The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-10-06
A SILENT ACCUSER.

SldutiIlg lSpidteu III tuc IhiuSt VI All VI
chard, ha.f way up the hillside and shut
in by strip Of wood which concealed il
from the village below.
The latter defect might have been
remedied bv juiicious openings here and
there; but Miss Phoebe Rpwell was o.
the old.iashioned conservative kind, AID
often remarked that 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
and 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 size preferred.
Stephen was now working at Farmer
Llwson's, five miles up the valley, and
he hoped to he able soon to purchase a
little place Of his own. aud to ask Bessie
Brown, Miss Phpbe's comely, rosy.
checked maid, to share his home with
him.
Whether or not Bessie would consent
was a Qursti II with the gn~sips; for,
clever, the girl did not seem particular
ly TO fancy hun.
some hinted at liking which was
supposed 10 have existed between Bes-
sic and Miss Phpbe's nephew, an or.
p!ian boy whom she had grudging\
brought up" and assisted 10 educate,
and who had disappointed her expec.
tations 10y falling into idle habits, in
stead of working steadily on the farm.
Three years ago she had given him n
little money ard sent him away to seek
work for himself, charging him never 10
return or write TO her until he should
be settled in some steady employment.
He had gone west made some money,
and as his aunt heard, wasted il in un.
successful speculation. Thencefortb she
"had given him up. as she expressed
it, convinced that he would never
com to anv good"
But ere bright, mild dav in carly
spring, ahou, Fix months after Stephen
Greer had left Hillside, young man
stopped at the Farmers Rest tavern. a
few miles from the village, and asked
for frugal supper.
He vas poorly clad, and evidently de-
sired Ia pass as Il stranger, but one OF
the siable-men recogniz. Il in him the
long-absent nephew OF Miss Phoebe Ro-
we'll.
The man did not, however, betray his
knowledge aud the guest, having par.
taken OF the meal he had ordered, went
on his way, replying, in an answer 10 a
questun, that he shonld not pass through
the village. but would take a shorter
route 10 the main road.
About an hour after he lad left, Ste.
phen Greer come riding past, and see.
ing the landhdy busled about her
tiower-borders, raking tn, beds and
planting seeds, stopped for few mo.
menis' chat.
In the course Of their talk Mrs. Win,
terby mentioned their late guest, and
their suspicious Of his being Robert
Steel, Miss PhTbe Roweli's nephew.
That's not likey," Stephen remarked
carelessy. IF we were Robert Steel
what motive could ie have for wisnin.
to conceal il? Or why should he &c
through the neighborhood, righ, through
the Hillside farm, and not stop 10 see
his aunlw
"Or to see Bessiew suggested the land
lord, who Was standing by and not loIl
To tease Stephen little. Folks u,eo
to say there was more than ordinary ik
ing between them two; and that was ors
reason, fancy, of his aunt 9 sendin, him
away. Sne wasn't wiling to lose Bes
sizes services. when she knew IN,
coubln't get another like her If She
searched the country round. Now III
lay wager the lad'il stop to see his old
sweetheart; and if you're on your wa,
up there, Steve. you'll have a chance
10 make his acquaintance. He's "A fine
looking Young fellow, spite his shabby
clothes"
Stephen flushed a little, but made ligl
Of the subject.
Early the next morning the little inr
AMI the yilaae were in a state OF grea
excitement. Miss Ph9be Rowell had
been fu nd dead in bed, with marks o.
fingers upon her throat; and the burear
IN which she kept her money had beer
broken open and its contents abstract.d Il
From far and near the people has
tened to the scene Of the tragedy. an,
poor Bessie was well-nigh distracted
with the multi udiRous questions with
which she was pied.
She had but little to To tell. On the
previous day Miss Phoebe had permit
ted her to 80 to a mer.vmaking at her
aunts in the village, on condition of he
being back to her work by sunrise mex
morning.
She had returned punc'uallv at the
appointed time and found David Barnes
he Old man who had Steephen Greer's
place, quietly attending to his early
morning duties.
TO her surprise she observed her mis-
tres bedroom window raised and the
blind open, and surmising something
wrong. had gone to the window and
nked in.
She saw Miss Phoebe living upon the
bed as il asleep, hut no answer being re
turned 10 her repeated knocks and calls
Bessie had called David and induced
hin 10 break open the door OF the room
when they discovered the old lady Il
b. quite dead and cold.
There were tracks Of mans feet, evi
Gently in mis- stockings. outside the win
dow, and q few threads OF coarse WOODEN
cloth appeared caught upon nail Oh
one side Of the sash.
The secretary had not been forced
open. hut unlocked with key, which
was left remaining in the lock, and none
OF the Dn,ents Of the drawer had been
disturbed except the money amt an old
'ashioned silver watch that had belonged
to Robert S,eel's father.
Who the gully party was Bessie had
not the least idea. As to Dayi 4, q sim
pie pous oui, vino had spent his whole
lite in the neighborhood without wore
Of III heing IN Il OF him, no one ever
dreamed of accusing him.
Among those who, OH hearing the
news, FASTENED TO the scene OF the
crime. was the inn-ketpe Winterby
ami he at once informed the magistrate
whom he found there, Of the appearance
oi Robert Steel a. the hostelry and his
strange speech and behavior.
This seemed to at once clear up the
mystery Of the case, and parties were
INSTANTLY dispatched TO scour the coun
irv in search OF the supposed culprit.
Before noon he was discovered making
Tor the nearest raii-ay train. and was
brou,h into the village and secur ly
hand.cnff.d and 10 ged in Jail. lie firm
ly AMI Indignantly protected his inno'
cence. He had returned from the West
some time since. he saiI. and had been
working at any chance j ID that he could
get. until, hearing If good employ meD'
IN ha had On the neH railroad he start.