Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-01-18
CHAPTER Lv.-ruR LAST DISCOVERY

NhhfTEh LN.-THE LAST DISCOVERY. |
"l shall like TO turn farmer" Lord
Harry went on talking while Iris opened
aud began to read Fanny's manuscript.
After all my adventures, to settle down
in q quiet place and cultivate the soil. On
hlarket-day we will drive into town To.
gtther"--he talked as IL Kentucky were
Warwickshire-"side BY siie Ia a spring
cart. shall have samples OF grain in
bags, and you will have "A basket OK butter
and cream. IL will be an ideal life. We /
snail dine at the ordinary, and, after din
ner, over a pipe and a glass of grOg, | shall
discuss the weather and the crops. And
while we live IN this retreat Of ours. over
here the very name of Harry Norland will
nave been forgotten. Queer, that We
shall 90 on living long after we are dead
and buried and forgotten. In the novels
the man turns up after he IS supposed
10 he cast away wrecked-drOwned-
dead long ago But he never turns up
When he ~ fOrgOtten-unless be il Rip
Van Wrinkle. By CAD, Iris! When we
are old people we will go home aud see
the old places together. II will be some
thing 10 look forward to-something to live
for-ehs
Il feel quite happy this evening, Iris;
happier than ! have been for months. The
fact is, this Internal place has hipped US
both coafoundedlv. / don't like TO grum-
bic, but I've felt the mouotony more than
a Dlt. aut 30 nave NDu. lLs tldue YOU
brood over things. Now. for my part. |
like to look ut the bright side. Here we
are comfortably cut of from the past.
That's all done with. Nothing in the
world can revive the memory OF the
dlsagreeable things IL we are only trne 10
ourselves and agree TO forget them. What
has been doue can never be discovered.
Not a soul knows except the doctor, and
between him aud ourselves W. are going
10 put a few thousand What's the
matter, Irisi What the devil is the mat
ter!'
while her husband Chartered on, sudden
iy dropped the book, and turned upon
him n white face aud eyes struck with
horror.
"What is itr" Lord Harry repeated
"Ohl Is this true'"
"What;"
al cannot say it. On, my Godl can this
be trur'"
WHAT Speak, Iris" He sprang to his
feet. us It's 1t discovered"
"Discoyeredi Yes, alI-all-all-is dis
covered"
"Wherei Howi Give me che thing.
Iris. Quick! who knows' What Is
known"
He snatched the book from her hands.
She shrank from his ouch. aud pushed
back her char, standing In an attitude Of
observation-disclosures him as oie would
watch a dangerous creature.
He swiftly read page after page, eager TO
know the worst. Then he threw the book
upon the table.
'"well'" he said, not lifting his eyes.
THE man was murdered-murderedV"
she whispered.
He made no reply.
you looked on while he was murdered!
You looked on cousentlng! You ar a
murderer
II had no share or part IN it. did not
know he was being poisoned"
You knew when | was with YOU. Oh!
the dead man--the murdered mgn-was IN
the house al the very moment, Your hands
were red with blood when you took ne
%away--to get me ogt OF the wly-so that /
should not know she stopped, she
could not 20 ON.
II did not know. Iris--uot with certain
~. thought he was dying when he cane
into the house. He did not die; he began
10 recover. When tue doctor rave him his
mediCine-after that woman went away.
] suspected. When he died, my suspicious
were stronger. ! challenged him He did
not deny it. Believe me, Iris, | neither
counselled it nor knew OF it,
you acquiesced in it. You consented.
You should have warne1 the-the other
murderer that you would d%enOunce him II
the man died. You o advantage Of
1t. His death enabled you 10 carry out
your ran with me as your accompllce.
With me! | an an a~ccomplice in a muir
derf'
No, no. Iris: you knew nothing OF il.
No one can ever accuse you-'
"Gou do not understand. IL Is part OF
the accusation which / make against my
self"
LAS for what this writes" her
husband went on, lit is true. | suppose It
Is useless 10 deny a single word OF 1t. She
had hidden behind the curtain, them She
heard and saw all! II ximpany mad ionna
81 a Una Yes: she has told you exact
~ what happened. She suspected all
along. We should have sent heraway and
changed our plans. This comes OF being
too clever. Nothing would do for the doc
tor but the mans death. | hoped-we
both hoped--that he would die a natural
death. He did not. Without "A dead mau
we were powerless. We had to get a dead
man. Iris. | will hide nothing more from
You. whatever happens. | confess every
thing. | knew that he was going TO die.
When he began 10 get we'll | was filed
with forebod ings, because | knew that he
would never be allowed 10 90 away. How
else could we ind dead body, You can't
steal a body; you can't make one up. o
must have one for proof OF death. | say"
his voice was harsh and hoarse-"I say
that / knew he must die. | saw his death
III tue hOtAOI , AdIEs Anu LnGIE was LIZ
more money left for a new experiment if
Oxbye should get well aud go away
When it came TO the point | was seized
with mortal terror. / would have given
up everything-everything-to see the a
get up from his bed anu go away. But IL
was too late. saw the doctor prepare
the final dose, and when he held it 70 his
lips | saw bv his eyes that it WAS the drink
OF death. | have told you ALL" he con.
cluded.
You nave told me ALL" she repeated.
"All. Good heavens! All.'
II have hidden nothing from you. Now
there Is nothing more to tell"
She stood perfectly still-her hands
cllsped. her eyes set, her face white aud
steru.
What | have TO do now" she said. lies
plain before me-"
Iris. | implore you. make no change in
our plans. Let us go away rs we proposed.
Let the past be forgotten. Come with
me-"