The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-01-23

tAA& AAAoR0NtOA W N-
in his pocket.
There is no doubt as to the
main facts" said the inspector
q half hour later as, with the
members of the family, he summed
up what had been found out from
all known sources. 1.-THE assail-
ant was most certainly a bur-
glarious intruder; the weapon,
this blackjack; the motive, rob-
berry. Why the robbery was not
achieved, and what is the meaning
of the unexplained circumstances
of the whole affair, we do not yet
know. They are matters to be in
vestigated, but they cannot great
ly affect the principal conditions.
You may be thankful, Miss Stu
art, that the sad death of your
aunt was undoubtedly painless ;
and also that the thief did not
succeed in his attempt to purloin
the valuable gems.
The inspectors speech might
seem cold hearted, but Brunt was
a practical man, and he was truly
glad for himself that in addition
to finding the murderer he did
not also have to recover a fortune
Of rare jewels.
Now he went on, 'sas to the
maid, Estelle. / have talked with
her, but she is so hysterical and
her stories so contradictory that
/ am inclined to the opinion that
she has some sort of guilty knowl-
edge or at least suspicion of the
intruder. The man was stocking
footed, and it is a pity, Miss Stu
art, that you erased the footprint
on the floorl But it would have
been of doubtful use, / dare say.
We have found faint tracks Of the
powder on the steps of the stair
case, and though the last ones are
almost indiscernible they seem to
lead through the buffers pantry
and to an exit. by that window.
But the window was found fas-
tened this morning, so, If it was
used as a means for the burglars
getaway, it must have been
fastened afterward by some per-
son inside. Could this person have
been the maid, Estelle2"
"Sure it could!" exclaimed
Haviland, who was an interested
listener. "That girl is a sly one!
/ caught her this morning trying
to take away that glass Of milk.
/ told her to let it alone"
"Why?" asked the inspector.
Because / thought if she want
ed to get it away there must be
some reason for her to want it
What was it,"
"Nonsenel" and Anita looked
scornfully at Gray; naturally
Estelle would do up the rooms and
would, Of course, remove the re-
mains Of Miss Lucy's night lunch
con-"
"But that's just itl'' said Havi-
land triumphantly; 'tshe didn't.
tack the plate that had had sand
witches on It'll If she had l should
have thought nothing of it. But
she took the glass of milk in a
furtive, stealthy way that made
me look at her. She turned red
and trembled, and 1 told her to
set the glass down. She pretend
ed not to hear, so / told her again.
Then she obeyed. But she glared
at me like a tigress."
"Oh, rubbish said Anita.
"She was annoyed at being inter-
fered with in her work, and per-
haps fearful Of being ensured
"All right" said Haviland,
then there no harm done. If
that girl is entirely innocent what
I said won't hurt her. But she
looked to me as if on a secret err
rand and a desperate one"
"What puzzles me u.s." unused
the inspector, why she persists
in saying that she left the tray
in good order in the room-though
it was discovered an hour later
upset-when we know that Miss
Darlington had been dead since,
at least, 2 or 3 o'clock" ~
"Look here, Inspector" and
Haviland frowned, eff the muir
der was committed at 2 or 3
o'clock, how is it that Mrs. Froth-
.ingham saw the intruder 'escap-
ing at 4 or later7"
"There is a discrepancy there"
admitted Brunt, "but it may be
explained away. The doctors can
not be sure until the autopsy Is
completed Of the exact hour of
death, and, too, the lady next door
may have made an error in time
"Well, III inform you that Els
telle did upset that tray herself"
said Pauline with an air of
finality.
"How do you know9" and In
--~. D, ~noxl - ~-