They tell me that at this time Marian always sat with Templeton
on the front seat. But after a few weeks the gossips--nothing of
that sort ever escapes Williston--said that the occupant of the
front seat was Laura. She often drove the car herself and was
very clever at it. At any rate, not long after that the
engagement was announced."
As he walked up from the pretty little Williston station Kennedy
asked: "One more question, Mr. Whitney. How did Marian take the
engagement?"
The district attorney hesitated. "I will be perfectly frank, Mr.
Kennedy," he answered. "The country-club people tell me that the
girls were very cool toward each other. That was why I got that
statement from Mrs. Wainwright. I wish to be perfectly fair to
everyone concerned in this case."
We found the coroner quite willing to talk, in spite of the fact
that the hour was late. "My friend, Mr. Whitney, here, still
holds the poison theory," began the coroner, "in spite of the
fact that everything points absolutely toward asphyxiation. If I
had been able to discover the slightest trace of illuminating-gas
in the room I should have pronounced it asphyxia at once. All the
symptoms accorded with it. But the asphyxia was not caused by
escaping illuminating-gas.
"There was an antique charcoal-brazier in the room, and I have
ascertained that it was lighted.
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