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

would he stand in the eyes OF the law
He would be deemed guilty, at the
very least. of manslaughter. with Il
possible claim 70 a merciful sentence
upon the score of the dastardly Staying
of his brother. But these two lives
meant so much 10 his future prospects
chat his version Of the affair might pos
slbly be discredited: and this was a
risk he was not disposed 10 run IL he
could help il. He was far too clever
to entertain the notion OF Immediate
flight from the scene OF the tragedy:
he might run against some stray mem
Der Of the shooting party. or game
keeper, attracted by the report of his
gun
IF anyone turns up within five min
utes," he muttered. .'I'll stick TO it that
i heard the hot fired and followed the
sound. Stay. What a laundering
idiot / am
AS secretly and cautiously as though
a dozen eyes were watching him. Ste
phen replaced the disc! arged cartridge
In his gun by a full one. His brothers
weapon was like his own "A Greener,
and they both habitually used Eley
cartridges. He just us cautiously sub
Stituttu the tAliDutu tdItIluSt LOI the
charged n in Oscars right barrel.
Next, still as though under obserya-
ton, and under guise Of examining the
wounds inflicted. he slightly altered
the positions of the two bodies, SO as
TO favor the only possible theory (apart
from foul play on the part of a third
person. that could account for the
death Of both. As they were now sit
uated, IL was conceivable that Major
Deane's gun should have gone off Just
as he received Derek's blow. Whether
by accident or design, mattered little
now-especially 10 Stephen.
His curse was plain enough. He
had allowed ample time, and no sound
of approaching footsteps had broken
the sylvan stiffness. The shot, if heard
at all, was clearly too common an oc-
currence to have attracted attention.
He resolved TO return, rs quietly and
circuitously as lie could, to Deans
hurst. and leave the discovery of the
tragedy to others.
II might have spared myself the
trouble OF play-actlng," he muttered.
.but | was right, for all that. Many a
man gives himself away when he he
lieves himself unobseryei."
With this characteristic reflection he
retraced his steps toward the pathway.
As might have been expected, the
sportsmen reached Deanshurst In some
what struggling order; but by six
o'clock all had returned with the OK
ceptions of Derek and Major Deane,
and a vague feeling OF uneasiness
arose when this fact became Known.
The weather, or a desire TO make a
good bag, might have been deemed
sufficient to explain the absence of any
other couples; but. somehow, none of
the party seemed satisfied with either
conjecture.
Seven o'clock was the usual time for
dinner, and sportsmen are a hungry
race. Yet when the hour struck. and
there was still no sign OF the missing
pair. the general anxiety had so far in
tensified that Hirst was unanimously
hidden to postpone the meal, and
search parties were decided upon.
One OF the party remembered TO
have overheard Derek say something
about Bramham Woods as a good way
back in dirty weather. and Bramham
Woods it was %accordingi resolved TO
explore first. They then dispersed,
under the guidance Of gamekeepers
and servants familiar with the woods,
hoping for the best. and half -dreading
some dire mishap. 1t was arranged
that three shots, fired in quick success.
sion, would signalize the discovery OF
the missing men: and the presence Of
a large number OF stable lanterns was
proof that the search would not be
readily given up.
Ii was characteristic Of Stephen
Deane that he should have attached
himself TO the party which. under the
supposed guidance OF the head game
keeper, but. unconsciously, swayed by
himself. ultimately made the CHASTITY
discovery.
He was very cold and hungry. and
he saw no reason for beating about
the woods. upon a false scent, half the
night. Ii was equally characteristic of
him that he should have fallen buck
somewhat when he knew that they
Were lear the fatal spot, Audacity
and prudence We're qualities which he
combined in mastery fashion.
A loud cry from the gamekeeper. as
the Light from his lantern srreamed
across the open space. brought his fol-
lowers tStephen amongst them) to his
side.
Good heavens he excaimed. in
horror-stricken tones, as he bent over
some awfu' bloody work lone here.....
See. II young measter he be rs dead
as an ounce o. No. q ms heart csu
make uni. ...And L Majors skull it
be bruk loik any cracked walnut
There were two gentlemen, Turner
and verschoyie. of the party, besides
Stephen; and 1t would have puzzled
any oniooker to decide who of the
three appeared to be most astonished
and h0rriied at the gruesome discov-
I cry. That Stephen should have dis
played more emotion than they, was
but natural: but he was not hysterical,
o did he raise mis- voice aloud In Ia
mentation. He just buried his face in
his hands for a few moments, uttered
a balf-stified sob. and then. as though
by a supreme effort, nerved himself to
\ face the disaster. AS ii by common.
consent, the others seemed TO look to
\ him for orders.
81 cannot bring myself to handle
them-just yet" be said, a little bros-
emily. "Do either Of you fellows know
anything Of surgery"