The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-04-10

genuoust2'
Suppose we leave the question
of Miss Stuart out Of the discus
sion, and coAtinue our first line of
thought. Had Miss Darlington
ever spoken to you of changing
her will?'
As was his frequent experience,
Fleming Stones quick question
cailght his witness unaware, and
she stumbled a little in her speech
as she replied: "N-no. Why
lshould she?"
SONY because her frequent
q~uarrels with Miss Stuart might
have made her wish to leave less
of her fortune to her niece. And
in the conversation you over
heard, Miss Darlington touched
on this subject"
Yes, she did. But except for
that reference, spoken to her I'M
known companion, | have never
heard anything of such an inten-
tion on her part"
YOU re fond Of pearls, Miss
Frayne?'
"Oh, | know what you're get
ting at nov That speech Miss
Lucy made about fondness for
pearls. Of course, l am. Who
ism /? | often told Miss Caring
ton that admired her pearls far
more than all her diamonds or
other %glittering stones. But ]
wouldn't commit a crime for all
the pearls in the world! And. if
had, why didn't | steal the
pearls2"
Anita's voice rang out triumph
antly as she put this question. but
FLEMING Stone said quietly: Il
haven't accused you of crime.
Miss F'rayne, but since you ask
that, let me remind You. that if
the crime were done with ;Ltent
OF robbery, The reason that the
robbery was never accomplished
IS the sane that kept tns man
Bates from stealing Few people
can bring themselves to take val.
uables from a lead body. How
ever, ! cannot think the poisoning
was done with any idea oee rob
berry, but for the gain flat would
come by the requests of the
will"
Then your search is limited
by the list Of rrheritorsf'
IT ~, Miss Frayne."
Then, Mr.. Stone, how can Won
overlook or undervalue the weight
OF evidence against Pauline Stu
artY Remember, she bought that
snake herself. Miss Lucy never
told her to buy it, never in this
world! Pauline feared her aunt
would disinherit her,
How do You know 'hatf' the
question was shot at her. and
Anita fairly jumped as she heard
at.
Why-why, you know 1 heard
reference made to it that night
when--'
When you overheard that
conversation yes, go on Elem
ing Stone had gained his point,
which was to prove that Anita did
know OF the proposed change in
the will before that time. and TO
his own belief he had proved it.
Yes, / cannot doubt now that
Pauline knew her aunt intended
to change her will, and SO she
was SO desperate at the idea Of
losing her fortune, she-I cannot
bear to put it in words
She poisoned the lady, said
Fleming Stone, very gravely.
Yes Anita's voice choked,
but she enllnciated the word.
Mr.. Stone, you must think me
dreadful to hold these suspicious.
but you asked me to be frank
And I wish you to be- 80. I
am mere, Miss Frayne, to discover
the ppoisoner Of Miss Darlington.
it s n my duty to get all possible
hight on the matter from anyone i
can. Ies the duty Of those whom
II question to tell all they know,
truthfully and straightforwardly.
II these truths implicate or seem
Ito lniplicate a member Of the
household, none the less must the
investigation be carried on and
the case be pushed to its newt
able Heonclusion. The great dan
ger lies IN installing opinions or,
imaginatipns for facts. Now You