The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-04-03
XVII.
THE OVERHEARD CONVERSATION

frayne, Stone thought rapidly.
Forming his judgments, as al
ways, o by Impressions than
by words, he found himself be-
1ieving in Pauline Stuart. She
had bought the paper snake, she
had lied about it, but many wom-
zen have done the same. Knowing
that the purchase of the toy
meant definite suspicion, wouldn't
any innocent girl have feared and
dreaded that exposuref IL she
had been guilty, she wouldtscarce-
Wy have dared deny the facts Of
buying it, lest it be proved against
her, and make matters worse.
Again, it vas impossible to con
meet that magnificent woman with
crime! If she were connected
with it, it could only be as the
criminal herself. There was no
theory that admitted of her being
an accomplice, or a tool. Stay,
there was that Loria man. Stone
couldn't rid himself of a vague
idea Of duplicating the distant
nephew by means of an accom-
Iplice on the spot. But the notion
was not logical. If Pauline had
killed her aunt under her cousins
instructions, she was just as much
a murderer as if she had done it
entirely on her own initiative.
And if the two cousins had con-
spired or worked in collision, it
was Stones duty to fasten the
deed on Pauline, as the available
one of the pair. Stone ran over in
his mind the letter from Loria. 1t
gave no hint of greed or cupidity
in his nature. He was engrossed
in the pursuit of his hobby, arch
aeology, and was only willing to
leave his work if that would def
nitely please his cousin, on whom,
he fully appreciated, the respon-
sibilities of the occasion would
fall. He fully trusted Gray Havi-
land to look after all business af-
fairs, so he was not a suspicious
or over careful nature. He asked
no immediate money and only de-
sired some, in the course of time,
to further his work, Whatever
might be the truth, there was no
reason to cast a glance of suspi-
cion toward Darlington Loria.
His opinion of Pauline possible
guilt Stone held in allegiance, and
Miss Frayne entering, he greeted
her with punctilious politeness
and a confidential air, tending to
put her at ease. -..
miss Frayne," he began, "the
situation is a grave one. l am
forced to the conclusion, tenta-
lively at least, that Miss Caring
ton was deliberately poisoned by
some of her own household. 1t
may have been a servant, but it is
difficult to imagine how or why a
servant could accomplish the
deed. At any rate, / must first
consider the members of the fam
lily, and in so doing, I must re-
quest absofdte truth and sincerity
from all" \- f..
"I'm sure I've no reason to
equivocate, Mr.. Stone" and
Anita s voice was almost fippant.
"All I've told what I heard at
Miss Carrington's door is abso-
lutely true, and I can repeat it
word for word"
1T seems strange you have it
so accurately at your tongues
end" 49,. 90.
"Not at all. l went to my room
and wrote it down as soon as I
heard it. I often make such mem
oranda. They are frequently use
full later"
Fleming Stone unused. This
seemed a strange thing to do, at
least in view of the later events,
but then, if Miss Frayne had
been the guilty one, and had made
up all this story Of overheard
conversation, surely she would
not have done anything so pecu-
liar as to make that detailed mem
orandum or if she did, would not
have told of it. 81 ~.
II have, Of course, a copy of
that memorandum" continued
Stone "what 1 want is for you to
tell me again why YOU think it
could not have been entirely a So
liloquy on the part of Miss Car
rington." .s
"For two reasons. First, I have
lived with the lady four years,
and never have / known her to
talk to herself or soliloquize
aloud. Of course, this does not
prove that she never did so, but
l know it was not her habit. Sec
ond, nobody in soliloquy. ever
would use that definite intona-
ton which is always used; in
speaking to a person. You know
yourself, Mr.. Stone, that a solilo-