The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-04-03
XVII.
THE OVERHEARD CONVERSATION

"
THE OVERHEARD CONVERSATION
Awaiting the arrival of Anita
Frayne, Stone thought rapidly.
Forming his judgments, as al
ways, more by Impressions than
by words, he found himself be-
lieving in Pauline Stuart. She
had bought the paper snake, she
had lied about it, but many wom-
en- have done the same. knowing
that the purchase Of the toy
meant definite suspicion, wouldn't
any innocent girl have feared and
dreaded that exposure? If she
had been guilty, she would scarce
ly have dared deny the facts Of
buying it, lest it be proved against
her, and make matters worse.
Again, it was 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-
Pplice 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 Stone 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 Vas not q suspicious
OF 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.
opinion Of Pauline s possible
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
is a grave one. I am
forced to the conclusion, tenta-
at least, that Miss Caring
was deliberately poisoned by
some of her own household. It
nay have been a servant, but it is
difficult to imagine how or why a
servant could accomplish the
Iced. AT any rate, [ must first
the members Of the fam
ly, and in SO doing, I must re-
quest absdfdte truth and sincerity
rom all"
I'm sure I've no reason to
squivocate, MI. Stone" and
s voice was almost fippant.
All I've told what I heard at
Miss Carrington's door is abso-
utely true, and I can repeat it
word for word"
1T seems strange you have it
o accurately at your tongues
No at all. I went to my room
md wrote it down as soon as /
heard it. / often make such men,
'randa. They are frequently use
later"
Fleming Stone unused. This
seemed a strange thing to do, at
east in view Of the later events,
out then, if Miss Frayne had
oeen the guilty one, and had made
up all this story of overheard
conversation, surely she would
not have done anything SO pecu-
lar as-to make that detailed mem
or if she did, would not
have told of it.
II have, of course, a copy of
that memorandum" continued
Stone what I want is for you to
tell me again why yotf think It
could not have been entirely a So !
on the part Of Miss Car