Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-09-29
CHAPTER xx-tContinuedo

- - aka w ~ ~ VIZ
bail" said Stephen, hoarsely. 'The
charge against me Is utterly unfound-
ed-a mere attempt TO screen this
Brann."
II trust So" answered the magis-
tratc, gravely. but you surely must be
aware tsatait Is out of my power to
grant bail in "a ease of this sort? II Is
my painful duty TO refuse the applica-
ton"
Stephen was, accordingly, conducted
back to his cell. where, he was in
formed. he could have what he chose
to pay for In the way of, food and
drink-except alcoholic stimulants In
any shape or form. Food! 49,. Food
for him.. ~. What he craved for was
brandy-enough of the fiery filid to
deaden the madness that was creeping
oye his brain.
Habitually he was Q very moderate
driIker; but now he lenged 10 be
drunken, if but to find Oblivion for a
few hours. Impossible. The division
nj surgeon might allow him a moderate
quantity, which n good-natured Off
cial might supplement later at his own
risk; but there Is no such refuge as
stltVbOtit EutttdSt ttVfu FoIItN ia htt
Ma.iesty,s cells.
How is 1t possible TO describe the tor
ncnts endured by the now utterly des-
pairful wretch throughout that seem
irgly interminable evening and night?
Had he been charged with the shoot
ing OF Derek, he could have faced the
accusation r~esolutely enough. Even
had a. witness tsay. Brann himself)
come forward to swear he saw him
fire the shot. who would now believe
the story? Or, ut the worst, could he
not have pleaded the murderous as
sault committed by Derek upon his
brother as his justification for ar act
committed on the spur of the moment?
But IL was Ashcroft's death, not Der
ck's, that was now laid mt his door.
That boy, win Iarkin, they called
him-the same, no doubt, who had
been his guide when he first saw
Brann-what did he know of his sub
sequent Interview with Ashcroft?
What statement had he made TO the
p~oliceg.... Could he have logged his
steps and have witnessed his meeting
with the gamekeeper -. The per,
spiratioa stood out In beads upon Ste
phen's forehead, albeit the night WAS
chilly.
Then he vowed lac could and would
treat the whole affair as q monstrous
fable. q mped up between Brann and
the boy, In ease the poacher should
fail in making good his escape. OF
curse. What more likcly?.... But
then the conjectiIres as TO the boys ev-
idence came back upon his mind again
with terrifying force. And thus. oscil-
lating between wild despair and still
wilder hopes, Stephen Deane paid the
first iEstallment of a murderer's pun
ishment-the agonies of suspense.
The excitement was SO intense next
day that Bow street was well-nigh
closed TO traffic by dense. surging
crowds, eager to hear the latest news
OF the last sensation. The state OF the
court itself will be understood when 1t
lis stated that old Sol Grabcnthal twho
was I'm n fever OF excitement, had
parted with a golden sovereign TO Sc
a few square inches of standing
room.
Everything, of course, hinged upon
the evidence OF the boy. VIII Larkin.
who scowled yindictlyely at stephen,
and whom the latter at once Identified
Brann's messenger.
II have to inform your worship" re-
marked the Inspector who had charge
OF the case, .that the witness. Larkin,
has been accepted by the crown as,
what is commonly termed Queens
evidence. His protracted silence as TO
what he heard and saw when Ashcroft
met his death would, otherwise, place
him beside the prisoner. in the dock, rs
accessory after the fact"
'very WELL" assented the magis-
frate. "Swear the witness"
In quaint. dialect narrative Of his
own, supplemented by occasional an-
answers to questions. VIII Larkin told
his story. The trouble all arose. he
said, over the shooting OF the young
Master Derek. Luke Brann
heard tho fatal shot, and reached the
scene OF the tragedy just in time 10
see Mr.. Stephen Deane ~sneaking off to-
wards Deanshurst.
How do you know this?'' asked the
"lLeke told me SO hisself,s was the
reply. "But / wasn't to tell nobody
bout II. An a more | dent"
Later on. Sam Ashcroft had discov-
cred both Mr.. Stephens footprints ana
Lukc's, and had identified the latter.
owing to n slight malformation of one
Of his feet, which necessitated a spc-
cially-made boot. Luke got wind of
A~sncroft's suspicious, owing To n spite
full hint thrown out by the gamekcep-
or, and. as they were bitter eneries,
he resolved to Invoke Mr.. Stephens
help to get him u of the country be-
fore Ashcroft Informed against him.
Mr. Stephen mel Luke in witness
presence and agreed to send him To
America. That very night witness
saw Luke off by train from Winchester
as a sailor nkbis way 10
Ashcroft was seen by
many persons, besides witness, The fol
afternoon; but the day after
that his dead body was found in the
luke wasn't missed mt once,
and that was how he came 10 be sas-
pected, after the murder.
"And pow," said the Inspector. tell
the court what you know about the
murder"
'"rhat may he main soon told was
the quick reply. 81 wur watchin Sam
Ashcroft, Z sec IL he wur on Luke's
heels, an l wur close to him when he
met Mr.. stephen IN & gloaming. At
they talked quiet liok, but AFTER n