The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-03-06
By CAROLYN WELLS,

TO show Off her stunning Jewels,
and so tempt him on to a declara-
ton that she couldn't seem to
work him up to otherwise. You
know she said, Tomorrow these
may all be yours, if you will only
-' or some words to that effect.
What could all that mean, except
as | have indicated? And she said,
You are the game I'm after
those weren't the words, l know,
but it meant that"
" However, l. can't think the
Count struck that awful blow that
fractured her skull. Villain he
may be, even a murderous one, but
that blackjack business, to my
mind, points to a lower type of
brain, a more thick skinned Grim
inal." m
Stone spoke musingly, looking
about the room as he talked.
could it be-" he went on,
|"that she was talking to herself :
Or, say, to a picture-a photo
graph Of Somebody l don't see
any photographs about"
Both men looked around, but
there were no portraits to be seen.
Funny" said Hardy: "most
women have photographs of their
family or relatives all over the
place. Not even. one of Miss Stu
art or of her nephew, Loria."
"No, nor any Of absent friends
or schoolmates." Stone looked
over all the silver paraphernalia
of the dressing table and other
tables for even a small framed
photograph that might have es-
capped notice, but found none. On
the walls hung only gilt framed
water colors or photographs of fa-
nous bits Of art or architecture
in dark wood frames. Many of
these were of old world master
pieces, Italian cathedrals or Egyp-
tian temples. Others were a we'll
known Madonna, a Venus of Milo,
and one at which Hardy ex-
claimed: "She's a sure enough
'peachl Who's she?"
"That's Cleopatra, starting on
her Nile trip" said Stone, smiling
at Hardy's evident admiration. f.
IT'S, ehf Then Loria brought
it to her. He's daffy over any
thing Egyptian. And he's mighty
generous. The house is full of the
stuff he brings or sends over; and
it's his money, Mr.. Stone, that
pays your damages. Miss Stuart,
now, she's none too free handed,
they say"
But Fleming Stone paid little
heed'to this gossip. He vas study
ing the photographs of the dead
lady as being of far more interest
than pictures on the boudoir walls.
where's that maid9" he said
suddenly; ''the one who brought
the breakfast Tray
"She's in the sanatorium," re-
turned Hardy eve told you that,
Mr.. Stone"
Eyes, yes, l know. But wherei
Can | see her9 Now, at once!"
eyes, l suppose so. It's right
near here. A small private affair,
only a few patients. They needn't
really have sent her, but she car
ried Oh so Miss Stuart wouldn't
have her about any longer"
"Come, let us go there" AS he
spoke, Fleming Stone left the
room, and, without waiting for the
hurrying Hardy, ran downstairs
and was in the hall getting into
his great coat when the other
joined him.
So great was Hardy's faith in
his superior, and so anxious was
he to watch his methods, that he
donned his own overcoat without
a word, and the two set forth.
1t was only a short walk, and
on the way Stone looked about in
every direction, asking innumer-
able questions about the neighbor-
ing houses and their occupants.
After passing several large and
handsome estates they came to a
district of less elaborate home and
after that to a section of decidedly
poorer residences. At one of these
Stone stared hard, but not till
they were we'll past it did he in
quire who lived there.
Dunno" replied Hardy "it's
a SORT of boarding house, / think,
for the lower classes"
SIS III" said Stone, and they
went ON.
At the sanatorium they found
Estelle. She was not hysterical
now, but was in a sort Of apathetic
mood, and listicss of manner.
Stone spokey to her with polite
address and a manner distinctly
, ~reassurin2