Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-20
XVIII.
FLED.

The days went by, leaving the mys-
terry unsolved. Count Charlier wae
released from custody. there not being
sufficient evidence to hold him. Bates
was in Jail awaiting the action of/the
Grand Jury. btt it was recognized
Darlington.
Search for the poisoner had so far
been fruitless, and the newspapers
were clamoring for the arrest OF
somebody. But the Police Detectives
were at their wits end. and even
Fleming Stone vas haffled.
For hours, stone sat thinking over
the many peculiar features Of the
case. 1t was not in embarrassment
that: he felt himself unable as yet to
trace the criminal. it was rather with
a sensation Of curiosity that he won
dered what point he had overlooked.
There must be some clue, some
definite indication Of what way to
look. butts 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.
Its this way, Hardy" he would
say to the younger detective, "the
mystery centres about that paper
SAdNS. when We iLNu out lNc FedeoII
for Miss Carrington's sending for that
thing, we've the whole story, H.
You believe, then, that she did
send for it?"
"Of course; why not?".
We've only Miss Stuart's word for
that: and it doesn't seem as If Miss
Darlington would"
Nonsense! 1t doesn't seem you
mean, as if Miss Stuart would-why,
man, what possible sense could there
be in Miss Stuart's buying hat snake
to poison her aunt-which she didn't
she could have managed it in a
dozen ways without Juggling in that
paper reptile. In fact, it would
have occurred to her to do SO. Why
would she do it?"9.
I'm an attempt to frisAten the lady
to death?"
Rubbish! The first effect Of such
a fright would be a fearful cutlery on
Miss C~arrington's part, and immediate
discovery of the plot. Moreover, IL
such purpose, she would have bought
it recently; at some little. obscure
shop. not at a well-known emporium.
No. sir, the snake is the key to the
puzzle, but how? That is the s.Ques-
ton. You see, the doctors are pretty
sure that the thing was put round the
lady's neck before she died. There
fore she was either unconscious at the
time, or-she was willing"
Never! everybody ays her fear
of the things would never let her have
Il Observation-Disclosures
sSsfssss4 know they say so, but they may
"a sftiista1sen. Tin beginning to evolve
q theory athatgfNjll ft the facts, queer
as they are. hut my theory needs q
whole. lot OF other facts to back It up
and those faots I can't seem to -find."
docs your theory implicate Miss
Stuart?"
ut does not"
II thought not"
You thought quite right. II does
not iynplicate Mias Stuart. because she
is In no way responsible for her aunt's
death. But she may have knowledge,
or she may think she has, that Is lead
ing her to shield somebody else"
Whom ?"
Il don't know. She is rather a
'puxEiing creature. IL she-is she in
love with that cousin Of hers"
"Haviland7" w
.S the one in Egypt"
rs ON logia. / don't know. I'm sure.
You read his letter to her, ~ wasn't in
any sense . I0ve-letter.""
mo, but 1t WAS evidently ~ letter
written with the idea Of other people
residing It. because OF the circurn-
IstAaoeA OF course, he wouldn't put