Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-17

ly, though always polite on h sur
faee of things. But she is jealous OF
me, and tried in every possible way to
undermine my aunt's faith and trust
dtsinherited and my fortune be-
queathed to herself"
"An ambitious plant"
"she il ambitious. she intends to
marry Mr.. Haviland, and she intended
to have my half Of the Darlington
money"
You don't suspect her Of the
crime!" and Fleming Stone looked up
quickly.
Suspect is too strong a word. But
to me there seems room for grave in
quiries. I was in the hall at the time
she declares I was in my aunt's
room"
Wait q moment. Miss Stuart, isn't
this a sort Of deadlock? You say you
were in the hall, Miss Frayne says
you were in the boudoir. Why should
I believe one in preference to the
There @as' infinite sadness in Paul
TONER. THAT 10 So" she said slowly,
unsupported word. Nor has Anita
any witness. But. Mr.. \stonS, 1
thought 4 detective alwayS looked
first OF all for the motive. What
reason could I have .for-1or killing
my aunt?"
"Yeu put it plainly. Miss Stuart,
and I will reply in an equally straight
tectives think Of is, who viii benefit
by the crime? Naturally, money
benefit is tlrst thought Of. The great
est money benefit comes to you and
your cousin in Egypt. The nature Of
tho crime makes It Impossible that he
could have committed 1t. There is,
however, a possibility Of your own
connection with it, so we must Ques-
ton you. But there r others who
Death Of Miss Darlington, so they toe
must be questioned. You surely see
the justice and the necessity Of all
this investigation?
"oh, yes, and 1t seems to me also
justice that you investigate the story
Of Miss Frayne. She, too, has only
her own unsupported word as to that
conversation she relates. May she not
have made 1t all up?"
credible witness. Mr.. Haviland has
told me that he saw Miss Frayne at
the door Of the boudoir at about q
quarter past one"
Gray saw her! He didn't tell me
this. Mr.. Stone, I hate to speak i'll
Of another woman. but Miss Frayne
can really wind Gray Haviland round
her finger. and l have no doubt she
has persuaded him to give this evil
denee. whether"
Whether it is true or not?"
Yes. that is what I meant, though
/ hated to say it.".\
Miss Stuart, it Ia. often hard ITO
tell when a man speaks the truth, but
I have nc reason to disbelieve Mr..
statement. He told quite
ntially of being up and
down all night. He was restless and
about in several rooms dur
ing the small hours. You know he
told Of seeing the maid On the stairs.
truthful witness who would not lie
outright, even at the behest Of a
woman in whom he is interested"
Then they are going to suspect
Pauline's voice was 80 full Of
despair that Fleming Stone caught
breath as he looked at her. Her
great yes were wide with fear, her
YER clenched and her whole
body tense with Mortified suspense.
you an not be suspected" he cried,
leaning forward in his chair. /
Give me some proof that you were
in the hall at that moment, or that
you were in your own room, or-"l
That proves, Mr.. Stone. that you
suspect me! Your assumption !
hat I could have been in my own :
DOM shows that you do not believe /
vas in the hall-as I was"
'ou there?" |
How do Won know sh. aA.,+,
Why do you accept her words a.
ruth, yet ,disbelieve miner" Pauline ;
1adarisen now and stood before him.
Hell" tall slimness, her wonderful !
grace and her beautiful. angry coun-
enance made m alluring picture. IT
vas not in favor Of your taking this
:ase. Mr.. Stone, and I am even less
I say! I shall cable at once for
cousin to return. I do not wish
fray Haviland and Anita Frayne. to
arrange all this to suit themselves II
I'm mistress here, in, Loria's absence,
Ind II my authority il doubted I want
here tobstand up for met"
Just q moment. Miss Stuart. You
IRE not entirely just to me. 1t 10 nee
'ssary for mo to question you, but
more easily established BY = policy
II frankness on your part, than by |
'utile anger toward Miss Frayne or
Mr.. Haviland. The incident Of the
PAPER snake, rs explained by you. IL
hot necessarily discriminating, ana IL
will wait = few days before call
ng your cousin home, / think veryi
likely you will prefer not to do 70. n
understand that you do not wish him |
o come home. unless he can be Of
to your"
l"Yes, that 10 his desire, to stay over
here unless I want him. But, Mr..
and now the lovely face wa
almost smiling, IL you mean what
said, that you do not doubt my
then I will not send for
Mr.. Loria- I am content to let It ell
rest In your hands"
The girls beauty nov wa daagiinr. |
Color showed in her checks. her eyes
'hohe, and the curve Of her exquisite |
ooked It her insamasen1enAs Ne had |
truly. he had not doubtsd her
but this sudden elation on
her part pussled him. what did It
mean? Only, ~ she meant II to seem.
hat II he believed in her innocence
t could b. easily proved? Well, he
would accept that diagnosis Of her
attitude. but he would move Warily.
This case, wa unlike any other re
lad ever engaged in, d he must 1t. l
;ack It in Q different way. And hrst !
all, he must 4ecid1 which OF thesal
NO women Wis spea.kins. the truth.
st eon.p.euou.,y rich ia IL. midst !