Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-09-01

Il ever Siutc, It's luc VII VI -
crave for. Had l been foei enough 10
send you the money you wrote for, Ia
have had a fresh budget of lies III u
request for more cash within a mont
That is why I have been to the trouble
and expense of coming to New YORK
myself"
"Meanin' that you wants t make
sure i start for the back country sug-
gested Luke, with many mods OF intel
ligence. We'll, I've nowt t say agin
that, sir..'
That's lucky, isn't it?' sneered Ste
phen. 'Luckier for you than you think,
perhaps"
what dye mean, squire?" he asked,
~neryously, feeling certain, from the
lawyers manner, that some fresh peril
threatened him.
"A warrant has been issued for your
arrest"
Luke Brann gave n sigh OF relief,
seeing nothing very startling in this
piece of information. He had left
England on purpose to escape such a
contingency, at Mr.. Stephens request.
1t was the latter's business, rather than
his own. to keep him well out OF the
reach of the law; and he understood
now why his patron had come TO New
York.
rs that all. sir?' he inquired, drily.
I'VE 'spected that d happen, didn't we,
squire? London's a long way off from
here, and who's to say as how Luke
Brann and Jake Wood is one and the
same indiwidl, ever If they do take
the trouble to look for me on this side
of tie water"
stephen allowed the man TO bask in
his fancied security for a brief period,
in order to double the force of the blow
he had in reserve.
You think the police would not be
bothered hunting for you over here
merely upon the strength of .A%shcroft's
suscpicions, eh?"
Well, noa, sir, l don't think they
would"
NO more do l." added the LAWYER.
land that is exactly why | sent you
abroad. But, unfortunately, you are
wanted upon a far more serious
charge-a charge that is sufficient to
set the police here upon your track as
keenly as in London-murder.."
The poacher's jaw dropped, and, for
fully ten seconds, he stared, open
mouthed, at the lawyer. Then he gave
Il gasp, and found his tongue.
MURDER" he repeated, in trem-
Ding tones. Il don't believe it,. .....
There amt nowt to show as 'ow | 'ad
anything 10 do wi t. young squire's
death, and no more | hadn't. L tell We
wot 1t Is, Mister Stephen, | won't be
mHtip no ScHnn.Upnt of mud 80 Tn. ,lr,,,.
TO say what do know"
"Silence, you idiotr' broke in Ste
phen, savagely. You're not charged
with the murder of Derek Deane at
ALL
With what, them" demanded he
pOacher.
stephen. very calmly, produced his
pocketbook, and searched il u.til he
found "A small newspaper cutting.
which he handed TO his terrified vie
tim.
Here" he said. 'You can smell
out a few words of printed matter.
can't you? Read this. l cut it from
the LcIdon Standard"
Luke Brann took the slip, looked at it
vaguely, and returned ii.
Read 1t to me-" he muttered. hoarse-
ly.
I'VE learn read Stephen. slowly
that a warrant has been issued for
the arrest OF the missing pOacher-con-
Wet, Luke Brann, charged with the
wiilful murder, in Bramham Woods.
Deanshurst. OF the gamekeeper, Sam
uel Ashcroft"
sam Ashcroft murdered gasped
the wrctched man, clutchlng at the Ia
Die for support. AN | charged wi,
murderin' him! ..... Show me that
paper again, sir...... Aye....it be
writ there, sure enough. . But how
COON they t lay II ut my door? Why,
L seed un alive an well, t very day |
left Deanshurstr'
Exactly" assented Stephen. .You
II he had a quarrel, and his corpse
was discovered in the woods the fol-
lowing day. Naturally, suspicion fell
upon you, more especially, as you dis.
appeared so suddenly"
But you can prove | didn't kill ,un,
can't We, sirf'
I'm afraid my evidence would do
you more harm than good replied Ste
phen, with ~consummate audacity.
Mind you, l don't believe you killed
Eim, any o than l believe You shot
my cousin. But the circumstantial cyl.
dence is SO strong against you that
with your previous bad record and
your known hatred of the man to sun
port iU l am sure you would be con.
yicted. 49,. and hanged"
Luke Brann fell upon his knees. a liy-
ing picture of abject despair. If
dawned vaguely upon his muddled
halt -stupefied brain that this cool. self
possessed lawyer had somehow lured
him into this death-trap. from which
there seemed no hope of escape. But
he dared not voice this suspicion. He
had, moreover, sufficient sense left to
see that his sole remaining chance
instant, speedy and far-sustained flight
depended entirely upon Stephens co.
operation.
Save me, SIR. he walled. .sFor
Heavens sake, save me, You know
I'm inherent o. this murder they'd
hang me for! 1t may be as 'ow ya
can't well forward an clear me
afore a jury. an mebbe they wouldn't
believe 1t IL ye did. But faint likely
as you've Dol across t. sea Just to tell
me I've got to be hanged! Say as 'ow
veil See me through this trouhla on,