The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-01-09

lS ~ NUt GuStoiudIy iouhCo
at their dressing tables to use a
light side chairf"
4 This showed decidedly astute
perception, and the inspector
looked interestedly at the chair in
question, which he had not espe-
eially noticed before.
Being tacitly appealed to by the
coroner's inquiring eyes, Pauline
replied: 1T is true that my aunt
usually sat at her dressing table
in a small chair-that one, in
fact" and she pointed to a dainty
chair of gilded cane. ST have no
idea why she should choose the
heavy, cushioned one"
1T would seem, the coroner
unused, as if she might have sat
J down there to admire the effect
Of her belongings, rather than TO
/, arrange her hair, or toilet" "a.
A~bsorbedly, all present watched
Coroner Scofield' S movements.
1t was true, the quietly repose-
full attitude of the still figure
leaning back against the brocad-
ed upholstery, and so evidently
looking in the great gold framed
mirror, was that of one admiring
or criticizing her own appearance.
Added to this the fact Of her
bizarre costume and strange
adornments it seemed certain that
Miss Darlington had come to her
death while innocently happy in
the feminine employment of
dressing up in the elaborate finery
that she loved.
But the snakel
Carefully Coroner Scofield re-
moved the inexplicable thing. He
held it up that all might see. A
Japanese paper snake, a cheap
toy, such as is found together
with fans and lanterns in the ORR
entail department of large shops.
Gould this have been placed
round her neck after death ~
Scofield inquired of the doctors.
The two physicians agreed that,
though that was possible, yet the
appearance of the flesh beneath it
seemed to indicate its having en-
circled the throat during life.
"Never!" cried Pauline excit-
eddy. Aunt Lucy couldn't have
sat there and smiled with a snake
anywhere near herl"
THAT would seem So" and DIR.
Stanton nodded his head. 81 well
know of my late patients aver
sion to snakes. 1t amounted al
most to a mania! 1t is not an un-
common one; many women feel
the same, though seldom to so
great IN extent"
THAT deepens the mystery
said Coroner Scofiefd, tunless, in
deed, the snake was put on after
the crime. But that is eve more
mysterious, / shall now:remove
these valuable jewels and give
them To-"
He looked inquiringly at Havi-
land and Pauline, and the latter
Immediately responded: "Give
them to me, / am now mistress
here"
Hayiland said nothing, but he
looked at Pauline as If in disap-
proval. n
lis this Of great WORTH" in
quired Scofield, as he carefully
removed the scarf from the shout
ders it surrounded.
"Only moderately So" re-
turned Pauline. "It is a Syrian
scarf and was sent to her by her
nephew who lives in Egypt. It is
not new; he sent several to us
about a year ago."
She took the long, heavy, white
and silver drapery, and laid it in
a nearby wardrobe. Then the
coroner unfastened the large
pearls from their place as ear
drops and, taking up one lifeless
hand, removed its rings. All these
he handed to Pauline without a
word.
what is this2" he exclaimed
suddenly and, opening the curled
up fingers Of the other hand, he
drew forth a crumpled gray OBJ
ject. 1t was a glove, of soft suede,
and SO tightly had it been held
that it was deeply creased.
"A mans glovel' said the cor
oner, smoothing it out. "Will the
wonders Of this case never
c~ease2"
He scrutinized it; but, remark
ing only that it was of medium
size and superior quality, he laid
it carefully aside for the time.
From the same arm he removed
the scarab bracelet, also handing
that to Pauline.
.The lady was fond Of Oriental
jewelry," he observed.