The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-02-27

having brought it with him from
police headquarters for the pur-
pose.
HIM." said Fleming Stone, as
he fingered the not very alarming
looking affair. In fact, it was
merely a long, narrow bag made
of dark cloth and filled with shot.
The bag was tied tightly at one
end with q bit of Irvine to prevent
the escape of the contents.
"Home made affair."" Stone
went on. "Made probably by a
professional burglar, but an anna
teur murderer, See, it is merely
a bit Of heavy cloth, cut from an
old coat sleeve or trouser leg,
sewed-up in a bungling manner
to make a bag. 1t is stitched with
coarse black thread and the
stitches are drawn hard and firm,
evidently pulled through by a
strong hand, Then, filled with
shot, it is tied with a bit of old
fish line, which also is pulled and
knotted by muscular fingers,
And" Stone paused abruptly,
"And-" prompted Anita,
breathlessly, her eyes fixed on the
speaker.
"Nothing much" and Stone
smiled; "only I should say the
burglar lived in a house recently
remodeled."
Hardy nodded in satisfaction
This was the sort of deduction he
was looking for. Next he hoped
for the color of the mans hair,
and the sort Of cigar he smoked.
But he was doomed to disappoint-
ment.
owe seem to have drifted from
the subject of Miss Carrington,'
Stone said. "The evening before
her death was she in her usual
spiritsf Evidently no Fremont
ton of her fate2'
son the contrary" said Gray,
"she remarked during the eve
ming that something would hap.
pen to her that night which would
surprise and. astound us all. She
said distinctly that tomorrow ev-
erything would be different.
"What did you understand her
to mean by that?"-
"We couldn't understand it at
all. 1t was most mysterious. Nor
do we yet know what she meant.
For surely she had no thought of
dying. She spent the evening
playing cards and listening to
music, and conversation with the
family guests, quite as usual"
SIN amiable moodf" asked
Stone.
"No," replied Pauline, taking
up the talk; son the contrary,
she was exceedingly irritable and
ill tempered"
"You saw her after she went
to her room for the night2" and
Stone turned his whole attention
to Pauline.
eyes; Miss Frayne and / al
ways went to her room with her,
to say good night and to receive
possible orders or suggestions for
1.-The next days occupations"
"And you say she was unami-
ableY"
"That is a mild word" and
Pauline smiled a little. "She was
in a high temper, and she told us
both that we were to leave this
house the next day"
"You both left her in that
mood?" ..
eyes, we were obliged to do
so. She dismissed us peremptorily
and ordered us from the ROOM
"And you saw her next, Miss
Stuart, when?" asked Fleming
Stone gently.
Pauline hesitated for a percep.
tible instant, then she said, with
a slight air of bravado: "Next
morning"
81 have been told the main
facts" went on Stone, "but
want to, learn certain details
Please tell me, Miss Stuart, ex.
actly how she then appeared.
"Oh, / cant!" and Pauline
flung her face into her hands with
a short, sharp cry.
II 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. "I don't wonder you
think sol'' she cried. but, since
you ask, Mr.. Stone, l will do the
best I can. My aunt was seated
at her dressing table, but not il
her usual chair-or, indeed. as il