Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-07-22

1t seemed that long years had passed
since she had written letters i'll that room
last: WAS it not hidcously soon to he
clothed in her right mind, and able to
resume anything of her ordinary ways:
Was life to go on just as usual without
Mabel? How was Herbert to hear exist
cnce unless he could shake off something
of the awful silent grief which oppressed
him? He was hardly master of himself!
Then when Standish went away, how M.
palling her loneliness would be!
AS she thought this, with her elbow on
the table, her cheek on her hand, Il voice,
a strange voice. said:
"Oh. l leg your pardon, miss"
She started, and turning, recognized
Dillon.
II beg your pardon, miss lie repeated.
II thought MIR. Standish WAS here"
lie WAS here half an hour ago, and
will return soon,' she said, rising and
looking earnestly at him: something in
him repealed her, yet she had IL curious
wish to speak to him.
"Thank you, miss. l only wanted to
ask him n question or two, and maybe
yon could answcr them as WE'LL"
MIR. Dillon, do you hope to get my
cluc:"
well. miss, I may and l may not.
There are many points to Ike considered.
Its all very well to offer rewards and
hunt up those foreign chaps, but it's just
possible others may have Il hand in it.
Things look black enough, l grant,
against those men. still" he stopped
and looked down, as if considering deep
ly.
Still, in what other way can you pos
sibly account for the horrible crime?''
asked Dorothy.
".As to accounting for it-why, that's
not to he thought of yet. Then you see
there's a heap of crimes done from spite,
and jealousy and revenge, besides the de-
sire to grab booty"
There could be no such motives in this
case" returned Dorothy. trying to speak
calmly, while her heart beat with almost
painful violence at this corroboration of
her W horrible suspicious. who could
he Jealous of or wish to hurt my sister,
who only lived among her own family
and had no intimacies outside themy"
well, I suppose that's true; hut you
know, miss, l am Il stranger, and don't
know nothing of how you md she lived.
Sometimes good, kind ladies manage to
offend spitcful people who don't stop at
tritles. If you could remember now that
she scOrned anyone, or turned her back
on anyone. it might be a help. and of
course o would like to bring the villain
to justice!" He kept his small. searching
eyes fixed on her while he spoke, noting
how the swift blood mounted almost to
her brow, and then left her paler than
before; how her eyes avoided his, and she
seemed to shrink together.
How dare you suggest such fearful
possibilities" interrupted Dorothy, hard
ly able to refrain from screaming aloud
with terror. "You are thinking Of wick
ed. mlcivilized people. not of English gen.
tlcmen and ladies'; these vile motives do
not exist here and-and you ought not to
speak of them to any one! Don't you see
what ~frightful conclusions they point to?
| What IL cruel construction the world we
live in would put upon them. You must
not speak in that way-to any one.!"
Trust me-" he returned. with IL hide
ously confidential air-while he thought,
"She knows more than she chooses to
tell, there's II tile off the roof here some
how"
II have kept many a curious story quiet
before this" he said aloud. IF you trust
me. miss, and just tell me every little
tritle such as. of course. you wouldn't
speak out before a low. vulgar policeman
who has neither discretion nor dclicacy,
I'll lay my hand Oh the m~iscreant-or,'
with strong emphasis, 1.-The real miscre-
ants tool..'
Dorothy was overwhelmed. How was
it that this stranger. this common man,
had evolved suspicious so like her own:
What clue had lie gained? How did he
dare-her head SWAN. She dreaded tc
think what inculpatory morscl of writing
either from or to Egerton. might have
fnilen into his hands: papers. notes. let
tiers were so easily mislaid, so dreadfully
dangerous. She made Il gallant effort IL
pull herself together. for she felt he wa.
irving to read her thoughts with his sly
mean eyes.
II am so unfcrved." she said with sud
den composnrc. that everything fright
ems HE. OF course II man of YOUR expert
rnce must know much that seems impos
sible To me. can but hope your skill ma.
bring the real fclon to justice. To me
!, OF course. it is clear that robbery and til,
= fear of detection were the only motive
/ for the crime TINT has robbed us of on
y so dear" A sob choked her words.
Dillon stood respectfully silent.
n "Sle's a plucky one" thought the dc
t%cctive, while he said aloud. NO. o
IL course not, miss; but I'll he careful a
r the same. and you may be sure I'll d
@ my best to find ont the real truth" II
suddenly raised his eyes as he uttered tn
last words. Dorothy could not resist
SILVER; there was, to her ear, n threat i
his tone. Now" he resumed-when I
Dorothy's delight the door opened to AZ
nit Standish, who came in quickly, 81.
ing:
lyon here, Dillon?"
He stopped beside Dorothy.
YES. sir. l just came in, thinking 20
n were here
t.! "Well," returned standish, somewh.
1t impat:ently, Miss Wynn looks vel
much exhausted. The sooner we CT
lie leave her to rest the better" While |
spoke Dorothy. as if unconsciously, sill
L. ped her arm through his and drew clio
to him, SO that he felt the beating of Ii
n heart, the trcmor that occasionally r,
l. through her slight frame.
0T nm corrv I disturbed tho vou,