Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-02-11
eT nAORICG n hERuEY

/ Biily's hand. arose. and stared around
! her. like one newly-awakened fron q
! dream.
Where am IL" she almost gasped.
Then her eyes met S~omeryillc's, and i'll
aa instant she remembered all; the Wis
IL to his rooms; the words that had
been spoken; the masterful, fathomleSs
gray orbs that had overpowered her.
Yet now she could look at them fear
lessly, defantly. Strength seemed to
have come to her from the hand-clasp
of the max who had pulled her back
from the parapet of Blackfriars bridge.
She looked around her, and recognized
both Skinner and Moutmorency. And,
| with restored memory OF the past, the
tigress once more arose strong within
| her. Someryille made n last, desper-
| ate effort 10 reassert his influence; but
the attempt failed, and he knew it. In
stead of submissive obedience, the dark
| eyes now flashed back scorn and hat
| red into his.
'Richard Somerville," cried Zana. in
clear, belllike tones, 'in the presence
| Of these three witnesses, l denounce
| You as a thief and a murderer; as a
thief, because | have proof that you
robbed Ernest Norton; and as a muir
derer, because you assuredly did him
to his death!'
Livid with rag and fear. Somerville
| sprang forward, with outstretched
hand. TO choke the girl into silence, but
was borne back by a simultaneous on
rush on the part Of Daft Billy. The
next instant a heavy cut-glass decant-
er descended with murderous force up
on the outcast's head, and he fell, with
| scarce n groan. Josiah next inter-
posed, and, had he been supported by
Montmorency, they would, doubtless,
| between them, have succeeded in over-
towering the now Infatuated doctor.
But the agents heart failed him, and,
muttering something about procuring
help, he rushed from the room.
Somerville was clearly beside him.
self with rage and despair, and his
fury concentrated itself upon Zana.
With lightning like rapidity he drew
forth q revolver, with the obvious In
tenticn of shooting her. But. ere he
could draw the trigger, Josiah had
wrested the weapon from his hand. 1t
fell upon the floor, at some distance
from the two combatants, who forth
with closed in a deadly embrace.
The detective was brave rs a lion,
but he was no match for his sinewy
opponent, whose fingers locked around
his throat with a grip of steel. Strive
how he would, Josiah could not unloOs-
on that terrible grip, until, with pro-
truding eyes and out-hanging tongue.
he lay, a limp, inert mass upon the
floor.
Zana had. meanwhile. possessed her
self OF the revolver, and when Somer-
vile arose, painting, from the now
helpless detectives PROSTATE form. the
cleaning barrel was pointed fair ut his
heart.
Move but a single step, and | frey'
she cried, with scarce a tremor in her
voice.
With an oath, Somerville sprang for
ward. There WAS a fiash-a report
and he fell like a log across the body
of Daft Billy.
AT that moment Montmorency re-
turned in hot haste, followed by half
the personnel Of the hotel. The scene
that met their gaze was one which
none was ever likely to forget; three
motionless bodies stretched upon the
parquet. and a girl. revolver In hand,
standing erect and defiant amidst the
carnage.
'Great heavens.' exclaimed Mont
morency. horror-stricken. What has
happened? What does it all meany'
'It means" answered Jana, catching
at her breath. "that Ernest Norton has
been avenged"