The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-04-24

IN THE BOUDOIR.

.n. IN THE BOUDOIR. SID
Apparently, Fleming Stone paid little
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-
Hand, 1t was only because he knew he
would never need to refresh his mem
DRY as to the message Pauline had
sent him. .r
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 It to Haviland with
out comment, and then courteously
dismissed the pair.
Hes bothered to deash," said Gray,
as they went downstairs. ...s ..... .a
Som l." responded Anita. But
nobody cares about me. IT'S all Pauline
whether she's a."
Let up on that, 'Nitai" and Gray
spoke warningly. Don't you call Pau
line names In my hearing!"
Anita. pouting, fiounced 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 nov
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 was not averse to him.
Knew, almost, that she cared for him,
| but he knew, too, that IL 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 its 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 esseDce be-
tween this case and any other in which
he had ever engaged. He had nc
more questions to ask. He knew all
anyone could or would tell hint. He
knew all the facts, all the tehorfes, 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! 'e''--
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
had sat when she received the blow
given by Bates. Whether she had sat
here while taking the poison, no one
knew. If Stones theory was right, she
had not.
BY referring to the photographs
taken of Miss Darlington after her
DEATH Stone was able to. reconstruct
the scene correctly. , g.. .-.E.- .a.
I He placed the. easy chair Just as it
had been when she sat in it. He as
sumed the position she showed in the
photographs, and gazed at himself in
the mirror, as she must necessarily
have done. .'..--
Slowly he went over that converse
ton reported by Anita Frayne. Never
for a: moment had he doubted the
truth of that report. He was sure
Miss Darlington had really said all
the things Anita repeated, and the
clear and indubitable explanation of
those remarks would mean, he was
sure, the solution of'the mystery. 'sa =
BY way OF, interviewing hts silent
witnesses, he ~endeavored to recon.
struct, in thought, Miss C~arrington's
movements that night. Pauline and
Anita had left her, all three Of them
angry, at a little after IL, Later, Els.
telle had left her-that was about a