The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-04-01

murder! can read it in your eyes. II
you did not see the deed committed,
you are morally certain whose hands
are stained with blood! But if you pre-
Ter to die rather than speak out, we
must let you have your own way; only
l do hope you'll not feel too much dis
appointment If before the twenty-fifth
OF June, the day your reprieve expires,
the real murderer should be discov-
eredw =, =,
He started up, pale and distraught,
and laid a nervous hand on her arm.
Miss Fulton" he exclaimed, "what
do you know? What"
Il know nothing" she said, button
ing her gloves coolly. "1'm going away
now. This cell would give me the
rheumatism in an hour more. wish
you good-by, DR.. Graham. Come Aggie,
dear"
Agnes had been greatly panied by the
turn Helen had given to the CONVERSE
ton, but she knew the girls warm heart
too we'll to think for a moment that she
had designed to be unfeeling.
That evening after they had gone to
the little parlor they had in common,
and Agnes had seated herself, looking
so pale, and worn, and distressed,
Helen sat down on low stool at her
feet and folded her arms over her lap.
agnes, DEAR" she said, coaxingly, eff
1 were you wouldn't fret about that
Lynde Graham"
Agnes burst into tears.
20 Helen! Only two little weeks
more, and he is to die! When I think
of it, it seems as if 1 shall go mad!"
Helen rose and stood behind her
chair, holding the wet face to her
bosom, and smoothing tenderly the soft
hair.
Il beg to differ from you, Agnes, on
that point. do not think Dr. Graham
will die on the 25th of June unless he
eats cucumbers and! catches the
cholera"
20 Helen, Helen! how can you joke
so dreadfully? Only think if you were
just in my placer
II would not like it. I've no taste
for melancholy. don't like to cry. 1t
makes my nose red, and swells my eye
lids"
A few days afterward Helen was out
in the garden looking at the syringas
which We're just bursting into flower.
She stood little in the shadow, and
1mogene Trenholme passing hurriedly
down the path did not perceive her.
Something in the expression of Mrs.
Trenho.me's face struck the girl, and
she followed cautiously along, in the
shade of the shrubbery. At the ex-
tremity of the garden there was great
oak. and in it hollow scooped out by
the hand of decay. Imogene looked
searchingly around her, then drawing
from her bosom folded paper, she
dropped it into the hollow, and hastily
retraced her steps.
"Now, young lady," said Helen to her.
self, cts your duty to see to this post
office that is established without the
sanction of your Uncle Samuel" And
going to the tree she withdrew the
paper. 1t was not sealed and was mere
ly a slip bearing these words:
"In the Haunted Chamber, at Eleven
Tonight"
$50 ho" unused Helen. "It's an ap-
pointment with the ghost, by all that's
good and bad! Well, never! If it was
gentleman ghost I should suspect Mrs.
Imogene of infidelity. But there's some
thing behind this, Helen Fulton, and
it's your duty to watch till you see it.
You're kept here at this house for
Heaven only knows what, but you'd
better not be caught mapping. And you
must not go into the house until you
see who takes this precious bit of paper,
will you?"
She refolded the paper and returned
it to the hollow. Then wrapping her
shawl around her, she crouched down
behind some tall lilac bushes and wait
ed. Twilight had already fallen, and
it was soon quite dark. A stealthy foot
step crunched the gravel: Helen peeped
through the leaves, and saw man re-
move the paper, and conceal it in his
bosom. She caught her breath quickly.
1T is just as I thought" she said.
''The man with two fingers missing
from the right hand. think, to speak
slang, which, as nobody is hearing me,
will be perfectly proper, think smell
mice. At eleven o'clock tonight. !
shall be there"
And gathering handful of blossoms
to excuse her absence Helen hurried
into the house