Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-08-12

sassin, for life or death, had gone on
within its walls. When she had COM
pleted her task, she turned toward
Dunba. and laughed the low, fearrui
laugh of successful crime and trium-
plant guilt, saying:
"A woman wide awake and sitting
in her chair would not suffer herself to
be murdered without making some re-
sistance! Behold, therefore, the marks
Of a desperate conflict! 1t would be
rich could we be present to see how
the sapient law officers will dweel up
on all these signs as conclusive proofs
that n foul crime has been committed.
But by whom? / will help them 10
that conclusion, also.
And, saying these words. she went
and drew the bolt Of the door or the
dressing room, and passed into IL. Al
ter an absence of Ave minutes she re-
turned. smiling, and whispering:
"He sits in his chair and sleeps ike
the dead. His o a lay upon another
chair near him. I have smeared the
cuffs and the inside of the pockets, n
hidden it In the wardrobe; for II must
seem his deed Now, bind up my arm.
my blood has done its work. and II but
my ruse succeede, my veins have not
been drained in vain. Now, bind UP
my arm. quickly! l tell you, | feel
faint. for even l cannot lose so much
of my life-stream without giddiness!
And, even as the fell woman spoke,
she turned CHASTITY white, reeled, n
might have sunk TO h floor. nah not
the man, who seemed the leader OF this
band. and whom she had called Mon
sieur. caught her In his arms, and seat
ell her carefully upon a lounge. He
bound up her wound and took a flask
of brandy from his pocket and placed
IL at her lips. She drank freely,
breathed deeply, and exclaimed hearth
ly. though in 4 low whisper:
''Ihis is indeed eau-de-vie. 1t gives
me new life"
Then, springing to her feet, she said:
"We must get her TO the boat as soon
as possible. for the transformation can
not be made until l have her to my
self for a good hour, and that a only
be managed in the cabin of h ship.
Brothers, be careful as you go to leave
no vestige of your presence here. FL
fine. when We have gone, look around,
and see that no sign OF our nocturnal
visit remains
II will take care Of that, madame
answered the waiting woman.
Now. then. to remove our beauty!
Monsieur. will you please to lend q
han6? Or, perhaps, you will prefer the
undivided honor of bearing her on! III
so. proceed-'none but the brave de-
serve the fair, concluded the
The leader approached and raised the
light, insensible form OF the victim
bride in his arms. and passed with her
through the French window out upon
the upper front porch. followed by the
other members of the g~ang-who, in
obedience TO the directions that had
been given them. looked carefully
around the Don in leaving it, TO as
sure themselves that no vestige OF their
fatal presence remained to betray
them. And thus they passed from the
bridal chamber. through the front
porch and down the outer stairs TO the
path leading through the strawberries
down to the waters edge.
The leader carried the insensible
form of Astrea in his arms. The wo-
man Victorine walked by his side, oc-
c~asionally shredding off fragments OF
the victims muslin dress. or Il lock OF
her golden hair, to hang upon the
bushes, saying, with her horrible
laugh:
This is to make his Sapience, the
magistrate. believe hat her body has
been dragged, struggling, through
these bushes and cast into the sea.
Thus. you perceive, I make it n com
plete case of perfect sequences! Not a
link in the chain of events shall be
Nrontinn II shall anpaar thot AStran
De Glacie has been murdered. and by
him who is called Fulke Greville. And
If the strong objection your democratic
juries feel to convicting a gentleman
does not save him, nothing else willr'
They shuddered-even those evil men
Ito hear her speak thus! They neith-
er approved Or replied, hdt pursued
their way through the shrubbery until
they reached the waters edge, where a
large boat lay moo.ed and awaited
them.
The body of Astrea was carefully
placed in the stern. And then the
whole party embarked. Six of them,
three on each side Of the boat. took
oars and rowed swiftly toward a ship
that lay at anchor about a mile below
the island.
TN reaching the yeSSeI they en-
barked. carefully carrying the body OF
the unfortunate Astrea. who now. too
late, vas beginning TO show signs of
returning consciousness.
Monsieur bore her down into the
cabin and laid her in a berth, and left
her in the care of Madame Victorine.
Then, bounding up the stairs, three
steps at a time. he threw off his black
mask and black gown, and revealed
himself as dashing a young sea captain
as ever trod the quarterback.
AT the same moment, as at a signal,
his dark companions threw off their
sloughs. and appeared as reckless n set
of sailors as yer worked a pirate ship
or be arded n peaceful merchantmen.
At the word of command from their
captain the men Immediately COM
menced work. Some occupied them
selves with getting up the anchor,
while others were busy with the sails
and ropes.
Meanwhile. in the cabin below, a sim
gular scene WAS going on. 1t was in a
small recess in the interior of the ship,
lighted by n small lamp that, hung
from the ceiling and swung with the
motion Of the waves. II was accom-
modatcd with two berths. one on each
si1n and with a ahast Of lra u,arS ot