The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1896-01-11
CHAPTER NV

III no WISE tuuultL Htl, Ilpl "S'S 80 -
afraid of the discovery that might be the
outcome of her researches, for nothing
could be more cruel than the suspense
that was torturing her, no certainty more
hateful than the suspicion which at pres
ent she was Obliged to feel. BY an in
stinct stronger than any evidence of ac-
tual fact she was persuaded that he had
died because of her; and none other than
Stephen Prinsep knowing the persecution
she had endured at his hands, 1t seemed
only too clear wherein lay the motive for
the crime, and that he had been the muir
derer she could not doubt.
That he had sinned for her sake count
ed nothing in his favor; it seemed instead
TO add to the blackness of the crime by
making her in a way a participator IN 1t.
Had it not been so she might have ielt
less bound to disnter the truth.
From first to last il had been her own
fault-hers only; or so it seemed now,
She had meant all for the best, but she
thought with bitterness that had she been
well-intentioned, things might have turn
ed out better. Her fathers words re-
Cured to her that the consequence re-
manned when the actual fault was dead
or forgotten, and the aphorism seemed
the wiser that she herself had proved it
true.
Having decided that it was her duty to
bring the murderer TO justice, however it
might pain herself-and she knew that it
would be less painful to suffer in his
stead than betray Stephen Prinsep-she
lost no time in putting her resolve into cX-
ecutiOn.
Her first move was to visit the spot
7 L. H.
and having managed TO evadc her moth
er's companionship. she set out alone.
But on arrival she found Il small group
of people assembled there. curiously ex-
amining the ground; for the interest eX-
cited by the murder had been wide
spread.
She passed on quickly, and a few min
utes' walk brought her on to the parade
ground. UeSitating for a moment whether
to return later, or to rellnqulsh Eer pur-
pose for that day. her glance happened to
fall upon the end house of the married
mems barracks, and she remembered that
the woman who lived there had been i'll.
and she had meant for some time to go
and see her.
Crossing the parade ground, the
thought struck her that if Jacob Lynn
was accompanied on the afternoon he was
murdered, the inmates of that end house
would be the most likely to know of it.
1t was perhaps a fortunate coincidence
that had brought her here.
The woman was at home, and well
enough to be pleased to see visitor. She
was lying back in a straw easy-chair on
the veranda, and, seeing Jane approach
ing, tried TO move to meet her.
Don't get up, Mrs. Phillips, You are
not able to do so, | am sure. L did not
expect you would Ice out of bed
Il have been sitting out of doors for
the last week. ! was sitting here the very
day Lynn went to his death. II gave me
more than n bit. If it hadn't been for
him should have been we'll by this time
not that il was his fault, poor fellow"
Jane had flushed at the uneXp, cted men
ton of the very name she was anxious to
introduce. But she was too confused to
take advantage of it. However, Mrs.
Phillips required no encouragement To
continue a conversation, and went on
briskly:
They would have had me up at the in
quest, no doubt, but l was that upset |
couldn't have answered Il question they
uShtu NE. Anu, btSittS, W HIT L knew
there were others knew as well rs |"
You mean" asked Jane. nervously, for
her role of amateur detective was emf
nently distasteful to her. YOU mean you
only saw him pass alOne?"
That's all. | saw the khidmatgar pass
the man who found him, you know |
saw no one else go by that afternoon. ex-
cept-I had forgotten that-somebody
-, Il
who he was, but he must have struck
across toward the hospital, for his name
didn't come out at the inquest.
VERY likely. The two roads branch off
at once. You did not happen to see who
it was?"
mo; never thought of it till now.
Just saw that he was tall and wore a
gray suit. And after al it didn't matter
as he had nothing TO do with it,
mo, of course not agreed Jane, ris.
ing. Il am very glad you are better, Mrs
Phillips My mother will be glad, too
you ever since she first heard you were
ill.,"
Returning by the way she had come
this time there was no one passing along
by the short cut, and she stood in the
utSeI itu Noull'out'I' W OIItti III W ildt EODC
she had done by coming there If there
had been anything TO lead to discovery
it would have been found before this
But evidence seemed to crop up without
her volition. Moving her foot restessly
against the broken stump of tree ar
outstanding twig broke, and. as it fe
away, she saw something wcdged in he
tween the roots. She stopped and loosen
ed il. 1t was mother-of pearl button
attached to Il piece of smooth gray cloth
such as might have been torn from {
gentleman's short gaitcr.
Colonel Prinsep wore such short CATER,
she knew; but then 50 many others in the
regiment wore them. too, that unless she
could actually fit the piece she held in hel
hand into the part from which it had beer
torn, nothing could be proved.
That, of course. was impossible, and be
ing so. all her discoveries We're useless
She had distressed herself to no purpose
and the end was as far away Is ever.
With the button tightly clasped in hel
hand. she walked slowly home. thinking
. over what she already guessed, and whar
still remained to be cunjeCtured. She re
membered stories she had read of father.
who had sacrificed their own sons to
sense of justice, and wives who had giver
up their husbands. forgetting their Low,
/ for the sinner in their loathing for tn,
sins that had been committed; but sh,
was no heroine. and she felt relieved tina
/ nothing more could be required OF her
| having done her utmost and failed. TIL,
mystery of Jacob Lynn's death might re
| main a mystery TO ell time.
/ For several days after this she re
NAMED inactive. Too troubled to dar,
to give herself leisure TO think. she spen
! most of her time in reading: and by
+ curious coincidence, in one of the book.
/ with which she had chosen 10 distrac
/ her thoughts was an account OF woman
4 tracing out the details Of a crime aut
/ eventually discovering the murderer. By
| means Of disguise she had entered {
( house that was otherwise effectuall,
i closed against her and 50 possessed her
( self Of the necessary proofs. Armed Will
/ these. the rest had been easy; no further
! obstacles prevented her from gratifyin.
/ the revenge which had urged her on.
/ Jane let the book fall into her lap.
+ foated vaguely across her mind that, j
| so much had been already done by a vo