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

JOineu tie l31- win einpuacio
/ can't please him. do wot We viii.
How comes ii they amt mOng tne
restg' queried Ashcroft. !.
They warnit left outside his door
was the ~explanaticn, .and faint leiNe
ly I'm a-goin' TO ax for EN-
NO" said Ashcroft. rather abSehtty.
sin course not. Goodbye, lad. II
not forget them birds
Winchester was distant min G@ltes
from Deanshurst, and whatever MI
Stephen Deane's business IN that citS
tif. indeed. Winchester were his des-
tlDatiom he would probably not De
back for some hours. So Ashcroft IT.
vited himself TO breakfast in the ser
wants hall and awaited his return.
Very gloomy aud mournful was the
entire household, as was but natural
Under the circumstances. Dr. Rowan.
whO happened To be an intimate Tflenl
of the. district coroner, departed. AT the
earnest entreaty OF all the guests, 10
expedite the movements of that of1clal.
leaving the still unconscious Major To
the care of the ~newly-arrived special
list and nurses. And then everyone, rs
though By common accord ~proceetied
to pack UP, in readiness for mncdiat
departure as soon rs the conclusion Vi
the inquest should leave them free In
sooth. the position was "A most palhlui
one TO all concerned. Their nominal
host bed-ridden and ignorant OF what
had occurred. The youthful heir dead.
Little wonder that the thought or All
centered upon flight.
Stephen returned before the arrival
OF the coroner. He had taken upon
himself. he explained, 10 make ar
rangements with the leading WincheS-
ter firm Of underwriters for the funerai
And then Ashcroft sought audience or
him.
II scarce know what to do. sir the
gamekeeper explained, .'cos, you see,
wot I've found out might go a long
way towards fixin' t opion of [ jury.
1t rained eats an dogs last night; but,
long afore L rain come down, III
measured them boot-marks and fol-
Tered 'em up a good way from I clear
in. They be washed out now. IN
%coorse. But I'd swear middlin' hard
them rs made those tracks knows a
lot bout this business"
But If so, if there is anything real
in your theory. how is it neither or
these mysterious individuals has come
forward TO state what he knows! de-
manded the lawyer, with well-feigned
Scepticism.
That's more nor | can tell replied
Ashcroft. doggedly; but it don't do
away with them foot-marks, do itE
No, of course not" assented Ste
phen, more eivilly. LET Inc see. You
believe, apparently, that there were
witnesses to the shooting of my cousin.
and that it may be possible TO trace
these witnesses by means OF certain
measurements which you have made
OF their footprints. Is not that soT
".Nes, sir; that's just what l do be-
lieve," confirmed Ashcroft.
Well" continued Stephen, II dare.
say if you state your suspicious at the
inquest. the coroner will give them due
consideration, and the matter will be
placed in the hands Of an experienced
detective"
Aye" broke in the gamekeeper, in
| dignantly, That's 'xaetly whot would
HAPPEN, Here have L, Sam Ashcroft,
been aud done all t work, for One o.
they Scotland Yard chaps to step in
and take all t credit o. it,"
"why, of course" said Stephen:
that's what always happens. Detect
ives always work from information
received It's only in s~tory-books they
lind their own clues"
Ashcroft remained silent for some
little time: he was clearly perDlexei
low to act. 'See here, Br," he said.
presently, do you think I'm bound to
tell { all that I've told your
Where a prompt, convincing lie could
serve his purpose. Stephen Deane was
scarcely the man TO hesitate about tell
ing it.
Bound TO tell your theories TO the
coronerT' he repeated, with a harsh,
grating laugh. "Of course not. unless
you wish to pose as n sort of Droyin.
cial Sherlock Holmes"
Il don't know nowt bout the gent
you speak Of, and | don't want to
pose, nol,ow." rejoined Ashcroft. Pm
merely asking your advice, Mr.. Deane,
rs to wot I'd best do, that's ALL"
why ask me-" querieJ Stephen. Sc.
lecting a cigar from his case. "Wha
have l to do with it,
"Oh. nothing gas | knows on" was
the guarded reply. "Only | thought aS
'ow perhaps you mightn't wish TO have
any more fuss made about the matter.
And, in coorsa, bar wot | might ave 10
say, there amt nowt for t jury 10
bother about
'Tiiat is so, | daresay," assented
Stephen, and | really see nothing 10
be gained by making the wretclet
business more sensational than il is
already. So my advice 10 you is 10 le,
the matter drop. BY the way. you de-
serve something more substantial than
thanks for the trouble you've taken.
Here's a %ten-pound note for YOU"
The gamekeepeI hesitated. as though
still in doubt. for a few moments.
Then he took the proffered bank note.
Thank zee, sir" he said, with no
great show Of gratitude. however, In
his tcre. MANS the word"
II must keep my eye on that fellow
muttered Stephen. scowling at the re
treating figure. He has just brains
enough to be dangerous. and he Is be
coming too confidential and familiar
in his manner to my taste. However
l think he can be trusted to hold his
tongue at the inquest: and, after tina,
well. IL he's wise, he'll continue Ia
keen his SuSDiciOuS to himself IN the