Luckily, the agent was a
friend of mine, and he informed me
that Fitch had purchased and paid
for site on which to build a mod. |
ern sanitarium. Yes, sir, he put up
100000 for the ground; and the build. |
ings and furnishings, learned, are to |
cost nearly a quarter of a million. II |
wasn't easy to get the agent to turn |
over Fitch's letters, but I told him |
he'd have to produce them before
the grand Jury under a subpoena, so |
he handed them over"