Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1919-04-17

"stop! Mr.. Hardy, I know you
think you're right, but you are
not DO You hear, you are not .
And LII prove it to you, and that
soon. LII ferret out this thing.
and LII do it on this new theory
OF mime whether yon believe it or
not!''
Hardy looked at the man in
amazement. He had expected a
different mode OF procedure from
this talented slcuth. He had
looked for a quiet, even icy, de-
meanor, and magical and instan-
taneous solution of all mystery.
And here was the great man,
ciearly batfled at the queerly tam
gled web of evidence, and, more
over. caught in the tolls of a.
woman whom Hardy fully be-
lleved to be the criminal herself.
But he only said quietly.
What way does your theory
point, Mr.. Stone? ! may be able
w HciP you.
You can't, Hardy, because
your so determined to find Miss
Stuart guilty that you couldn't
see 1T as do. You consider the
strange features of this case-and
Lord knows they are strange!L
separately, whereas they must be
looked at as a whole. The gown.
the quantity of jewelry, the smil-
ing face, the glove, the overheard
CONVERSATIONAL these points are
TO be considered as one of import
as leading to one conclusion.
And you think of them as impli-
eating separately, mind vol
Miss Stuart, Miss Frayne and the
noble count. Now, all those queer
points are not only connected. but
identical in their significance. But
never mind that. Here's the place
to begin. Miss Darlington was
poisoned; She didn't poison her
self. Who didf"
Mr.. Stone. you have mt Il
tersely. | entirely agree that all
we are seeking is the answer to
that last question of yours"
will yet give it to YOU" and
Fleming Stone spoke solemnly
rather than boastingly. "The
poison. the aconitine, was taken
by Miss Darlington as she sat
! there at her own dressing table.
She took it willingly, smiling
ly-'
Yes, because she didn't know
she was taking it. When she ate
the sandwich"
"The poison wasn't in the sand
wich. She took that poison in wa
ter. The tumbler and spoon that
were used are even now on the
glass shelf in her bath ROOM"
"You know this9"
~ know that in the glass that
now stands there a chemist has
found a slight trace of aconite. /
took the glass myself to be tested,
with that result. This is not a
great discovery, it merely proves
that the poison was administered
in water, not in q sandwich"
"Rut IL also means that it was
given to her by someone who
could persuade her to take the 80.
luton. unquestioningly-not un.
der compulsion.'e
sit would seem So"
"And that points to Miss Stu.
art"
"Not necessarily. Hardy. Ire.
fuse to discuss these things with
yon if you avow everything t.
condemn her. Why does what !
have Just told you point to Miss
Stuart any more than anyone else
in the housed Why not Miss
Erayne7 Or Haviland3" I,
"Pshaw! Nobody suspect.
Gray Haviland.''
but why mott If you re mere
ly %stspecting here and there with
out definite reason, why not in
'clude him OH your list? And here
another thing. Whoever mixed
that poison in the glass Of water
! afterward rinsed the glass and re
turned it to it's place in the batl
room This wssieither done ct tn
;time, that il, before. the lady died