The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-05-01
CHAPTER xx-Continued.

What mad that poison been In before II
was put In that glass?
The e~ver-recurring thought that
someone might have brought 1t to the
boudoir after preparing it elsewhere,
no would not recognize. A sort OF
sixth sense convinced him that II he
kept on looking he must find that
clue. ..
He went into the bedroom. The
beautiful appointments, replicas OF Ma
RE Antoinette's, seemed to mock at
his quest. I'VE know" they seemed
TO laugh at him, 1--WE know all about
Il, but we will never tell" rs
Untouched since Estelle's defts hand
had turned back it's silken coverlets,
the bed seemed waiting for some fair
occupant With a sigh at the pAthos
OF 1t, Stone suppressed an involuntary
thought of the incongruity OF that
gilded, lace draped nest, and its pitt
fully unbeautiful owner. There was q
p~rofusion of embroidered pillows. and
across the satin puff lay a fairylike
night robe of gossamer texture and
c~oQuettish ribbons. A peignor OF pink
crepe lay beside 1t, and on the floor a
pair of brocade mules waited in vain
for feet that would again slip
into their furred Innings.
There was nothing helpful here, and
with a sigh Stone went on to the bath
room. Fit for a princess, the shining
white and cleaning silver showed
careful readiness. Embroidered tow
els, delicate soaps and perfumes were
in place-all showed preparation, not
use. .~,-. a3.u.st.
eff I were searching traces OF Es-
telle, now groaned Stone. despairing-
ly, to himself, II could find thousands.
But Miss Darlington didn't come in
here at all. But, whoever rinsed that
glass did," The thought caused Stone
to start with eagerness, 1t was the
fact of the glass being out Of line with
the other appointments Of the wash
stand that had first attracted his at
tention to 1t. After the test. the glass
had been returned to its place, now in
strict position between a silver cup
and a flask of violet water.
Spoon in it." mused Stone. Shows
carelessness IN the part Of whoever
put It there. Don't believe a spoon
was in a glass, generally, in this celes-
tial bathroom. Il"
His nominations were cut short by a
shock of surprise. Under the wash
stand was a small waste basket. Had
this been overlooked by the searchers?
Not surprising. for thorough search
had not been made in bedroom Or
bathroom, as in the room where death
had taken place.
Stone mechanically looked ove the
contents Of the little basket. There
was only a sca2t handful Of papers.
But carefully spreading q towel on the
floor he turned the basket upside down.
TrembIingly he fingered the papers.
The first was the wrapper that had
contained a cake Of French soap. At
a glance, Stone saw the corresponding
soap in It's silver dish. Estele had
doubtless placed 1t there, casting away
itS paper.
But among the scraps was another
paper-two more. They were-they
surely were in creases like the folds
OF a powder paper!
With lightest touch. Stone unfolded
them. There was one. about four
inches square, that had been folded
as IL to contain a powder. This was
white, and of a texture like writing
paper. The other was Of a paraffin
paper, exactly the same size and
shape, and in similar creases. Also
there was a bunchy ball of tin foil,
that, when smoothed out, proved to be
Of Identical shape and size with the
other tive.
There was no room for doubt. These
were unquestionably the wrappers Of
the aconitine! Stone detected on the
inside of the paraffin paper traces of
the powder itself and knew that a test
would prove his discovery a true find.
Now, then, where did he stand? To
his own mind, what he had found
proved that Miss Darlington had her
self gone to her bathroom, opened the
powder, thrown the papers c~arelessly
in tho basket, and then, mixing the
stuff with water, had taken 1t then and
there and rinsed the glass and set 1t
back on the shelf. 1t was all natural
and plausible.
But, he we'll knew, others would say
that, remembering her detestation Of
medlcaments, Miss Lucy Darlington
never did such a thing. Also, they
would say, someone else, omeon Of
whom, Miss Lucy felt no fear, had
mixed, the draught, and had admins.
tered it, by means of some yet undis-
covered but plausible misrepresenta,
ton. "a, "a
and only too well he knew whose
nam would be associated with the
deed!
Heavy Of heart. he returned to the
bon .loir and sat in the easy chair, be.
fore the mirror. .
:sew thoughts came surging. 1t was
su.a, now, that Miss Darlington took
Ito aconitine in a glass Of water, In
her own spartments-one OF them
and took IL. IL not knowingly or will
ingiy. at least without any great oh
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