Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-04-05
CHAPTER TX.
Liz hit mt Last.

Light mt Last.
When Cireiy recovered consciousness
she vas lying on the sofa in the little
ooudoir next TO her own room. Her
husband was on his knees beside her,
gazing into her face with an agonized
devotion which moved her when she
opened her eyes, TO constant tears, be-
fore she remembered any OF the cir
eumstances which had preceded her
Oss Of consciousness.
My darling. my poor. poor Cicely.
What have you not suffered for me?
a~0N-how-"
He broke down, and murmured only
ncoherently in her ears unfinished SEN
fences full of passionate ~endearment,
81 gratitude, OF reverence. Of protec-
lion.
But through all there ran a note OF
tragic sadness At last he drew back
MS head, and. clasping her face be-
tween his hands, stared into her face IN
blank bewildermcnt, mingled with fear.
'How did you do it?' he whispered
hoarsely at last. WAS IL on the night
be dtned with us? Don't shake and
tremble like that, child. Don't stare at
me with those wild eyes / know you
We're mad when You did IL, and that
yeu did Ii for me. Do you think I
should forget that? Cicelyi Cicely-'
For his wife had suddenly wrenched
herself away from him, and, starting
up 10 her feet, was watching him, and
sanging upon his words as a condemned
criminal hangs upon those OF The mes
senger who brings him a pardon.
"When-diaI-do tn she repeated
slowly. dwelling upon each word.
When did I do it,"
Duke thought she had gone mad;
there was delhium In her eyes. Then
vou did not kill Joseph RadstockY'
But / saw you 60 In there with a
knife! I heard him groan!-with a
shudder she covered her face with her
hands.
II was ruined, and Radstock had
found out something I had done and
threatened to expose me. and I saw no
hope" answered Duke In n shaking
voice. 81 took the knife to kin myself.
But when I got into the cellar I heard
q groan, which I own I took for a SUI
p~ernatural rebuke. 1t must have been
Radstock. But I did not know he was
there"
Didn't you give him the cellar key?
asked Cicely. He said you did"
"No, / had fallen asleep In the study,
md he must have taken it without rous-
ing me-"
Cicely stood for a few minutes, her
recovered wits busying themselves with
the details of this disclosure. Then
she turned to Duke i~mpetuously.
Then you thought I had done It,
What do they thinkT'
Duke shook his head.
II don't know. Perhaps"
Cicely interrupted him, dragging him
toward the door.
I'VE must tell them. Come. Quick.
And we must find out how it hap
pened."
1t was not difficult to guess at least
q part Of the truth; but there were
others to convince, notably Mr.. William
Bennington, who had taken such an ac-
i've part in what he believed to be the
unmasking OF his nephew's guilt. Duke
felt that he had an account to settle
with him.
Husband and wife, as they went
down stairs together. heard subdued
voices in the drawfng-room.
They are all In here" said Duke. :
"Now don't say anything, but leave
everything to me-"
They entered the drawing-room. when
q silence fell at once upon the occu-
pants.
"a bad business, this" began the ell
der MIR. Bennington, in tones i'm which
genuine c~omplacency struggled with an !
assumption of concern, about as bad
q business as I've ever had the mis-
fortune to come across"
why talk about il, then, uncle ?"
broke in Minna's clear voice. I'VE
must all make the best of 1t and hush
1t up; and then I, for one, shall not feel
at all sorry that somebody met his de-
serts. There's the credit Of the family
TO be thought Of"
Duke crossed over TO the fireplace
with a flash Of his old, staggering
tmpetuosity.
$50 far from doing that. uncle" said
he. with a sharp pull OF the bell. II
intend to send at IN for the nearest
doctor, and for q policeman. The soon
.r We give publicity TO the matter, the
sooner we are likely to get to the
facts"
Every one in the room was startled
by this announcement. Duke maintain
sd a stubborn silence. after giving the
pecessary orders to the servant who
answered the bell, until the arrival of
doctor, who happened to be ono
with whom most OF those present had
slight personal acquaintance. 4
Doctor Fielding" then began Duke |
At once, 'the dead body OF a clerk OF
mine, VINO has been missing for the 4,
fortnight. has just been found /,
my wTinecellar. 1t has not been J,