Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-06-07
CHAPTER TX,
Lixht ut Last.

SAC was lASs Ou luS SOlst LII lllt 1lGlAO
boudoir 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.
r,lmstances which had preceded her
loss of consciousness.
"My darling. my poor poor Cicely.
What have you not suffered for me?
HoW-hOw-'
He broke down. and murinured only
incoherently in her ears unfinished SEN
fences full of passionate endearment,
of gratitude, Of reverence. of protec-
ton.
But through all there ran a note Of
tragic sadness. At last he drew back
his head, and, claSping her face be-
tween his hands. stared into her face in
blank bewilderment. mingled with fear.
How did YOU do it?" he whispered
hoarsely AT last. WAS it on the night
he diilrtl with us: Don't shake and
tremhle like that. child. Don't stare at
me with those wild eyes. l know you
were mad when you did it. and that
you did it for me. Do you think I
should forget that? Ciccly. Cicelyv'
For his wife had suddenly wrenched
herself away from him. and. starting
up to her feet. was watching him. and
hanging upon his words as a condemned
criminal hangs upon those of the mes
senger who brings him /; pardon.
''When-did--I-do it, She repeated
slowly, dwelling upon each word.
when did l do it:''
nyEo clio bn1 conn mad f.
there was delirium i'll her eyes Then
you did not kill Joseph Radstock?'
But | saw You go in there with a
knife. l heard him gro;n!'-with a
shudder she covered her face with her
hands.
Il was ruined. and Radstock had
found out something l had done and
threatened to, expose me, and saw no
hope answered Duke in shaking
voice. Il took the knife to kill myself.
But when 1 got into the cellar l heard
a groan. which l own | took for a SUI
pernatural rebuke. 1t must have been
Radstock. But 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.
anu AS llluSl nave ldkeu IL WIluOul IOuS-
ing me-
Cicely stood for few minutes her
recovered wits busying themselves with
the details OF this disclosure. Then
she turned to Duke impetuously.
Then YOU thought l had done it!
What do they Think
Duke shook his head
Il don't know. Perhaps -"
toward the door.
''We must tell them. Come Quick.
And we must find out how it hap
pened''
1t was not difficult to guess at least
part Of the truth; but there were
others to convince. notably MIR. William
Bennington, who had taken such an ac-
tive 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 drawing groom.
''-They are all in here" said Duke.
''Now don't say anything, but leave
everything to me-"
They entered the dra wing-room, when
silence fell at once upon the occu-
pants.
"A bad business, this" began the ell
der Mr.. Bennington, in tones in which
genuine complacency struggled with an
assumption of concern, about as bad
business as I've ever had the mis-.
fortune to come across"
why talk about it, then, uncle?'
broke in Minna's clear voice. 1--WE
must all make the best of it and hush
it up; and then 1, 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 flash of his old, staggering
impetuosity.
$50 far from doing that. uncle" said
he, with sharp pull Of the bell, 81
intend to send at once for the nearest
doctor. and for policeman. The soon
er 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
ed stubborn silence, after giving the
: necessary orders to the servant who
answered the bell until the arrival OF
the doctor, who happened to be ono
with whom most Of those present had 8
slight personal acquaintance.
Doctor FieldinA' then began Duke
at once, 1.-THE dea body of a clerk Of
mine, who has bten missing for the
past fortnight, hay just been found
in my wine-cellar. 1t has not beer
touched; as 1 thought that in case
of this kind, where very unpleasant sus
PIGEONS might be aroused, it was bet
ter not to make any investigations into
the cause of the death without scientific
assistance. I have also sent for q DO
lceman. as of course an official in
quiry will have to take place, and ]
wish to show that we court the full
est inquiry. I should like these gentle
men," and he turned toward his uncle
!, and the two younger men, "to be wit
nesses 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 hall
q brought up the rear.