Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-09-02
CHArTNR NXI-(Continucd.D

from her brOw-"huw could | blame you,
dear? After all. it was only just to oul
poor Mabel to lot her husband see the
truth of her heart"
dorothy made a slight effort to release
herself. but raul's close. gentle hold did
not relax. what an Internal villain Egg
crton has lecn!" he continued. II should
like to shoot him myself! and we must
not attack him! l must do my best to
keep Callandcr quiet; the scandal of such
Il fracas would he too liidcous to incur;
even you can sec the cruel construction
the world would put on it,"
II do. Paul" she returned, cXtricatins
herself from him. aud leaning against the
back of her chair. For poor Mabcl's
sake. We mus, let her murderer go free
Her murdcrcr?" he repeated. What
do You mcanY'
i. "po you not soc that he was hcr MUIR
dcrcr. either with his own hand or that of
his emissary. the Spnniardy'
"Dorotliy! How do you come to sus-
pcct him of being such il MONASTERY" N
claimed Standish, gazing mt her, amazed.
ibid ! not tell you l heard him thrcatcn
to crush out her life il she preferred her
husband to him, only Il few days before
her murder? And she never saw him
alone after"
'Eut you forget he had not seen the let
ter avowing her intention of breaking
with him."
"Sle had written before to the same
effect. and he took no notice"
Still, l never for Il moment can be-
lieve that he. III English gentleman,
would do so foul a dced!'
IL believe it. Look at his conduct, his
extraordinary grief and avoidance of us
ALL
conscience, rcmorsc for the guilt he
had already incurred, might account"
NO, Paul. He is guilty. had Il
stormy interview with him just before he
went to Spain. when I accused him, Wild
ly and incohercn:.y enough, and though
he denied ii, he did so in Il half-hcartcd
way. Remember. his blood is not all Eng
lish. That unpleasant detective suspects
him. too. l understand his hints about
the peculiar difficulties of the case. Oh.
it is all too like a l,ilroi,s nightmare. 1t
has almost driven me wild to be Obliged to
see the base, cruel destroyer of MY sweet
sister"
"Therc is something queer about that
fellow Dilon's mode of dealing with the
case. Still. l cannot for II moment accept
Your theory. l wish you had not adopted
it: it must have added considerably to the
horrors you have so bravcly endured in
silence. dorothy. you are Il true-hearted
woman. to have locked all this into Your
heart. l would trust my life with you. 1
shall never call you Il child or little Dor
oiiy again. You have attained IL mental
stature that forhids either. only my dear
Dorothy you will always be-" He took
and kissed her hand. holding it awhile.
fright or wrong. guilty or not" he re
su:nel. 81 must keep Callandcr from ell
countering Egcrton. Shall l go to see
him? 1t will he an infinite relief to feed
that he is all right with me again. Shall
/ COZ"
Il almost think you had better not: he.
sent word Ivy Collins this morning that he
has a great deal of writing to get through.
and as he told me lie was going to write
to YOU YOU had better wait for his letter.
! feel it very hard, Paul. to see Mrs. CAL
lander; she has cmhittcrrd al our lives"
She is Il notwithstanding. implacahle
sic-devil!' cried Standish. with energy.
"l,y heaven. ! don't think l shall ever
speak to her again. Were it not for YOU,
Dorothy. | should tax her with the in
famous >lardcr of myself"
'.Ilo not mind NE. ! do not care to hold
with her. except for Henrietta's sake.
And. oh, Paul! Henrietta wants to know
so much what l had t" talk to YOU about.
would rather not tel her all''-hesitat-
iM.ly.
NO; certainly not" promptly. 81 will
tell her that it was poor Callandcr's con-
fcssion of his mothers i%nsinnation against
me that you wished to explain. Leave it
TO me-and, Dorothy, ! shall write 10 Egg
rtn I clh,11 Lat him 1-,,nv. t1n< 49,, Call,
understand the daStardly part he has
played. and shall warn him that he has to
reckon with Callander."
II think l heard Henrietta come in.
Will you sec her alone, PAUL. do moi
think l could bear to talk any more ia
any one"
"Go and lie down and rest. then. | will
see Henrietta and explain matters. as
said l would. Try and compose yourself
Remember. l am always ut your service
/ wish l could do more for you. INV swte,
ward"
''Tlank you. Gooi-by for the present.
II shall see you this evening. probably
! am not sure hat l shall not go and SO.
Callandcr. 1t might be some comfort t,
him, poor fellow
CHAPTER NNII.
III was u VIII, stormy evening Whel
Standish, having dispatched u sol;tar
meal at his club. returned to his ow,
abode to await the appearance of Dillol
the detective.
He had not long to wait. A few min
utes after eight Dillon was shown in.
Coco evening, sir" he Maid, in u grave
important tone.
Standish fanciel there, was II triumph
ant CLEAN in his light grs . eyes.
Good evening. Dillos. am lookin
forward with curiosity 10 sour commun
cation. Sit down."
Hope you'll be satisfied, sir!w said Di
Ion, drawing n chair alal taking out
small note book, which he laid before hin
on the table. Il have dsue my best, bu
it has been a difficult job. and l did nc
feel at liberty to speak until l had m
chain of evidence complete. II you'll a
low me. I'll begin at the beginning"
We need not follow the detectives d
ss-aT