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

never murdered Miss Phmbei" said Bee.
sic, standing erect, spe eaking with eucn
firm and almost exulia ut emphasw tnas
the landlady was s.artled.
Then she took hasty leave and bur.
ried homeward, flushed, exlitod ana
with an occasional sobbing exclamation
OF "Thsnk God! ON her trembling lips.
Oh, blessed little plant, appearing IN
that fatal window like an accusing ang ],
to clear the innocent and point out the
guiltyl
And with this thought in her heart,
she hurried straight to the lawyer who
had been chosen as Robert Steers coun-
sel.
true story. Following up the cue 20
fortunately, so almost wonderIu.y OF,
fered, clearer case OF circumstanuai
evidence WIS made out against skpten
Greer than had served against R0oort
Steel.
On hearina the whole, Stephen In or
der TO defend himself against the charge
of murder, voluntarily pleaded guilty 70
He had. L is said, On that fatal evening
remained in the village y ith some irienus
until about o o'clock, when, sfartf "
home -ar,I. he bad been led by Jealousy
To turn little out of Ihe way to satisfy
himself whether his rival, Robert Stee's
was really at the farm house,
lie had seen light In the krne-h
window and another In tiiat o. MISS
Phpbe's room. Glancing Through inc
latter aH he passed, his attention WAS 81"
rested bv seeing an old lady at al open
secretary irawer, unvolling "A bill from a
large number Of bank notes. which she
then proceeded to rep!ace ~ little IN :
ner drawer. and locking u, hing the
KEY on na,l behind the secretary and
left the room.
Proceeding next to the kitchen win"
dow, he saw her talking earnestly toa
young man. as the latter sat AT the tanie
eating; and il instantly Cccnr red TO HIM
that there would be d good opportunity
of helping himself to the money, the
sight OF which had excited his cu riaty.
Cautiously rasng the sash, .incii bv
inch, he stepped through the Window.
unlocked the drawer and possessed
himself OF the roll Of bank notes. All
this had taken considerable time, and
meanwhile Robert See must have lett;
for, Rs he VAS in the act OF shutting 'he
drawer Miss Phoebe appeared at the
open doorway and instantly darted for
ward an 1 seized him as he endeavored
to escape.
A struggle took place and to compel her
to relax the hold he hal seized her by
the throat but he firmly protested has
he had no thought or intention OF inJnr~
ing her. lie wished 10 escape unrecog--
nized, and when she staggered toward
the bed he had hastily effected his re.
treat through the window, catching his
clothing on nail as he sprangt TO the
ground: 1t was in his LAY q. at the seeds
we're scattered which had now arisen
from the ground in silent evidences
against him.
Stephen Greer was sentenced to
long term in states prison. When at the
end OF those weary wears he carDe forth
a tree man, IiiIlsdale was one of the
most prosperous little farms in The conn
try, and Farmer Steel and his wife,
Bessie, rs happy middle aged couple
as could be met with, while q family OF
stalwart sons and comely daughters
were growing up around them:
There was q fine garden at Hillsdale,
| stocked with rare and beautiful flowers,
but it was observed tina! among these the
simple and unpreterding sweet alysslm
| seemed always the favo-ite win Bessie.
/ Susan Archer Weiss.