Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1919-03-27

u letter from her cousin i'm Egypt.
81 ann afraid, she said, as she
handed Stone the letter to read,
that my cousin Carr will think
we L not accomplishing much.
Read the letter, Mr.. Stone, and,
if YOU say so, | will ask Mr.. Loria
to come home"
Glad to read the letter from this
half heir to the Darlington for
tune, Stone took the sheet. 1t ran:
Dear Polly:
The awful shock of Aunt Lucy's
death leaves me without words to tell
you what ] feel for you in YOU dark
hours. What can ! say in the face
of such a horror? I wish l were there
with you to help you bear it all. For
on you comes the brunt of the pub
licity and all the narrowing details
that must be attended to. IL you say
so, l will return to America at once.
But, unless l can be of definite as-
sistancc or real comfort to you, per-
sonally, l would rather not &c. over
just now. I'm just starting on a won
de.ful piece Of work here. No less
than excavating-bLt l won't take
time to tell Of it now. III write you
about it later. if I don't 60 to you.
This is a short note to catch the mail,
and reach you as 500 as possible.
Remember, as l write, I have only
your first two cables, and know moth
ing OF details. l eagerly await your
letters. Why don't you follow ont
your plan OF coming over here in Feb
ruary? Leave all business matters in
Haviland's hands, and get away from
the scene Of the tragedy. OF course.
as cabled Gray, get the best possible
detective experts on the case. Spare
no expense, and charge all to me.
Surely, we want to find and punish
the slayer Of Aunt Lucy, and l repeat,
II you, for any reason, want me to, 1
will come owe at once. Cable, and
| will take the next steamer. II you
don't do this. do write me long letters
and tell me everything that is hap
pening. Poor Aunt Lucy. I know
your life with her wasn't all a bed of
roses, but I know how saddcned you
are nOw.a and my heart goes out to you.
Dear Polly, command me in any way.
am entirely at your service here or
there. II you come v e here. l advise
Haviland to stay there and look after
things. l know the bulk OF Aunt
Lucy's fortune is divided between you
and me. and l want Gray to see to all
matters connected with my share.
When he gets around to it, 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 and
affection, Carr.
Fleming Stone pndercd over
this letter. He had felt a certain
curiosity concerning this absent
cousin who was heir to half the
great fortune, and SO would have
a possible motive for a crime that
would secure his Inheritance to
him at once. But there was no
possible way Of connecting a man
in Egypt with . deed committed
ir the victims boudoir. Vague
thoughts Of Loria's employing
somebody to 10 the deed for him
formed themselves in Stones
mind, but were soon dismissed Us
untenable. The man Bates could
mot be a tool Of anybody, and, be-
sides, he didn t kill the lady. The
poison did that. The Count
couldn' t be a tool Of anyone. He
was too evidently his own mas
tier, and, whether guilty or not,
WAS entirely on his own Initiative.
lOh, the whole idea was absurd.
The letter itself was sufficient ex-
oneration for Loria. He was alb
sorbed in his research work and,
though thoughtful enough Of
paNline's wishes, he was appar-
entity rot anxious to have his plans
over there interrupted. He wrote
like a good all round chap, and
Fleming Stone could find no peg
on which to hang. q suspicion ID
his case.
a good letter. he comment.
led, returning Il to Pauline
!ss,wkkat' your ea!.sin iike4.
III tooksf Aiifsle 1ike ne, but
bigger and darker. He;1a fine
looking man, and : kind hearted