The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-04-10
far been fruitless. and the news

papers were clamOrlng for the ar
rest of somebody. But the po-
! lice detectives were at their wits
end, and even Fleming Stone was
baffled.
For hours, Stone sat thinking.
over the many peculiar features
of the case. 1t was not in embar-
rassment that he felt himself un-
able as yet to trace the criminal,
it was rather with a sensation of
curiosity that he wondered what
point he had overlooked. There
must be some clue, some definite
indication, of what way to look,
but SO far he had not perceived it.
SO interested was he in the
search that he took no note of the
passing of time or the growing
impatience of those who watched
him.
Its the way, Hardy" he
would say to the younger detec-
tive, the mystery centers about
that paper snake. When we find
out the reason for Miss CARING
toms sending for that thing,
we've the whole story
"You believe, then, that she did
send for it?'
"Of course; why notq"
We've only Miss Stuart's
word for that; and it doesn't
seem as if Miss Darlington
would
"Nonsense! 1t doesn't seem,
you mean, as if Miss Stuart
would Why, man, what
possible sense could there be in
Miss Stuart's buying that snake
on her own account? If she set
out to poison her aunt-which she
didn't-she could have managed
it in a dozen ways without lug
ging in that paper reptile. In
fact, it never would have oc-
cured to her to do so. Why
would she do it,"
"In an attempt to brighten the
lady to death?"
Rubbish! The first effect of
such a fright would be a fearful
outcry On Miss Darlington S part,
and immediate discovery! Of the
plot. Moreover, if Miss Stuart
bought that snake for any such
purpose, she WouldNhaye bought
it secretly at some little, obscure
shop, not at a well known empo-
rum No, sir, the snake is the
key to the puzzle, but how? That
is the question. You see, the doc
tors are pretty sure that the
thing was put round the lady's
neck before she died. Therefore
she was either unconscious at the
time, or-she was willing"
Never! Everybody says her
fear of the things would never let
her have it put on her willingly"
Il know they say so, but they
may be mistaken. I'm beginning
to evolve a theory that will fit
the facts, queer a they are. But
my theory needs a whole lot Of
other facts to back it up, and
those facts | can't seem to find
docs your theory implicate
Miss Stuart?'
sit does not"
II thought not"
"You thought quite right. It
does not i%mplicate Miss Stuart,
because she is in no way respon-
sible for her aunt's death. But
she may have knowledge, or she
may think she has, that is leading
her to shield somebody else"
"Whom?'
II don't know. She is rather a
puzzling creature. Is she-is she
in love with that cousin Of hers?o
"Haviland9'
mo, the one in Egypt
"Oh, Loria. / don't know, I'm
sure. You read his letter to her,
it wasn't IN any sense a love let
ter"
mo, but it was evidently a let
ter written with the idea of other
people reading it, because of the
circumstances. OF course, he
wouldn't put any intimate talk
in it. And it was typewriter, SO
| couldn't judge anything of the
man from his chirography.o
Does handwriting mean much
to you9'
Eyes, indeed. It is a wonderful
expression of character. But I
don't suppose it would declare