Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-05-28

TO assure you that the young ladies
ought not TO be left alone at home"
Professor Drummond frowned.
They can't find anything comfort
ing in a morgue.'' he said.
NO, but they could stay at my
mothers till your return.
Very well. Get your hats, girls,
and hurry" called the professor.
The short journey TO the village was
covered in silence. Professor Drum
mond was wrapped in his thoughts
and the young ladies were too sub
sided TO say anything. The doctor
could not help ~inferring that they were
~habitually held in rather sever sub
lection by the professor. He noticed
how much more affected. apparently,
by the tragedy of the morning Miss
Willis was than Louise. Amelia had
hardly said a word since the time they
had met Betsey. Her face was very
pale and her eyes were swollen as
with a burden of tears that she held
back by Il supreme effort OF the Will.
Having left Louise and Amelia at
DR.. Williams home, the professor
drove on TO the village. There was no
need TO inquire where the body Of the
drowned man was, for he was recOg-
niZed by villagers, who called TO him
and told him where TO 60.
Everybody thinks he knows all
about it," uIuttered Prof. Drummond,
land l suppose the widest tales are
current"
The body had been taken TO the local
undertaker's place OF business, about
which there was a crowd of morbid
curiosity-seekers, lei and women.
They gave way promptly when the
doctor jumped down from the carry
all and pushed toward the door. Prof.
Drummonu followed more l%eisurely,
stopping first, to hitch his horse. ac-
complishing this act with great DELHI
GRAFTON. When, at length, he entered
the undertaker's room, he found DIR.
Williams, the undertaken and Mr.. Phil
brick there. All others had been
barred out.
1T proved that tie rumors about the
body having been found without
clothing were exaggerated. The vic
TINS clothing was torn, most Of the
upper garments having disappeared,
and the body was mutilated to a re-
markable degree. At first it had been
impossible TO recognize the features.
but when word got abroad that Hen
ry Starkweather had died suddenly at
Fairview, people could see a resem-
blance TO the pleasant-voiced young
man who had been living there for
several weeks.
Prof. Drummond looked long and
earnestly at the dead man.
1T is he" he said, with a sigh. at
last, and he turned about and slowly
left the room. The undertaken fol-
lowed him TO the office In front to see
whether he had any instructions TO
give. DIR. Williams and Mr.. Philbrick
were ieft with the body.
The doctor had not looked I'D when
the professor was present. He. too,
had recognized Starkweather, and his
personal curiosity had disappeared for
the moment in the professional inter
est that the gruesome spectacle had
aroused. He was but waiting an op-
p~ortunity TO make a more thorough
examination than he cared TO make in
the presence Of others. As he heard
the door close on the professor and the
undertaken he bent more closely over
the body and removed the cloth from
the throat and chest. A moment later
he started, and a shudder passed over
him.
ELECTRICITY he muttered, under his
breath.