Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-16
for evidence. What strikes me most
forcibly is the costume Of the lady.

for evidence. What strikes me most
forcibly is the costume Of the lady,
Not so much the gown believe she
was fond OF elaborate boudoir robes
but tho array Of jewelry, the gilt.
tering scarf and the snake. Most OF
all, the snake. That, of itself, ought
to point directly to the true solution
and 1 believe it does, only we're too
that snake clue, and to help, I wish
you'd 20 at once to all the possible
shops where it nights have been
bought. 1t may not be traceable and
then, again, 1t may. And. the strange
fact of her sitting idly before the mir
ror when she died! Whoever gave her
the poison was there on the spot,
must have been-for it's sure enough
that she didn't take it herself. accord
ing to the doctors statements. Wen
II the murderer was right there with
her, and she not only made no out
cry but continued to look smiling and
happy, it was surely some one she
knew and in whom she had all conf
dence. Perhaps this person urged her
to eat the sandwich-oh, pshaw,
that's all plausible enough-but, the
snake! That's the bizarre clue that
must lead somewhere. And it shall!
I'll ferret out the mystery of that pa
per snake or my names not Stone!
! shops and department stores. but find
out who bought it. 1t isn't old. 7 OBJ
served it was fresh and new. Those
f1imsy paper things show handling
mighty quickly. Find cut who bought
the thing. and we've a start in the
right direction"
Hardy went off on his GRAND and
Stone went over to have a talk with
J Mrs. rockingham.
The widow ,was amiable but non
committal, She was highly incensed
at the arrest Of the Count, but felt
confident he would be liberated in a
few days. She replied warily to
Stones questions, but admitted her
evening.
"You see." she said, in a conf
dental way, II was lonely. The
' Count had gone so often of late to
Garden Steps. and / IA never invit-
ed. that I think l was a little jealous
! "Of Miss Carrington?" asked Stone,
quickly.
Yes" said Mrs. rockingham.
frankly; land of Miss Stuart. and of
the Counts intimacy over there. l
had even been in the house. So
I went over there and looked in the
windows. saw them playing cards
The great door stood a little ajar and
I cautiously stepped inside. 1t was
vulgarly curious, but it was no crime.
AS I stood in the hall I saw some one
approaching, and stepped up a few
steps of the staircase. 1t was all
so beautiful that 1 looked at the
tapestries and decorations. remem
Der thinking that if any one chal-
lenged me, / should tell the truth,
and say that 1 came in to look, as a
neighbor ought to have a right TO
do"
Never mind the ethics Of the case
Mrs. rockingham, stick to facts. Did
you go upstairs?"
mo, indeed, only up four or five
steps, just to the turn of the stair
But Mr.. Illsley saw you coming
down."
"Only those few steps. He couldn't
have seen me coming from the top Of
the stair, for 1 didn't go up SO far
You spoke of being jealous Of Miss
Stuart. Why?"
because Count Charter is in love
with her.
With Miss Stuart?"
Yes; he was making up to Miss
Darlington for her money, but he is
really in love with Miss stuart"
Mrs. rockingham shook her head
doggedly, as If determined to tell this,
even though it should rebound to the
Counts discredit. And it did.
Then said Fleming Stone. that
adds motive to the theory Of the
Counts guilt. If he is in love with
Miss Stuart, might he not have been
tempted to put Miss Darlington out of
the way. that Miss Stuart should in
herit the fortune, and be the bride of
his choice?"
"Ineed, yes, that is a possibility"
n Fleming Stone saw at last, that
this oma either suspected the
Counts guilt Or wished to make it
appear so.
Again, the sudden thought struck
him, suppose she was so jealous of
the Counts attentions to Miss Car
rington, that she went to Garden
lady. Suppose she did go upstairs,
although she denied 1t, and put the
poison in the sandwich. Surely, she
had opportunity. Surely, she would
now deny it.
Fleming stone sighed. He hated a
case where the principal witnesses
were women. One never could tell
when they were lying. A man, now.
was much more transparent and his
evidence more easily weighed.
However, If this woman desired to
turn suspicion toward Count Charlier,
it was either because she suspected
him, or was implicated herself. In
either case, her. word was not worth
and Stone oon took his leave
to hunt a more promising field.
Returning to Garden Steps, he
found that Pauline had received a
letter from her cousin in Egypt.
II am afraid" she said, as she
handed Stone the letter to read, that
my cousin Carr will think We are not
accomplishing much. Read the let
ter. Mr.. Stone, and IL you say so., I
will ask Mr.. Loria to come home"
Glad to. read the letter from this
half heir to the Darlington fortune.
Stone took the sheet. 1t a
Dear Polly: n,
y III awful SHOCK If Amt rucv'a