Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-16
XIV.
PAUL1NE's

IA OIlNE . fOfOf1AOE.
Alone, Fleming Stone wrestled with
the problem of the giving of that poi.
son.
The library at Garden Steps had
been turned over to him for a study
and no one entered the room unless
summoned. Stone sat at the ma.
hogany ~table-desk, but his eyes rest.
ed ~unseeingly on the beautiful fittings
of polished silver and glass. On a
memorandum block he wrote down
the names of possible and probable
suspects. To be sure, he thought,
every n in the house might be
deemed possible, as we'll as some who
were not i'm the house. But each one
must be taken into consideration.
To begin with the most important.
poisoned her aunt, but so improbable
as to make it exceedingly unlikely.
True, she was heir to half the for
tune, but w%ell-bred, well-nurtured
young women do not commit crime to
inherit their money sooner. Except
for that conversation reported by An
ita Frayne, there was not a shred OF
evidence against Miss Stuart. And
Stone did not place implicit confidence
in that story of the talk behind closed
DOORS. He had discovered that the
WV gin q "OI0 HOS 1IlC1lOly dIO H0
knew Anita capable Of making up OF
coloring a tale to suit herself. Paul
inc had told him that she was in the
hall-window seat at one o'clock that
night and had seen Anita coming
from Miss Carrington's room. 'Or, to
put it more carefully, she had seer
her with her hand on the door-knob,
i n the act Of closing the door after
her. This Pauline had told to Stone,
with an air of such verify and truth
f~ulness hat he was fain to believe
her. However, in all honesty, he had
to admit to himself, that Miss Stuart
could have given the poison in some
secret way, had she so desired. The
same was true, though. Of Miss
'Frayne, of Haviland and Of the vari-
Gus house servants. But where could
any of them get it?
Again there were the Count and
Mrs. rockingham to be considered.
In fact, there were o many suspects
to decide among, without further evil
dence.
ANY luck?" Stone asked of Hardy,
who came into report.
mo, Mr.. stone. i've raked the
no trace Of d sale Of aconitine. It's
practically impossible to buy such a
substance. I mean, for the ordinary
customer"
yet somebody did"
II suppose. But doesn't 1t limit
the field Of search to realize that II
couldn't have been a servant or either
Of the young ladies 2"
why neither Of the young ladies p
But how could they get it?..'
T. why not as we'll as any one else ?
And somebody did"
Then somebody stolettt Nobody
bought 1t. I'm positive Of that, now
I've learned how impossible 1t 10 to
make such purchase. And how
could those girls steal tit7"
II don't know, Hardy, but my point
is. why couldn't they steal 1t il any
body could? You're denying their
ability to steal the poison, because
you don't want to suspect them. And
neither do !. but we must look thia
thing squarely in the face. Somebody
managed to get that aconitine and id.
minister It to Miss CarrtnGton secret.
", and 1t y for M to ind ont who did
|it-who could do It. iii 9thet face OF Il.
most i~nsuperabie obstacles. But It il
futile 10 say this one or shat. one
could kE 1ouldn't do III Now Since
you've found no trlcs ok the poison
sale let,sastarts from some other Point
Surely. this eass. With IT. unique cir.
cumstAncs4s e6efs mAny ways 70 loot