The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-03-27

never buy such a thing. She hated
snakes" !.
II know that, but she must
have gotten it somewhere. 1t is
easier to think she put it round
her throat herself than to think
she let some one else do it."
why do you say that" and
now Pauline looked angry. 1T is
incredible that she should have
put that thing round her own
neck! What could have induced
her to do it?"
"There seems to be no theory
to fit the facts" said Stone,
! YEARLY, $50 we must try to get
some facts hat may suggest a
theory. You think, Miss Stuart,
that you saw Miss Frayne leaving
Miss Carrington's room late that
night"
Il know / saw her with her
hand on the doorknob," returned
Pauline steadily, and just then
Anita burst into the room. "That
is a falsehood!" she cried, and her
big blue eyes flashed angrily
chow could you see me when you
were yourself in Miss Caring
tons room3"
This was what Stone had want
ed, to get these two girls at var
lance; and he helped along by
saying: "Were you, Miss Stu
art9" .'f.
Certainly not J." cried Pauline.
"You were!" Anita flung back.
miss Darlington was talking to
you! She said she wished her face
was as beautiful as yours! To
whom else could she have said
that Surely not to the Count !
One doesn't call a man beautiful.
And we all know that Miss Car
rington admired your looks and
lamented her own lack Of
beauty"
"All that applies equallyAwell
to yourself" and Pauline gazed
steadily at the blonde beauty of
Anita. "Why wasn't all that
speech addressed to your own at
tractive face, and you repeat it to
incriminate met"
Here was an idea. Stone won
dered if it could be that Anita
was in the boudoir and, to turn
suspicion from herself, tried to
pretend she had heard Pauline in
there.
"And she said you were fond
of pearls" went on Pauline.
your admiration for my aunt's
pearls is an open secretl' ..
1t was. Often had Anita said
how much she preferred the soft
luster of pearls to the dazzling
sparkle of other gems.
"And she left you $4,000 in
her WILL" continued Pauline,
more as if thinking these things
aloud than as if accusing Anita of
crime.
Wait, Miss Stuart" cried
Stone "what are you doing9 I'm
plying that Miss Frayne had any
thing to do with the tragedy"
II am implying nothing. I am
trying to see how far the accusa-
tions she makes against me will
fit her own case. You remember
she said my aunt proposed to leave
my share of the fortune to some
one else, but Carr's share must
remain untouched. Well, to whom
else could she think Of giving my
share but to this scheming girl
who tried her best to get my por-
ton, but did not succeed"
Anita struggled to reply, but
words would not come. So furious
that she could not articulate, she
gurgled Historically, when into the
room came Haviland and Hardy.
Both looked exceedingly grave,
and Gray went at once to Pauline
and put his hand kindly ON her
shoulder. Then he suddenly
caught sight of Anita and her evil
dent distress, and leaving Pauline
he went over to the other and put
his arms gently round her.
"What is it, Anita9 What has
upset you so2' ..s.
Pauline !" was all Anita could
say, when she was interrupted by
Hardy.
"Let me speak first" he said,
for he saw there was dissension
between the two girls. II have
made a discovery. At Mr.. Stones
directions l have been investigat-
ing shops whore the paper snake
might have been bought, and /
have learned that one was bought
at Vantine's recently by Miss
Stuart"
"Ah," said Fleming Stone
gravely, "did you buy one, Miss
STUART"
Pauline hesitated. She was