The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-01-23
By CAROLYN WELLS

lutuTc-yOu hliSuL CAplCoS ouS
an aspiration?"
II may have done so"
THANK you, Count Charlier. ]
had perhaps no right to ask, but
You nave answered my rather inn
pertinent questions straightfor-
WardIy, and I thank you"
Pauline rose, as if to end the
interview. In the doorway APP
peared Anita. Pauline" she
said, II wish you would come
back and listen to Mrs. Frothing-
hams story. 1t seems to me Of
decided Importance"
"You have something to tell
met" asked Pauline, returning to
the library and looking at the un-
welcome neighbor with patient
tolerance.
eyes, Miss Stuart. Now, it may
be nothing-nothing, I mean, of
consequence that is, you may not
think so, but L"
Suppose you let me hear it and
judge for myself"
eyes. Well, it's only this: I
was wakeful last night, or rather
early this morning, and looking
from my bedroom window, which
faces this house, / saw a man climb
out of a window on the first floor
and skulk away among the shrub
berry"
AT what time was this?" and
Pauline looked interested at last.
"About 4 o'clock. He was to
all appearances a burglar"
StHow could you tell2 Was it
not dark at that hour jim the
morningf"
"No; the moon is past full, you
know, and it shone. brightly in
the western sky"
Enough for you to discern the
man clearlyY"
Il took a field glass to assist
my vision. He stealthily climbed
out and, skirting the bushes, made
his way swiftly toward the great
gates"
"This is indeed an important
bit Of information, Mrs. Frothing-
ham ; / dare say you ought to tell
it to the police who are here"
sob, / couldn't! I'm so timid
about such thingsl But, if you
would go with me, Miss Stuart"
Miss Frayne will go with
you," said Pauline, cQplly. "You
will find a policeman in the hall
who will direct you where to find
the Inspector"
Without another word Pauline
bowed in a way to include the lady
and the Count also, and went away
to her room.
"Stuck up thing!" exclaimed
Mrs. rockingham, and Anita nod
ded her golden head in agree
ment.
Inspector Brunt instructed
Hardy to hear the story Of Mrs.
rockingham, and he devoted his
own attention to Count Charlier,
of whom he had heard as being a
friend of Miss Carrington's.
He quizzed the Frenchman
rather ~pointedly as to his friend
ship with the unfortunate lady
and the Count. became decidedly
i'll at ease.
"Why do you ask me SO
much?" he objected; II was a
friend, yes; / may have aspired
to a nearer relation, yesf That
is no crime7" - ,,s
"Not at all, Count" said Mr..
Brunt; II only want to find out
if Miss Carrington's strange ref
erence to something about to hap
pen to her could have had any
reference to You"
''It might be SO I cannot say.
But all that has no bearing on the
poor lady's DEATH"
"Np. At what time did you go
away-from here. Count CharlierY''
SAT about midnight"
"You went directly homer"
"To Mrs. Frothingham's where
/ am a house guest, yes
And you retiredf"
eyes"
"And remained in your bed till
morning9" NJ.
"But of acertainty, yes! What
are you implying9 That / had a
hand in this AFFAIR.""
mo, no; be calm, my dear sir.
i ask you but one question: Is
this your glovefo
The Inspector took the glove
from his pocket and offered it to
the Count.
The Frenchman took it, exam.
ined it infinitely and without
haste.
"No, sir" he said, returning it
"that is not my property"