The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-10-29
B2Mhind
EDMUND OOwNEY. -
AUTaoR or ~
70 A-oVsE or rgASS S" MD soS, eASS FTt. y
VI 0D
copyright, 1894, by Tillotson & Son.
CHAPTER XX
TIE DARK.

49, '-SN' So NAA> hN tNNtoA III
corner, and the pathways We're shorn Cf
pedestrians, partly owing to the driz-
zling rain and partly owing to the fact
that Felspar road was a quiet and very
early to bed road OF Sunday night.
A subduCd ring of the hall doorbell
brought Goringe to the door. Inspector
Briggs, Notwithstanding his biz frame,
almost slid through the half p door
like a shadow.
Let us get up stairs said Goring",
i'll Il low voice. Il am using the front
bedroOm-the man StoinwOrth's room.
The blind is drawn up and the light
from the street lamp finds its way into
the ROOM
We'll, partner" said the inspector,
rs he seated himself upon a chair in the
bedroom, "what's the news: Are We
going to share the Spoils tonight, or are
you to take the whole burden Of failure
on your shoulders and confess you Je
stumped:'
Before we begin our business prop
err" said Goringc, ignoring the inspect
Or'S questions, Il have Il report to make
to you III your official capacity. Iwould
have gone round to the station this
morning only that I decided it was best
for me to keep dark, and I took the lib
erty of keeping my report back until
you called.
Report Of WHAT
A entry was made here some time
last night-probably between the hours
of 10 and II o'clock, possibly later"
ttDIn1-f - xrL;c+1,l tLo ,o4,.
What does this point to? Mean to say
any one entered the louise while You
were in it,
THAT Is a matter we can discuss
later. I did not arrive here until mid
night. Now, Briggs. l am going through
what may seem to You a bit Of tOmfool-
cry. Put that last little burglary job out
Of your head for the present, and I
think we may safely start operations. l
am now going to try and demonstrate
to you how the money was stolen"
do you still think that the notes are
warm? But l suppose l mustn't ask
such a question"
II have no objection to answer YOU,
though l am a little disturbed by this
Last entry into the house. l have not
changed my mind-the notes are still
in the house"
All right. But do you think it is
better to search for them in the dark
than with the aid of a light? My bulls
eye is at your service
Thanks. We may require it later.
At present | prefer the dark. Now, will
you seat yourself i'll Mrs. Davorn's
room? | will remain here for the pres
emit
do you a to be locked in?" asked
the inspector, with a suspicion Of play
fitness.
Not Just yet. RecOllect l am seri-
Gus. | am going to stake all I'm worth
i mean my reputatiOn-on the expert
ment."
is this to be q final performance or
q dress rehearsal, or what"
There has been no rehearsal, Briggs,
but tiippancv doesn't agree with you
nor with me. | am III a very irritable
mood 0 Pray be serious. Now will
you get down to the room which the
dead woman occupied, and sit there I'M
til come to you, with the door closed
h'b ~ h''' &AIl'l b'Il u ri'dh " llIt
again until | speak to you"
All right said Inspector Briggs,
rising to his feet.
He could not help feeling amused at
the notion Of GOringc converting him
self into Il kind Of thought reader, but
he felt the detective was in no humor
to be played with. With noiselcSs steps
he passed ont on the landing, descended
h five steps and entered the room in
which Mrs. Davorn had died.
Here he seated himself, and in a few
moments h" found that his playful pro
pensltlcs had deserted him, and that he
felt more uncomfortable thai ever he
had felt i'll his life. He sat in the dark
Tor several minutes, IA prey to the most
uneasy thoughts. Practically he was
unarmed. He had no Notwithstanding
but his whistle and a pair Of handouts.
What on earth was Goringe doing,
Perhaps The man had gone Suddenly
mad and had decoyed him into the lone
ly house. But that was too foolish
thought to harbor. And yet it was all
very strange, Goringe's manner most OF
"- @>o'o 'oii III llC lOuSt. Il Jul
not sit here in the lark much longer.
Not unless he could hear a noise-some
thing which would direct his thoughts
from that hideOus bed in the Corner
where the woman had died. Was il
murder? Was it, as the doctor said, /;
natural death:
Inspector Briggs was seated facins
the door. AS he was about to max,
some noise, to shuttle his feet or stant
up, N listen even to the creaking O
his own boots, he thought he saw TIN
bedroom door moving. His eyes coult
nov distinguish objects in the room
No sound had reached his ears. He sa
gazing spellbound at the door, whicl
gradually moved inward with no noise
In a moment, just as the inspecto
felt he could bear the horrid silence n
longer, he saw the figure Of Goringe en-
tering the rom
The detective, still moving noiseles.
", walked to the bed, remained alonl
Cde it for some moments-an apprecis