Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-04-21

Wtfc l. 10 cOUSliGT ITOIN ROW Until
next year, my answer would be the
same. | cannot, nor will I pay you a
sum out of the remnan OF the fortune
that your Unsuitable demands have
still left me-
As he spoke. his eyes encountered
those of Mordant Cain. A momentary
glance Of intelligence between them.
the curtains We're put aside, and the
latter advanced ~steaithily a step for
ward into the
lit were a pity that a highly-re-
spectacle Individual like you. my
friend. should end your DAYS on the
gallows: in truth. ii pains me 10 dwell
upon such n painful contingency. You
will spare me the necessity OF so do
Ing. | am sure. Come, let US settle the
matter amicably. Ii yOu will arrange
when and how the money is 10 he paid.
/ will undertake To hand over TO You
these insignificant though incrinlinat-
ing little articles. which are al that
now exist between you and immunity
from the terrors OF the law"
Desrolles, as he spoke, drew out his
pocketbook and held up to Fergus
Thunder a letter. yellow with age.a and
stained with n dark blur which had
Otltt DttA btOot. IL III dAii tTNtt "
James Wendle.'' and was written AMI
signed by Fergus himself. The other
article was a scarf-pin, of opals and
diamonds. with the initials, u. W.
engraved on the back.
"You recognize these, my friend !?
The letter was written by you asking
n interview with your late wife's broth
er. at the turnstile leading TO the
NJ o.yh fiaIIu To lan,,,ol that ln Wa.
found the following morning with his
head battered in, just beyond that
very turnstile. The opal pin he was
known 10 have worn the day OF his
death. The evidence is, | think you
will admit, sufficiently ~damnatory."
He replaced the letter and the scarf
pin. and raised his smiling eyes 10
Fergus face, but something he saw re-
fiected there startled the smile from
his lips. Instinctiveiy he started up,
and glanced behind him.
You here!' he faltered, huskily, as
he was confronted by Mordant's EVIL
face. stand aside and let me pass
he said, gathering courage from the
mere desperation of his position-it
was the courage of despair, though,
for none knew better than he how
AlNtl tltNt nitu hOulu DtlltllA ul uIN
death and disappearance.
You have had your day-it is Short
ened by your own indiscretion in play
ing into the enemy's hand. Ii is our
turn now" Mordant Cain said his
voice vibrating with the strong re-
preston he was putting upon himself.
Give me the letter and the scarf pin,
or will run you through. Nay, don't
think TO receive aiy quarter, for you
have never given any"
He ADV anced, and Desrolles retreat
ed, clasping his hand over the breast
pocket OF his coat. CoulG he but make
his escape into the grounds. he felt
that he could outdistance them both,
and put a mile between them in an in
credibly short space.
Give me the letter and the pin, and
you are free to CO." repeated Mordant.
Don't think TO escape us now. Were
| to hang for it, you should never get
away alive with James Wendle's prop
erty."
He made a step forward. and Des-
ROLES. feigning to trip over some Inn
pediment In his way, made a snatch ut
the handle of the glass door, and was
already halfway acros the threshold
when Mordant. drawing his hand rap
idly from behind him, levelled n pistol
figure and deliberately fired.
With one sharp yet strangled cry,
Desrolles fell forward, and lay, face
downwards. clutching spasmodically
at the gravel. on which he had fallen.
Hush whispered Fergus, holding
up a warning finger, his face CHASTITY,
his lips bloodless and compressed.
do you hear anyone moving In the
house. They must have heard that
shot-it was loud enough to have
awakened the dead.r'
Mordant. too, was listening ~intentEy.
but keeping an eye on the reeumbent
man, who, however, after the first
brief struggle. lay still.
There was no weapon | cOud have
used with such good effect he said.
creeping back into the room, and lay
ing aside the still smoking revolver.
He was fleeter than /, and were he 20
have escaped into the shrubbery, he
would have given us both the slip
Bah, | believe. man, you're fright
ened st the sight of n little blood,
There Is not so much here as there vas
down by the turnstile twelve years
ago" he said, returning to where Des-
ROLES and lifting his head 10 look into
his already glazing eyes. "He Is dead
You must help me to carry him in. We
will consider, b~y-and-by how best to
dispose OF the body"
Fergus. who was still trembling,
more, perhaps, with excitement than
fear, lent a hand. and between them
they carried their victim into the room,
and aid him down on the floor
a few minutes sufficed TO remove his
effects from his pockets, and the letter
and ring by which DesrOlies had held
their lives in his hand, were put away
under lock and key. They found that
he had five pounds in gold and fifteen
in notes upon him.
"He Is not the mar TO nave taken the
numbers OF the notes They're safe
enough commented MDrdant, thrust
ing the roll into his pocket. Suddenly
he turned, startled. towards the garden
door. Hush" he said. Il thought
heard someone outsider,'
AS he spoke. a figure chad In white.
fitted into the room, like i white moth
attracted by the light.
Good Heavens" exclaimed Fergus,
under his breath. 1T is Elsie. She