Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-04-05

the cause of the death without scientific
assistance. / have also sent for a 20
lcenan. as OF curse an official In
Quiry viii have 10 take place, and |
wish to show that we court the full.
est inquiry. ] should like these gentle
men" and he turned toward his uncle
and the two younge! men, Ito be wit.
nesses Of your examination, IS they
were of the discovery"
Then Duke led the way down stairs,
the doctor and the other three gentle
men following: while the policeman.
who had been waiting in the hall,
brought up the rear.
Duke, who had the sense to know
that his position was too grave for
halfconfidences, confessed that his diff.
ficulties had led him 10 contemplate
suicide. and that under such an impulse
he had taken into the cellar the knife
which now lay on the floor. Investiga-'
ton showed at once that the knife,
although il was splashed with a spot
of blood, could not have been used as a
weapon. Then came the more impor-
tant work OF examining the body.
II was without anxiety that Duke
now watched the doctors movements.
After all. the result OF the examination
might not be conclusive enough to
clear him from all suspicion. For there
were blood stains under the body and
On the wall The doctor asked a few
questions as to the condition Radstock
had been In on the night of his disap-
pcarance. Then he uttered an inter-
lection. as if satisfied.
And what, doctor, was the cause Of
death?" asked Mr.. William Berringtcn,
who had been getting more and more
subdued Of speech and manner
"~Suffocation, undoubtedly. The IN
fortunate man entered the cellar in a
state of partial ~intoxication, completed
the process by knocking the necks off
a couple of bottles and drinking the
contents, cut himself badly while try
ing To serve a third the same way,
fell down on his face h~elplessly drunk,
gashing his face and throat with the
broken glass on the floor, and died Of
s~nffocatiou."
The only person who did not feel, as
they all emerged from the cellar, in
tensely relieved by the result OF the in
Quiry. was Nr. William Bennington.
Even he salvation of the credit of the
family did not weigh upon him against
the humiliation OF finding that his ex-
ultatson over his nephew's downfall
had been premature. His ccnGratula-
tons so obviously lacked sincerity that
Duke asked him with a touch of his old
insolence, IL he was sorry to see his
character cleared.
You can comfort yourself, you know
uncle" he went on, glancing uneasily
at his wife, who had heard the result
of the examination In shuddering 81
lence. 'by the knowledge that we are
ruined. / have forged your name TO
bills which will be due before 1
meet them. and"
Cicely rose from her chair, and tot
tered owe to her husbands side. But
b would not look at the elder man,
who was taking out his pocket-book
with a flush on his face. The rest OF
the party, on a hint from Minna, had
gone out ON the lawn.
If you can't meet the bills when they
become due, / WILL" said Mr. Berring-
ton. He did feel some contrition for
the eagerneSs he had shown in hunting
out the young fellows supposed crime,
and he was anxious to reinstate him.
self in the proud position he liked to
occupy, by an action OF great gener-
osity. He therefore produced from his
pocket-book the very bills on which
Duke had forged his name. As a mat
ter OF fact, he had got them into his
own possession with the object Of using
them to ruin his nephew, as Cicely
shrcwdly guessed. Duke. however.
more impulsiye than his wife. was over
whelmed by this act Of forebearanca.
1t was some minutes before he could
speak, and when he did SO, it was In a
subdued and humble voice
Il can't thank you, uncle" he began
brokenly, "but my wife-my children
bless won uncle. I will never come
near disgracing our name again"
He wrung his unce's hand; and the
elder man touched and even abashed
by his evident sincerity, returned the
pressure with real warmth. Then he
turned TO his nephew's wife.
Il am sorry. madam. il l caused you
pain on my last visit" he said. IL
won't intrude upon you any longer. I"
lie pulled out his watch and looked
at 1t with the desperate anxiety Of a
In search OF an excuse to get away.
Il have an appointment-at least, I
promised my wife TO be home-half an
ago, intact. Where Algernon?-
He darted put into the garden. The
two young men were standing at a side
gate, anxious to get away without hay-
Ing to intrude upon Duke and his wife
after the trying scene they had just
gone through.
Leonard said Minna, suddenly, |
take me to see Aunt Marion, and tell
her that Duke has come back and that
you are about 70 become the happiest
OF men, as they used to say In old
fashioned novels. She lives up on the
Heath. it's only ten minutes walk. and
will give us a cup Of tea. You wont
going without dinner for once. 1t
viii prepare you for what o are to
expect with me for a wife"
Il shan't mind it. 1t will be one way
Of economizing. Shall / wait here
while you run in and tell them where
you are going?'
slinna shook her head, smiling rather
They won't miss me-" she said. "and
is a good thing that you have been
md enough to propose to take me of
heir n For, IL I'm not mistaken.
fallen in love with each other
1t last"
SO they had. Duke, Passionate. i'm
'llsive, weak of principle, affectionate
ldored the wife who had stood by him
far him a,Vn,oI g. -,