Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-05-17
A busba3d'S
CriMQ.
BY FLORENCE WARDEN.
CHAPTER Nv,
Written In Red,

SstAftEH Nv.
Written In Red
"Where are you going?" asked Cice-
~, in a hard voice.
Radstock leaned against the bottom
rails Of the blnisters with tipsy
smile.
Il am going to libr'y-to ask my dear
nephew for key of cellar. Want t.
tashte that goo wine he keepsh all to
'mself"
HE can't give it to you now; he
doesn't know where it is
He'll have t find it. that'sh ALL
Slan't leave dear nephew till he
doeSh." IL
And with another husky laugh. Rad
stock turned and stumbled along on his
way to the library.
Cicely stood listening while he open
ed the door. She was too far off to
hear whether there was any discussion
between the two men. Radstock re-
manned in the library about five or six
minutes, and then came out, jingline
bunch of keys in his hand. She met
him with Il face full Of anxiety. and
glanced ut the prize as he flourshed it
over his head. The keys both of the
outer and inner cellar We're on that
bunch. she knew.
did Duke give you those?" she ask
ed.
"Yesh. Duke gave 'em to me, my
dear. and told me t. go to d. But
shan't so further underground vet than
inner snellar. Got to enjoy m'shelf up
here tirst-make up fmany yearsh pow
erty and obshcurity. And dear neph-
ew pay'sh piper. Out right. qui' right
Begin with bumper to my own health"
Nodding to her in triumph he turned
to go in the directions of the cellars.
Cicely followed little way at dis
lance, wondering whether he would get
down the stone steps. which We're steep
and narrow, without accident. in his
hazy condition. She had not been
there many moments when the library
door opened again and some one came
out. Could it be Duke? The step was
not like his; it was slow,stealthy. From
where she was she could not see the
library door; she had to wait, wait I'M
til the man came in sight.
1t was Duke. but a change had come
over him. What made him creep
through the hall of his own house like
a night thief?Cicely strained her eyes
to see his face. but his head hung down
be walked with bent back, as if he had
grown suddenly old. He went to the
dining-room door, stood for moment
with the handle in his hand. and then
went in as noiselessly as a cat.
Cicely sprang up so hastily that she
caught her foot in her dressing gown
When she had disengaged it she caught
sight of her husband darling out of the
dining room like a different creature.
So rapid were his footsteps now that
she had only time to catch one glimpse
of his boyish figure. and Of Something
he held in his hand.
1t was knife.
In a moment her head. Which had be-
gun to feel drowsy and confused. be-
CINE quite clear. She checked the cry
which was on her lips because she re.
membered that it would rouse the SER
wants. and fed down the staircase in
pursuit of her husband. So strangely
alert her mind had grown. that, us She
ran along the hall she noticed a place
inVSHs usoq pvq lu!Gd -IrM otp oIog-M
grazed, and thought herself that it must
have been done by new piano which
had been brought home few days be-
fore. And yet all the time she knew
what it was she feared and fed in the
clelsS " ICE uuSDtHu WITH i PRAYER Ill
her heart
Duke had BEEN too far ahead Of her
from the first for her to overtake him
before he reached the cellar Wien she
got half way down the steep stone
steps he was already out Of hearing.
In her agony lest she should be too late,
her limbs began suddenly to shake; she
missed her footing in the darkness and
fell to the bottom. She bruised herself
and graZed one hand on the rough
stone floor; but she did not know it. did
not know either that she had twisted
her ankle in her fall. and was lilnping
as he pushed open the cellar door and
ran over the uneven brick flooring
There was light down here from the
gas brackets along the wall; only glim
mer but enough for her 10 see her hus-
band as he opened the door of the long
hidden inner cellar, and disappeared
inside
Duke, Duke.' she cried.
But the sound Of her voice was lost
upon him. For at the same moment
there was groan, followed by hoarse
cry, and close UPON this Duke came
out again, with white face, hanging
Lip and wild eyes.
The knife was no longer in his hand.
On his white shirt-front there was a
red stain, and another on his wrist