Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-07-14
The Doom Of
DeanshQrst.
D
II

party somewhere to the right OF us,
| once rut in a term at Guys Suppose
we signal the other fellows
The three p~reconcerted shots were
accordingly fired.
Assuming the worst" continued
stephen, ''the question, of course ar
Uses as to how young Derek and my
poor brother came to their deaths.
Appearances point to a quarrel, fol-
lowed by a blow from Derek's gun and
a shot from Oscars; and, speaking as
a lawyer, I think that, for once, APP
p~earances must be right"
Looks like it," assented Turner a
little doubtfully. But what puzzles
me is, how your brother was able to
fire after receiving such a murderous
blow. Perhaps. though. his gun went
of by accident as he fell
"A very clever suggestion" said
Stephen, as though the idea had not
struck him before, and one which, out
of regard for my poor brothers mem
DRY, | trust the coroner's jury will in
dorse.''
There will be an inquest, you
Think
Certainly; there is no possibility of
avoiding it,"
You're right there" the gamekeeo-
err ventured TO remark, and wotS
mJfe, there'Il be any amount of cues
tons axed bout the findin' o T. bodies,
how they was a-lyin', and so forth. |
wur twelve years a constable afore /
TUX TO 'keepin,' and, in eoorse, | knows
summat o. these matters. Halloa.
Here be Joe Brash a-comin' with some
% t'other gents"
of as a former student of Guys Hos
pital. was amongst the newcomers,
and made a careful examination of the
I, victims Of the catastrophe.
"a terrible business, L~anglon," said
Stephen. as he arose from his gruesome
task. though it is not hard to -uess
how ii came TO pass
II don't think there will be any ne
cessity for guessing" was the reply.
What do you mean?" asked Ste
! phen. eagerly. They are dead. are
they not?'
"Derek is: he has been dead so@.e
hours rejoined Langdon. "But your
brother is still alive, and il. as I hope,
there has been no actual laceratien of
the brain. he will pull through. $500.
Why. what's the natter"
Stephen had reeled, as though about
TO fall, On hearing these hopeful words,
which 10 him meant so much. Oscar
still alive. and likely to recover. What
| effect might not his evidence have up
on the verdict of a jury! And il. Sis
picion were once aroused against a
1 fbifl ..c p,frbt ~ NOT fl.-ntRph
some unforeseen clue of miehance-
fasten on TO him? But. apart. even,
from this danger, il Oscar lived. what
would it profit him to have slain Der
elk. He felt sick ut heart.
The matterg' he repeated. vaguely.
"Oh, nothing. -. This terrible affair
has utterly unnerved me. $1,000. that's
ALL"
mo wonder" remarked Langdon, a
little drily. But. come. We are vast
, ing precious time here, and | must
have Major Deane in bed as quickly as
possible. A couple of the keepers had
best run back TO Deanshurst, send for
The nearest surgeon. and meet us with
a couple of observation-disclosures will
do, at a pinch. !. There. OF with
you. and look alive!'
The amateur medico's energy speeli-
ly communicated itself TO the rest:
and. in a very short time, the dead
youth and his barely-living antagonist
were being slowly carried homeward
upon filters. improvised from guns and
bought. upon the track of the messeI.-
gers. But, before the mournful cor
tege started. Ashcroft. the head game
keeper, justified his claims t o police
manlike astuteness by announcing his
Intention of remaining behind i'll com
pany with one OF his subordinates.
What forg' queried Stephen,
sharply.
"Why. you see, SIR replied Ash.
croft. although t weather it'pears to
be mendin' now. there might be an
other shower or two afore mornin'."
well, what them
"I'ye been giyin' n look around as
we'll as | could with this blamed Ian
term" explained the keeper, land I've
found footmarks upon the opposite
side of the clearing End leading away
from here. They weren't made by none
of u party, that's sartin sure. And
I'd loik to see summat more of them
footmarks, and mebbe follow 'em I'D a
bit. afore the rain can wipe 'em out"
"Ah. indeed!' commented Stephen,
with well-feigned carelessness. ANY
thing peculiar about these footprintsT'
We'll, there is. sir" assented Ash
croft. lowering his voice as though
afraid OF being overheard by his un-
derllngs. There's two sets of 'em, a
few yards apart. One lot Is just such
marks as would be left by n gents
shooting boot-like your honor's, for
instance, and meaning no ~offense, OF
course, sir. The others were made by
a common pair of hob-nailed boots
that n loborin' man would wear. But
that amt all. sir"
"Ally' echoed stephen. irritably, and
inwardly cursing the fellows tracing
instincts.
Stephen cast one rapid glance at the
keepers face, but, beyond a somewhat
snrly expression, he could read moth
ing.
Perhaps you are right, Ashcroft
he said, quietly slipping a couple of
sovereigns into his hand. 81 appreci-
ate your anxiety to throw light upon
this awful affair. Let me know the
result of your Investigations. will
youg"
AYE, that / will. sir" replied the