Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-10-21

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saw little company during his stay with
us. and that only in the most formal
way. No one expects, of course, that the
inquiry will result in anything. None
of the persons named is likely to be seri-
ously suspected Of any share in Henry's
death, but it is no doubt right and prop
er that the form of investigation should
be gone through with. 1t will leave the
field clear for further investigation.
John agrees with me in this, and as
soon as the idea was suggested to him
he expressed himself as anxious to have
it carried out. "If shot him, | want
to know itr' he said, with touch of saw
age humor. You're not in it, yon
know, Frank" he went on; 'your gouty
toe. that you found such fault with,
served you that good turn at least. So
it lies between Tom and me. And, upon
my word" he added after a moments
thought. either he or might have done
it. so far rs opportunity goes! Wecan't
prove an alibi like the burglars and
your
laughed, but the fact is felt little
or Toms account as for another reason
of which John Us yet knows nothing.
He thinks. as every body else does. thai
Sinfre was niles away at the fatal mo.
ment. But in truth no one but she her
self knows exactly where she was at.er
12 o'clock that night. Should this leak
ont it might lead to disagreeable COM
al, tl1iV frbf 1Aa hJcnnyT.
cred of the reasons she had for hating
Henry Ind sed were | to tell all that
has come to my knowledge it might &c
tually endauger her life. People have
been hange0 on circumstantial evidence
no stronger than that. OF course know
as certainly as know anything that
cannot prove that she is utterly incapa-
BILE of such a deed but of course also
this certainty is based upon my intimate
personal knowledge of her character.
which would be of no value as evidence
in court of law. If my testimony is
called for. am resolved to profess ig
norance of anything but the most exter-
nal acquaintance with her movements
or motives, and for the rest she is am
ply able to protect herself if she chooses.
have just said that my knowledge of
her character is intimate. and yet it is
not. for do not know whether or not
she will choose to protect herself. 1t is
impossible to foretell where woman's
notion of independence will begin or end.
1t is more than conceivable that Sinfre,
ont of mere wanton defiance or way
wardness, might tell in the witness box
the whole story of her previous life,
which she has permitted even me only to
guess at. A jury might see in that story
motive enough to warrant conviction.
Fear of that same waywardness with
holds me from speaking to her on the
subject If were to tell her that she is
in danger. she would be as likely as not
to go deliberately off and thrust her head
into the lions mouth. If. on the contra
~. she discovers her danger herself. the
instinct of self defense and of justice
may prompt her to repel it. If hers
were nature that could control.
would put fo;th my power without hesi-
tation and give her Il lesson to repeat by
rote. only that if could control her
should care nothing about her, and she
might do what she liked
Fortunately or unfortunately neither
she nor have any leisure to pass in each
Others society. Her hands are full with
household cares and nursing mother,
and | am sufficiently employed upon
after the work is done | retreat to my
library and write or play with Saprani.
| have an idea that should like to put
on gypsy attire and wander off on foot
through the world with Saprani and
Sinhre Sapranis performances would
earn us a living, and Sintire and would
make each other happy. 1t would be a
truer and sweeter life than all the wealth
and resources of civilization could give
us, for we possess all we care for in our
selves. A few months ago thought my
highest happiness would consist in gov
erning mankind; now know that my
only happiness is to be found in serving
this mysterious girl. But shall ever
realize that happiness?
say. yes. But have my doubts for
all that. have never asked her. she
has never promised, and all may turn
ont dream. ..
CHAPTER XIV.
They have not yet found out who mur-
dered Henry Mainwaring.
The authorities-inore out of consider
alton for US than for any other reason
undertook to focus their suspicious first
upon poor Tom. The coroner's jury had
come to the conclusion that deceased
came to his death by a bullet discharged
from a pistol in the hands of person or
persons to this jury at presentunknown."
Now, Tom had been provided with pis-
tol or the night in question: brand
lew Smith & Wesson revolver, with
ieven cartridges and various automatic
md other improvements. and he had
further been fitted out with belt to
cling it in, and all this apparatus he had
faithfully sorne from sunset till sunrise.
This and his presence in the forest when
Henry was shot We're the damning facts
against him.
Toms English straightforwardness,
combined with his evident affection for
l Nl,1 lao1 ,~,o,, l.so -