Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-06-08
CHAPTER VI.

All River,on was convulsed by the
news of nat dark deed. The wild con.
lectures aGoat scarcely touched upon
the truth a. To what had led up TO this
tragedy. Rodney had been perverting
the funds of the bank from their legiti-
mate use; ne had dclicd the wise coun-
sells of the elder partner, and they had
quarrcled, with this awful result. Such
was the theory which gained readiest
acceptance, and there was no contradic-
ton made.
He appeared before a Magistrate at
an early hour of the morning and gave
himself up rs the slayer of John Ten
dyke.
No one except himself knew of
Mignon's presence upon the scene of
the tragedy, and he had taken care
that no shadow of blame could attach
to her. No one but himself knew all
the occurrences of that dark night.
People said that he had gone, red-hand-
ed, from that deed of guilt to his wife's
chamber. and all but murdered her by
avowing it. At any rate, when his own
household was aroused and n physician
sent for, Mignon was found in her own
all eforts failed to arouse her. When
that dcop stupor gave way ut last, it
was TO the mutterings of delirium, and
the doctor himself carried the news to
Rodney France in his cell at the county
Jail, that his wife was laboring under a
violent attack of fever.
Il have taken it upon myself to in
stall nurse, and give orders for time, "
he said, "but if may suggest. would il
not be well 70 send for her friends,
She needs some one to stand by her at
this very toying season."
"You are right" Rodney answered.
after n moments thought. q will
write n telegram to her father and in
trust it To your kindness to send. Poor
Mignonr' he sighed, TO himself. "He
is not the protector l would choose for
her il there vas any one else.''
The message was sent and in due
time Mr.. Tredegar Almont made his APP
pearance upon the scene, and was adj
mitted to an interview with his son-in-
law the day after his arrival.
"1Ou made n mistake in not putting
in your defense at the hearing" he said,
rs soon as the first greeting was over.
Its bad job-a deucedly bad job
at the best; but now that am here, We
will be able TO put better face to il
than il wears nj present"
why do you say that? What dc
you know about it?i asked Rodney, al.
most fiercely.
BE tranquil, my friend, and 1 will
tell you" responded Almont, as uncon.
cerned as If the life of the man before
him were not the issue at stake. ."
know what it appears You have not
chosen to divulge-that your partner,
Tendyke, and my late partner, Varick,
were one and the same man. / can
reasonably suppose that the cause as
signed for this tragedy was not the true
cause; when that is made known there
will be, inevitably, some revulsion OF
popular feeling in your favor. A letter
which 1 received from my daughter
some two weeks ago can be introduced
rs effective evidence"
"A letter.
"She wrote. believe, without your
cognizance. She knew that Varick was
bent upon mischief She had hopes of
checkmating him by bringing the law to
bear upon some Of his past acts, but
Varick was always too slippery to give
the law any strong hold on him. |
didn't see that could do her any good.
and so didn't charge myself with any
trouble in the AFFAIR."
''Let me see the letter"
Mr.. Almont was not wholly satisfied
with his son-in-law's aspect, calm
though il was.
lTo BE coSTISuED.1