The Red Cloud chief., 1893-08-04
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linen, III less oIcnSlcclN Ucllnnt tones.
perhaps In COMMUNICATION for the great
anguish in the sweet white face before
him, he added:
''Sho went away from me-. Thank
God, the last words she ever heard me
say were in apology for that brutal out.
break. ] had never spoken angrily to
her before. | had never had occasion
to do so. / believed in her utterly and
entirely. Yes, she went away from me
and returned to the women downstairs.
! could hear her voice above every
other one, the gayest. clcarcst one
there, as | went out of the house again
| dincd ut the clubhouse that day. I
wanted time To think the whole miscra-
bic business over fully before | met her
again. | was afraid | might forget
that | was n gentleman and she n
woman; false, damnably untruthful.
but yet n woman. Nothing would bc
easier than for me to prove an alibi if
need be. ! did not care for my own
company that evening. | picked two
club men up on leaving the house, drove
them to the club. dincd with them.
played whist with them. until-until-a
mcsscnger-licnnctt. | believe it was
came TO the club and informed me that
Mrs. Norcross' maid, surprised at her
mistress not ringing for herat bedtime,
went to look her up. she found her--as
you know. You are her sister, and you
are entitled to this much"
He stopped talking. and, reaching for
ward To a dccanter OF the table. poured
out II large wincplassful of Madeira,
which he drank off ut n gulp. Nora's
eyes had never once left his face while
he was talking.
you believe me. do You note" he
asked, leaning YEARLY back in his
chair, and drawing his handkerchief
slowly across his lips.
You have left me no choice. must
believe you. do"
This is the first and only statement
shall make on the subject. have Of
fcrcd the re- ward, rs I told you before.
In u few days ! leave for Europe. There
is one thing I should like to do. Before
you came, it looked impossible"
She looked ut him inquiringly.
What n strange turn things had taken!
lie began again. in Il broken voice:
I'm charlottesville spoke of child.
! should like to know that it would not
become n paupcr-would never know
the need which sometimes drives
women to deceive men. If you will help
mel do not know its name. There
were no names mentioned. She only
spoke of her little girl. by that | knew
she was Il widow"
There is no need for that. The child
will be we'll cared for. But it is gen
erous OF you."
She put ont her hand to him impul
sivcly. Perhaps, after all, he had beer
more sinncd against than SHINING. ii,
took the protrered hand;
''Thank You. am glad, after all
that l have been able to rid your MIND
of that hidcous fancy. before leave the
country. 1t might have looked like /,
flight. And | don't know but what il
is. Life. here, is intolerablc-will bC
everywhere, in fact"
"And you have no theory? 1t was not
n suicide?' she asked.
"No. OF that | am quite sure. She
was too timid, and not miserable
enough. 10y half! | had a theory--th,
same one the detectives seem to hav,
hit upon"
He pointed to the papers she haa
thrown on his table.
.sYou mean the strange, plainly
dressed woman who was admitted I,
Mrs. Norcross in the afternoon, ant
who. according to the papers, stole on
by a side entrance, evidently stunning
observation That was l."
$50 presumed. That was why
said | had II theory. have none now.
Nor any clew whatever|"
.'None. Unless"--he opened adrawe
IF the writing table and took from it
small pa~stcboard box-''this may even
lally prove to be one" lie EXTENDED
>. unopened, To Nora Lorimcr. II
was found clasped in ono OF her hands
But she had SO many trinkets and bau
bles that lay no stress upon it-scarce
~ know how 70 connect 1t with tn,
crime"
Nora drew from the box with tremb
ling fingers a broken piece of gol'
chain. Attached to- it was Il seal O
some clear translucent stone, An in
tagl,p with n device which it was no
sasy 10 read ut q first glance marSe'
l.. II was such a seal rs years bcfor
had been used for imprcssing the WAX OF
.etters. II was large, n not particu
arly fine in workmanship. She fel
lutte sure it had not been amongAmclia'