Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1919-02-27

f" W. VI ttAG
morning.
II have been told the main
facts, went on Stone, "but I
want to learn certain details.
Please tell me, Miss Stuart, ex-
actly how she then appeared.
"Oh, | can't" and Pauline
flung her face into her hands with
a short, sharp cry.
81 should think you couldn't."
exclaimed Anita, and her voice
WAS distinctly accusing.
This seemed TO rouse Pauline,
and she looked up haughtily at the
speaker. 81 don't wonder YOU
think SOL" she cried. "But, since
you ask, Mr.. Stone. | will do the
best | can. My aunt was seated
at her dressing table, but not iii
her usual ehair-or, indeed. as if
she We're in any way attending
to her toilet-but in an easy
chair, more as if she were sitting
there in contemplation"
WA she given to such indi-
cations of vanity?" asked Stone
in a gentle way.
"Not at all. My aunt was not
a beautiful woman, and she had
no illusions about her personal ap-
pearance. | have never known
her to look at herself in a mirror
more than was necessary for her
dressing. Her maid will tell you
this"
Go on, please, Miss Stuart"
"When l saw my aunt she was
sitting placidly, even smilingly-
and l did not for a moment imag-
inc she was not alive. Then | no.
ticed her large tortoise shell comb
was broken to bits, and | noticed,
too, her rigid, staring face. The
next few moments are a confused
memory to me, but l know [
touched her hand and felt it cold,
then [ called to Mr.. Haviland and
he came"
Tell me OF your aunt 8 garb.
l understand it was most I'M
usual" #
"Only in the accessories. The
gown she had on was q negligee
OF oriental make and fabric, elab-
crate, but one of which she was
fond and which she had worn sew
eral times. Round her shoulders
was a scarf, one Of those heavy
ISyrlan ones, of net patterned with
silver. Then, she had on quaint
ties Of jewelry. Not only her
pearls and a few pins which she
had worn during the evening, but
she had added many brooches and
bracelets and rings of great
value"
She was wearing, let us say,
100000 worth of jewelry?"
"Far more than that. Her
pearls alone are worth that
amount. Her diamond sunburst is
valued at $4,000 and her emerald
brooch is equally valuable. My
aunt believed in gems as an in
vestment, and, though she usually
kept them in a safe deposit vault,
she had recently taken them from
there, and had them all in the
HOUSE"
"A strange proceedingi"
Every. i have never known
such q thing to occur before un-
less for some especial social occa-
sion."
"And the paper snake of which
l have been told"
"That is the strangest part Of
all! My aunt was not only afraid
of live snakes, but she had also
q perfect horror Of any picture
or artificial representation of
them. She could never, in her
right mind, have placed that pa
per snake about her own neck,
nor would she have allowed any
one else to do it without scream
ing out in horror. Yet, the doc
tors declare, It must have been
placed round her neck before
death. Therefore. it is to me en-
tirely unexplainable."
sis not that i bizarre clue that
should make the case an easy
onef" asked Anita, with an in
Quiring glance at Stone.
TT may be so,'' he replied, with