The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-02-13
CHAPTER NrNE (continued.)

1itClc, ana tray TfdVlidHu lOokeu
at him with a frown Of undis-
guised scorn. Haviland had never
liked the Count indeed, he even
doubted his right to the title, and
especially had he feared a mar
riage between him and Miss Lucy.
And, granting that this feeling
was partly duesto-a consideration
of his own interests, Haviland also
distrusted the Frenchman and
doubted Miss Lucy's happiness as
ais wife.
"Did Miss Darlington leave you
q bequest of $4,000 in United
States bonds2" went on the cor
oner. ,,... ...-
ell don't know" and the
Count stammered in an embar-
raised way.
"You do knowi" shouted Havi-
land t'the will has been read, and
you know perfectly well that such
. bequest was left to, you"
"Why did you deny the knowl-
sdgeY asked Scofield sternly.
"tI'm-I'm not sure"
"You are surel" stormed Gray.
SNOW, where were you when Miss
Darlington spoke those words to
you2 If not in her boudoir, then
on the balcony outside the win
dow, perhaps"
absurd" said the coroner.
"Not at ALL" said Gray "that
window opens on a balcony en-
closed by glass. 1t is easily
reached from outside by a small
staircase, mostly used in summer,
but always available. How could
Miss Darlington speak to the
Count concerning the bonds and
concerning her infatuatiom for
himself, which is no secret, unless
die were there before herr And
how could he be in the room-in
her boudoir-unknown to the
,servautsi Moreover, Mr.. Coroner,
Il believe the glove found in Miss
sCarrington's hand to be the prop
erty of Count Charlier."
"But mol" cried the witness ex&
citedly; "Lhave repeatedly. dis
claimed that glove. 1t is not mine !;
II know not whose it is. l know
nothing Of this sad affair, what
ever. If the money is left to me,
as l have been told, it is "a sur
prise to me.'22'
"Surprise nothing!" murmured
HaviIand, but he said no more to
the Count. 5
eff my story might be told
now" ventured Mrs. Froth-
ingham. IL. .4H G.at q -'.a saf
After a moments hesitation
Coroner Scofield decided to let
her tell it, as having a possible
bearing on Count Charters testi-
mony. -,.. s
The rather stunning looking
widow was fashionably dressed,
and she fluttered with an air Of
Importance as she took the stand.
She related again the story she
had told of the supposed burglar
whom she saw leaving the living
room by way of a window at 4
O'Clock on Wednesday morning.
Glow can you be so sure it was
a burglarf' asked Scofield. 81
"Oh, he looked like one. All
shuddled up, you know, and his
face buried between a high coat
collar and q drawn down cap. And
he walked slyly-sort of glided
among the shrubs and trees, as if
avoiding notice. No man on legiti-
mate business would skulk like
that"
"Might it not have been Count
Charlierf" asked the coroner
bluntly. 90.
Certainly mott" and Mrs.
rockingham gave a little shrek.
"The Count is a slim and elegant
figure; this was a stocky, bury
man a marauder, I know"
HIt may be-, said the coroner
wearily. at may be that a bur-
glar @as concealed in the house,
or let in by a servant, and that
re attacked Miss Darlington as
she was seated at her dressing
Table. IL seems impossible that he
should have administered poison
to bcr, however, and the con-
Joined circumstances may indicate
eOIlusion hStween-"it
~Bctwcen whom asked?" In
spcsaVr Brunt.
81 don't know confessed SEQ
field. EVERY way ] try to think
Il out ! run up against an impass-
able barrier.
'1hss's what say began