Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-16
THE CURVED BLADES"
By CAROLYN WELLS, Author Of ~viay vsn," Etc.

and me, and 1 want Gray to e to all
matters connected with my share.
When HI gets around to 1t, he can
send me some money to further this
work I am engaged on here. But let
/ me know IL you want me to come to
you. With all loving sympathy n
affection, Carr.
Fleming Stone pondercd over this
letter. He had felt a certain curiosity
concerning this absent cousin, who
was heir to half the great fortune, ana
, so would have had q possible motive
for a crime that would secure his In
heritance to him at, once. But there
was no possible way of connecting a
man In Egypt with a deed committed
in the victims boudoir. Vague
thoughts of Loria's employing some
body to do the Iced for him formed
themselves in Stones mind, but were
soon dismissed as untenable. The
man Bates could not be a tool of any
lady. The poison did that. The
Count couldn't be a tool of any one.
He was too evidently his w master.
and whether guilty or not. was entire
~ on his own initiative. Oh, the
whole idea was absurd. The letter it
self was sufficient exoneration for
Loria. He was absorbed in his re-
search work and though thoughtful
enough Of Pauline's wishes, he was
plans over there interrupted. He
wrote like a good all round chap, and
Fleming Stone could find no peg on
which to hang a suspicion in his case.
IA good letter." he commented, re-
turning it to Pauline; what's your
cousin like?"
"1n looks? A little like me, but
bigger and darker. He's a fine-look-
ing man, and a kind-hearted one.. 1
shall advise him not to come home.
for I know how interested he is in his
work, and he can do no good here.
Can he, MIR. Stone?"
Frankly, Miss Stuart. I don't see
how he can. may as we'll admit to
you. the case GEMS to me a most
battling one. The assault with the
blackjack is, of course, accounted
for, but we have made no progress in
the matter of discovering the poison
er. I feel that the solution of the
mystery is closely connected with that
idea where the thing could have come
from? Do you think MIS- Darlington
bought it herself?"
Il am sure she did not" returned
Pauline, but her voice and information
were such that Stone turned quickly
to look at her. She had gone pale,
and her eyes looked frightened. "Oh,
no." she went on, hurriedly, aunt
Lucy would never buy such a thing.
She hated snakes"
II know that. but she must have
0ntfno - c4r,,1,,4n - =: ---i>. L.
think she put it round her throat her.
self than to think she let some one
else do It,"
Why do you say that?" and now
Pauline looked angry. "It is incredi-
BILE that she should have put that
thing round her own neck! What
could have induced hertz do it,"
There seems to be no theory to fit
the facts" said Stone, wearily, 80 we
must try to get some facts that may
suggest a theory. You think. Miss
leaving Miss Carrington's room late
that night?' ,,. ,>
Il know I saw her with her hand
on the doorknob," returned Pauline
steadily, and just then Anita herself
burst into the room. THAT is a
falsehood!" she cried, and her big
blue eyes flashed angrily; "how could
you see me- when You were yourself
In Miss CarringtonsS room 2" -
This was what Stone had wanted, to
get these two girls at variance; and
you, Miss Stuart?"
Certainly mott" crired Pauline.
you were!" Anita flung back.
Miss Darlington was talking to you!
She said she wished her face was as
beautiful as yours! To whom else
could she have said that? Surely not
to the Count! One doesn't call a man
beautiful. And we all know that Miss
Darlington admired your looks and
lamented her own lack of beauty"
All that applies equally we'll to
at the blonde beauty OF Anita. why
wasn't all that speech a dressed to
your own attractive face, and you re-
peat 1t to incriminate me?"
Here was an idea. Stone wondered
If it could be hat Anita was in the
boudoir and to turn suspicion from
herself tried to pretend she had heard
Pauline in there.
And she said you were fond of
pearls!" went on Pauline. "Your ad-t
miration for. my aunt's pearls is an
open secret"
1t was. Often had Anita said how
much she preferred the soft lustre of
pearls to the dazzling sparkle of other
gems.
And she left you ten thousand dol
lars in her WILL" continued Pauline.
more as if thinking these things over
aloud than as If accusing Anita of
crime.
"Wait, Miss Stuart" cried Stone;
what are you doing? Implying that
Miss Frayne had anything to do with
the tragedy"
Il am implying nothing. 1 am try
ing to see how far the ACQUISITIONS she
makes against me will fit her own
case. You remember she said my
aunt proposed to leave my share Of
the fortune to some one else, but
Carr's share must remain untouch-
ed. Well, to whom else could she
think Of giving my share, but to this
scheming girl who tried her best to
get my portion. but did not succeed?"
:. Anita struggled to reply. but words
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