The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-04-10

tnlnk those words were
spoken to some inanimate object,
not to a person, Suppose the re-
mark thought to be said to Count
Charlier was addressed to his
glove, which she was undoubtedly
holding at the time" i
Il never thought of that, be-
cause | have assumed that Pauline
put that glove in her hand after
after it was all over, to implieate
the count. And, any way, that's
only that n remark-or two. To
what inanimate object was she
talking when she said Tomorrow
all these jewels may be yoursR'"
THAT | cannot answer. That
whole conversation is most mystic
rious."
Indeed it is, Mr.. Stone, under
any other hypothesis than that of
the presence of Pauline Stuart in
her aunt's room at the time!" -
May 1 come inff' and Gray
Haviland's good natured face APP
peared, as he knocked and opened
the door almost simultaneously.
YES said Stone, land l will
ask you, Miss Frayne, to leave us.
| am getting to work in earnest
now, and | want to push things a
little"
Stone watched the effect of this
speech on Anita and was not sur
prlsed to e her look at him with
startled eyes, as she unwillingly
went through the door he held
open for her.
What s doing3" asked Havi-
land, in his breezy way and Stone
replied, frankly: Lots. Those
two girls are sworn foes, aren't
theyf" 1885,.
"Of late they have seemed to
be. The break came a month or
more before Miss Darlington died.
Two beauties never can remain
friends"
They are both beautiful WON
en-" agreed Stone. (Which do
you think had a hand in the trag-
edyY"
Good Lord! Neither of them !
What are you talking about? That
count man is responsible for the
whole thing, Bates and all"
Il know you think so, Mr.. Havi-
land, but l can't agree with you.
Now, look here, we've got to face
things squarely. Take the story
Miss Frayne tells, about that mys-
terious conversation. If it were all
a Pigment of her BRAIN"
what! Man, you re crazy 4!
Anita Frayne make that all up
out of the solid! Never, in a thou
sand years. If she said that talk
was talked, it was talked, and
that's all there is about that! Why
or by whom it was talked, is an
other matter, and as | understand
it, that's what you re here to find
out, And between you and me.
and the arr light, 1 don't believe.
you ever will find out" ,
"Nof'' .. ,-:. .a3s a.-. ;
"Noi And this is no aspersion
on your powers. | believe that fool
count was in there, and as he'll
never admit it, and you'll never
believe it, how can it be provedf"
"Never mind that, now. Pre-
pare yourself, Mr.. Haviland, for
some unwelcome questions. You
don't want to, but I must insist on
your answering them. Which do
you consider the more truthful and
honest of the two young women
I've just been talking tot" 3
Mike! You can't get an an
swer to that question out of me |!
Why, I'd be a cad to say anything
but that they are both i%mpeccably
truthful and honest" e
$50 you would, in ordinary cir
eumstances. But you must realize,
Mr.. Haviland, that I'm here for
the definite purpose of solving the
mystery of a terrible crime, and I
can only do it by inquiry and in
vestigation. If you really refuse
to help me | must learn what I
want to know in other ways"
"But, hang it, man. and Hav-
iland, impressed by Stones man
ner, considered the question; 81
do think they're both truthful
that is, one Of them-Oh, / cant
say it! l cant talk against a
woman!" ..
You'll be obliged to tell all
you know, sooner or later. If you
tell me now, l truly believe it will
be better all round"
"Well, then-now wait, I've
got to think this thing out; I be-
lieve-why, blessed if | don't be-
lieve either of them would lie if
she was in a tight place There !
you've made me say a nice, hon
orable thing, haven't you9" and
Haviland looked utterly disgust
al With Sfnna onJ b;n,,alf 80