The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-01-02

- - "a
an evening gown. But this neg.
ligee is not unusual; it is one OF
her favorites. Though why she
has on that spangled scarf / can't
imagine."
"She seems to have been posing
before the mirror rather than en-.
gagged in making a toilet" DR.,
Stanton was a pompous, middle
aged man of fussy manner. He
did not again touch the body, but
he stepped about, noting the
strange conditions and comment
ing on them. This paper snake,
tight round her neck What does
that meant
] What can it meant" returned
Pauline. "She had an intense
hatred-even fear-of snakes
I've never seen it before. Gould
it have been placed there to
brighten her to deathf"
"No; she didn't die Of fright.
See, her expression is placid
even smiling. But the shattered
comb and dented skull have. but
one explanation a stunning
blow. Did she have on the comb
last evening2"
Eyes; it is a favorite one with
her. An heirloom from a colonial
ancestor. 1t encircled the entire
back of her head, when whole"
"At what time was she killed.
asked Gray Haviland. He had
stood, till now, a silent listener
to the conversation between Paul
inc and the doctor.
"Oh, many hours ago." re-
turned Stanton; "six or eight at
least. Evidently she was prepar-
ing for bed, and trying the effect
of some new finery."
"Those things are not new"
put in Anita; 'she has had them
all a long time. But she must
have been admiring herself, for
when we found her she had on
all her finest jewels"
"What2'' cried DR.. Stanton;
where are theyF"
IT took most of them off, re-
piled Pauline quietly, ''and put
them in the safe. If the police
people must come, / am not will
ing to have a fortune in jewels
here to tempt their cupidity. And
I have a right. 1t is no secret
that my cousin Darlington and /
are her heirs. But that snake
perplexes me beyond all else. Ii
you knew her aversion to them,
even pictured ones"
~ do know it," returned the
doctor; 81 have often heard her
say so. Ah," as he stepped care
fully about, ttshe was adjoining
herself see, here is powder scat
tered ON the floor. She used this
powder puff, shaking it over the
rug and floor
81 saw that the first thing!"
cried Pauline, excitedly; and
there was a -" she stopped,
looking in amazement at the white
dust on the floor. For where she
had seen a distinct footprint, as
of a stockinged foot, there was
now merely a blurred whirll
Some one had obliterated that
footprint!
"a whatf'' asked the doctor,
sharply.
Nothing. A-a lot Of powder
Spilled was going to say"
Gray Haviland looked at her.
"Tell the truth, Pauline he
said.
81 have" she replied with a
calm quite equalling his own.
Must we have the coroner, DIR.
Stantonf''
Eyes, yes, Of course; / will
telephone at once. There will be
police and detectives. OIL it is
a terrible easel Nothing must be
touched, nothing! If there is any
clue to this mystery, do not let it
be disturbed"
but you say it was without
doubt a burglar who did it," said
Anita, her wide eyes cleaning
blue.
1T must have BEEN
"Then why were none of her
jewels stolenf"
BLESS my soul" and DR.. Stan
ton looked as if a bomb had ex-
ploded at his feet. "Sure enough!
1t cannot have been a burglar
Who, thenf What other motive
than robbery"
ut was a burglar" declared
Pauline, "and he was-he was
frightened away by--by a noise
or something-"
mot ikelyl" said Anita,
with all those gems in easy
reachI"
"The coroaer and the police
49, --L