The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-04-06

Every one in tho room was startled
by this announcement Duke maintain
cd Il stubborn silence, after giving the
necessary orders 10 the servant who
answered the bell until the arriral #
the doctor. who happened to be one
with whom most of those present had a
slight personal acquaintance.
Doctor Fielding then began Duke
ut once, the deal body of clerk of
mine. who has been missing for the
past fortnight has just been found
In my wine-cellar. Ii has not been
touched: as / thought that i'll Il case
of this kind, where very unpleasant sus-
picionS might be aroused, il was bet
ter not To make any investiga tions into
the clusa Of the death without scientific
assistance | have also sent for Il po-
iceman. as Of course an official in
Guiry will have TO take place, and |
wish TO show that Me court the full
est inquiry. | should like these gentle
men and he turned toward his uncle
and the two younger men. Ito be wit
ne>ses Of your examination, as 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 hail.
brought up the rear.
Duke. who had the sense to know
that his position was too grave for
half-confidenceS. confessed that his diff
ficalties had led him 10 contemplate
suicide. and that under such an impulse
he had taken into the cellar the knife
-Ixs.. n, -
ton showed at once that the knife.
although it was splashed with 4 spot
Of blood, could not have been used as A
weapon. Then came the more impor-
tant work Of examining the body.
1t 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
We're blood stains under the body aid
on the wall. The doctor asked a few
questions as to the condition Radstock
had been in on the night of his disap-
pearance. 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 I'M
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 helplessly drunk,
rvns
broken glass on the floor, and died of
suffocation."
The only person who did not feel, as
they all emerged from the cellar, in
relieved by the result Of the in
Even the salvation of the credit Of the
family did not weigh upon him against
the humiliation Of finding that his ex-
ultation over his nepheW's downfall
had been premature. His cengratuia-
lions SO obviously lacked sincerity that
Duke asked him with a touch Of his old
nsolence, if he was sorry to see his
character cleared.
You can comfort yourself. you know
lncle,' he Went OH. glancing unclsily
It his wife. who had heard the result
# the examination in shuadering s.
ence. by the knowledge that we are
Tined. ! have forged your name TO
Dlls which will be due before / can
meet them. and
Cicely rose from her chair. and tot
cred over to her husbands side But
'he would not look ut the elder man.
Who was taking out his pockct-book
With flush on his face. The rest OF
he party. on Il hint from Ninna, had
zone out on the lawn.
If you can't meet the bills when they
,ecome due, / WILL said Mr.. Berring-
on. He did feel some contrition for
he eagelness he had shown in hunting
ut the young fellows supposed crime,
md he was anxious to rcinstate him.
elf In the proud position he liked to
'ecupy, by an action Of great gener-
'slty. He therefore produced from his
the very bills on which
Duke had forged his name. As mat
er Of fact, he had got them into his
'Wn possession with the object Of using
hem to ruin his nephew, as Cicely
guessed. Duke, however.
more impulsive than his wife. was over
vhelmed by this act Of forebearance.
t was some minutes before he could
peak, and when he did so, it was in 1
ubdued and humble voice
I can't thank you. uncle,' he began
'rokenly but my Wife my children
iod bless Wou uncle. l will never come
Q near disgracing 9ur name again"
lie Wrung his unce's hand: and the
lder man touched and even abashnl
" his evident sincerity, returned the
'ressure with real warmth. Then he
urned to his nepheW's wife
Il am sorry. madam, if l caused Won
'ain on my last VISIT he said ..I-I
Won't intrude upon you any longer. I.
He pulled out his watch and looked |
Z 1t with the desperate anxiety Of
nan IN search Of an excuse to get away
nave an appointment-at least +
'romlsed my wife to be home-half mn
lour ago, intact. Where Algernon >.