The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-04-24
Xxx.
IN THE BOUDOIR.

III DtoAS pdfoA Ill
attention to this letter from Pauline.
Really, every word engraved itself on
his heart, as he read the lines, and
when he gave the paper to Gray Hav-
iland, 1t was only because he knew he
would need to refresh his mem
Dry as to the message Pauline had
sent him.
Stone also read the letter she had
written to Gray, and his deep eyes
clouded with pain at some Of the lines.
But he returned 1t to Haviland with
out comment, and then c%ourteously
dismissed the pair.
He's bothered to DEATH" said Gray,
as they went downstairs.
Som l." responded Anita. But
nobody cares about me. IT'S all Pauline
=:Yhetheg she's g. asssSSIas CO. :
Let Up Q1 that, 'Nita!" and GRAY
spoke wafningiy. "DohT you call Pau
line names In my hearing!"
Anita, pouting, founced away to her
own room.
Fleming Stone remained in Miss
Lucy Carrington's boudoir. He sat on
a window seat, and looked out across
the wide gardens and the innumerable
steps. There was not much snow now.
Merely great wind swept. stretches,
dotted with evergreen trees, and the
carved stone Of the terrace ratings
and balustrades.
Long Stone unused over Pauline's
letter. For a time, he gave himself up
to thoughts of her in which considera-
ton Of crime had no part. He knew
he loved her, loved her with all the
strength and power of his great ma
ture; with all the affection and devo-
ton Of his big heart; and with all the
passion and alteration Of his deep soul.
He knew she vas not averse to him.
Knew, almost, that she cared for him,
but he knew, too, that if he let his
mind dwell on such alluring thoughts
or visions, he could not work. And
work he must. Aye, work as he had
never before, with an incentive he had
never had before. And Fleming
Stones mind was troubled to know
whether this love for Pauline would
help or hinder this work he must do.
And he resolved, with all his mighty
will power, that it should help, that he
would control this surging emotion, so
new to him, and would force it to aid
and assist his efforts, and to triumph
over all doubts or obstacles.
Again he concentrated his whole
mentality on the room and It's contents.
He swore to wrest from the silent
witnesses the story Of the crime. This
was not his usual method Of proceed
ure. On the contrary, he almost In
variably learned his points from Ques-
tioning people, from observing sus-
poets, or quizzing witnesses. But he
realized the difference In essence be-
tween this case and any other in which
he had ever engaged. He had no
more questions to ask. He knew all
anyone could or would tell him. He
knew all the facts, all the tehor1es, all
the evidence, all the testimony. And
none of 1t was worth a picayune to
him, except negatively. This case
must be, and should be, solved by the
application of his highest mental pow
ers, by the most intense thought, and,
doubtless, by most brilliant and clever
deduction from hints not facts, from
ideas, not visible clues. To work.
then! To the work that must bring
success!
Leaving the window seat, Stone
walked round the room, and finally
drew up in front Of the mirror the
easy chair in which Miss Darlington
II l1l eok uyhn, rhn y.o0niun3 tho hI0u,
given by. Bates. Whether she had sat
here while. taking the poison, no one
knew. II Stones theory was right, she
had not.
BY referring to the photographs
taken Of Miss Darlington after he1
death, Stone was able to reconstruct
: the scene correctly.
He placed the easy chair just as il
had been when she a in it. He as
!, sumed the position she showed in The
photographs, and gazed at himself il
the mirror, as she must necessarily
have done.
: Slowly he went over that converse
. ton reported by Anita Frayne. Nevel
. for a moment had he doubted tn,
truth OF that report. He was sur,
/ Miss Darlington had really said 81
{ the things Anita repeated, and thu
i clear and indnbitable explanation Q
9 those remarks would mean, he wa
sure, the solution OF the mystery.
q BY way Of interviewing his silen
witnesses, he e~ndeayored to recor
c struct, in thought. Miss Carrington'
movements that night. Pauline an
Anita had left her, all three of ther
q angry, at q little after IL. Later. E.
I. telle had left her-that was about
quarter to 1. Then she had on be
q s $50