The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-10-12
A SILENT ACCUsER.

Standing isolated in the midst of an or
chard, half way up the hillside and shut
IN by a strip of wood which concealed it
from the village below.
The latter defect might have been
remedied by judicious openings here and
there; but Miss Phoebe Rowell was OF
the old-fashioned conservative Kind and
often remarked hat what had been
good enough for her father and grand
father was good enough for her.
Consequently she was opposed to all
changes and Improvements ON her farm.
n this, in truth, had been the cause of
Stephen Greer's dismissal, who, being
OF the progressive order, could not be
brought to manage her place in the slow,
Old way that she preferred.
Stephen was working at Farmer
Lawson's, five miles up the valley, and
he hoped to be able soon to purchase a
little place of his own, and to ask Bessie
Brown, Miss Pbebe's comely, rosy
checked maid, to share his home with
him.
Whether or not Bessie would consent
was a question with the gossips; for,
though stephen was gool-looking and
clever, the girl did not seem particular
~ to fancy him.
Some limited at q liking which was
supposed 10 have existed between Bes-
sic and Miss Phebe's nephew. an or
phan boy whom she had grudgingly
brought up and assisted to educate,
n who had disappointed her expec-
alton by falling into idle habits, in
stead of working steadily on the farm.
Three years ago she had given him a
little money and sent him away to seek
work for himself, charging him never to
return or write to her until he should
be settled in some steady employment.
lie had gone west, made some money,
m as his aunt heard, wasted it in uu-
successful speculation. Thenceforth she
had given him up," as she expressed
1t, convinced that he would ''never
cont to any coed"
But u bright, mild day in early
spring. about six months after Stephen
Greer had left Hillside, Il young man
stopped at the farmers Rest tavern, a
few miles Fl om the village, and asked
for a frugal supper.
He was poorly clad, and evidently de-
sired 10 pass as a stranger, but one of
the stable-men recognized in him the
long-absent nephew of Miss Phoebe Ro-
well.
The man dad not, however. betray his
knowledge and the guest, having par
taken OF the neal he had ordered, went
on his way, replying, in an answer to a
question, that he should not pass through
the village, but would take a shorter
route to the main road.
About an hour alter he had left, Ste
phen Greer come riding past, and see
ing the landiady busted about Ter
hoWer-borders, raking thu beds and
planting seeds, stopped for a few mo-
ments' chat.
In the course of their talk Mrs. Win
terby mentioned their late guest, and
their suspicious of his being Robert
steel, Miss Phoebe Rowelrs nephew.
That's not likely" Stephen remarked,
carelessly. eff we were Robert Steel,
what motive could he have for wishing
TO conceal it? Or why should he 20
through the neighborhood, ri%ghtthrough
the Hillside farm, and not stop to see
his aunt?n
"Or to see Bessie!" suggested the land.
lord, who was standing by and not 10th
to tease Stephen a little. tFolks used
to say there was more than ordinary lik-
ing between them two; and that was one
reason, | fancy, of his aunts sending him
away. She wasn't willing to lose Res-
sizes services. when she knew she
couldn't get another like her if she
searched the country round. Now IN
lay a wager the lad'll stop to see his old
sweetheart; and if you're on your way
to make his acquaintance. He's a fine
looking young fellow, Spite his shabby
clothes"
Stephen flushed little, but made light
of the subject.
Early the next morning the little inn
and the VILLAGE were in a state of great
excitement. Miss Phoebe Rowen had
been 70 md dead in bed, with marks of
fingers upon her throat; and the bureau
in which she kept her money had been
broken open and its contents abstracted,
From far and neal the people has
tened to the scene of the tragedy, and
poor Bessie wa well-nigh distracted
with the multi udiHous questions with
which she was piled.
She had but little to to tell. On the
previous day Miss Phoebe had permit
ted her to go to q mer-ymaking at her
annt's i'll the village, on condition of her
being back to ner work by sunrise next
morning.
She had returned punctually at the
the old man who had Stephen Greer's
place, quietly attending to his early
morning duties.
To her surprise she observed her mis-.
tress' bedroom window raised and the
blind open, and surmising something
wrong, had gone to the window and
looked III.
She saw Miss Phoebe lying upon the
bed as If asleep, but no answer being re-
turned to her repeated knocks and calls
Bessie had called David and induced
him to break open the door of the room
when they discovered the old lady to
be quite dead and cold.
There were tracks Of a mans feet, evil
IDENTIFY in mis- stockings. outside the win
dow, and a few threads of coarse wooden
cloth appeared caught upon a nail on
one side of the sash.
The secretary had not been forced
open, but unlocked with a key, which
was left remaining in the lock, and none
of the contents of the drawer had been
disturbed except the money and an old
fashioned silver watch that had belonged
to Robert Steel's father.
Who the guilty party was Bessie had
not the least idea. AS to Davit, a sim
pic pious .oui, who had spent his whole
life in the neighborhood without a word
of i'll heing sad of him, no one eyer
dreamed of accusing him.
Among those who, Oh hearing the
news, FASTENED to the scene of the
crime. was the inn-keeper, Winterby.
and he at once informed the magistrate
whom he found there, of the appearance
of Robert Steel at the hostelry ard his
strange speech and behavior.
This seemed to at once clear up the
mystery of the case, and parties we're
instantly dispatched to scour the coun-
try in search OF the supposed culprit.
Before noon he was discovered making
Lord -a,Hod and Ia luod in inil Ea & rm.