The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-04-10

FAR been frrit.ess, and the news
papers were clamoring 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 IN
able as yet to trace the criminal,
it was rather with a sensation of
curiosity hat 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
Impotence of those who watched
him. ~ s''-' .@@ "st@ VI ~
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
tons sending for that thing,
we've the whole story"
"You believe, then, that she did
send for it2'A%'' y" t.| .'..
"Of course; why mott" 4,
"We've only Miss Stuart's
word for that; and it doesn't
seem as if Miss Darlington
would" - "s 49, .
Nonsense . It 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
cling in that paper reptile. In
fact, it never would have oc-
Cured to her to do so. Why
would she do itF' .. ..l .,r-
Sin an attempt to brighten the
lady to death9'
Rubbish !, The first effect of
such a fright would be a fearful
cutlery on Miss Carrington's part,
and immediate discovery of the
plot. Moreover, if Miss Stuart
bought that snake for any such
purpose, she would have 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 howH 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"
81 know they say so, but they
may be mistaken. I'm beginning
to evolve a theory that will fit
the facts, queer as they are. But
my theory needs a whole lot of
other facts to back it up, and
those facts | can't seem to find"
Does your theory implicate
Miss Stuartf"
i'It does not"
II thought not"
"You thought quite right. 1t
does not ~implicate 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"
"Whomi"
81 don't know. She is rather a
puzzling creature. Is she-is she
in love with that cousin of hersf"
"Haviland7"
"No, the one in Egypt"
ooh, Loria. | don't know, I'm
sure. You read his letter to her,
1t WASH I In any sense a love let
ter"
H"No, 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 vas typewriter, so
/ couldn't judge anything of the
man from his chirography."
"Does handwriting mean much
to you9"
eyes, indeed. It is a wonderful
expression of character. But I
don't suppose it would declare
his alteration of a lady, unless he
put it in words Also"
"You don't connect Loria with
the crime in any way, do youf"
81 don't see how I can, unless
in collision or through the as
sistance of Miss Stuart. And I'm
not ready to do that. I'm work
ing now on that conversation
by MicS Eroupa