Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-07-21
CHAPTER Nv. tContinued.)

should have fired the shot after re-
ceiying so terrible a blow, and stood
out for n verdict of Death through
misadventure.'' But the medical testi-
mony did not bear out this view. In
Ginning, rather, to the belief hat the
trigger might have been pulled in a
last flicker of consciousness.
Finally, and after many proffered
verdicts which the coroner rejected as
inadmissible, ii was agreed that the
deceased was killed by ii gunsh0t at
the hands of Oscar Deane, but wheth-
CIR by accident or design there was no
evidence to show
..Well at all events, | a accept
this verdict growled the coroner, a
testy Individual, who had really been
almost as much puzzled Us the jury to
see a clear way through the case: "but
it amounts, technically, to a verdict OF
manslaughter against Major Deane.
All eyes were turned toward Ste
phen, who had been watching the case
in the interests of his brother.
.sYes." he assented, Technically, as
you say, il amounts TO ~manslaughter,
and will, Of course. necessitate his COM
initial for trial upon this charge. The
next assizes will. l nm informed. be
held in Winchester six weeks hence.
The medical men present will doubt
less be able to speak a. TO the oroba-
bility or otherwise of this being by
that time. sufficiently convalescent to
appear in court. At present they are,
/ believe, agreed that to remove him
from this house would almost certain
ly be attended by fatal consequences.
Alike as his brother and his legal rep
resentatlve, /, therefore, make appl,ca-
ton fol. bail"
To this the coroner at first deinurred,
alleging it TO be beyond his power to
grant. But the doctors refused utterly
to sanction the wounded mans renov-
al, and 1t was finally settled that,
pending a decision from the Home of
flee, Major Deane was 10 remain at
Deanshurst in the nominal custody or
a sergeant Of police.
The Inquest over, but one other disa-
greeahle task remained prior to the un-
fortunate lads interment in the family
vault. Hirst had been instructed TO
prepare the old baronet's mind by de-
zrees, ard had displayed considerable
tact In SO doing. Master Derek had
met with an accident out shooting. and
Major Deane was badly hurt, also.
"Gun accident, eh!' repeated the old
man, testify. Its a wonder TO me the
boy didn't shoot himself long ago. AS
for that soldier-fellow, he ought to
know better. with his experience OF
firearms. Let me know how they get
on, and send for Rowan, dye hear?
This, Of course, Hlrst had promised
to do; and by mean OF successive bull
letins, each graver than the last, lie
had gradually prepared Sir Derek for
the worst. Once h. realized that his
sons life was In danger. the old man
had made scarcely a word OF comment
upon the less and less hopeful reports
fabricated by the diplomatic butler.
He had lain upon his back, muttering
to himself and staring h~alf-vacantiy at
a portrait of Simon Deane, the money
lender of Change Alley, which scowled
at him from the wall opposite. He had
never felt any real affection for the
son born to him in his old age. nor had
the lad ever attempted to win his re-
gard.
Still, for all that, he felt n certain
amount of satisfaction In having n di-
rect heir to succeed him, and a zee
delight in upsetting the confident cal
culati0ns of his brothers widow. And
nov 1t appeared probable, from what
Hirst had told him, that he was about
to lose this son-heir and that the wild
ow's~ calculations would be verified, af-
ter all.
Well, Fate must take its own course.
but, so far as in him lay, he would
fight that ~woman-he always spoke
and thought of his sister-in-law as
'.that w~oman'-to the bitter end. And
tering. ignorant of the fact that he
was, in very sooth, childless.
The butler was a daring enough
rogue. In his way, but his courage
failed him when 1t became inevitabla
that his master should know the full
truth.
II can't bring myself to tell him,
SIR" he told Stephen, 'and that's the
truth"
There's no necessity why YOU
should" answered the lawyer. drily.
II will tell him myself. You need do
no more than announce me and leave
us together"
"very good. sir" rejoined Hirst:
ssbut I'd like to remind you that l amt
said a word as to how the bodies was
found"
Z" know that" interrupted Stephen,
sharply. at never even occurred to
me you could be such a fool. In the
face of my precise Instructions"
Hirst purced his lips somewhat sulk-
ily. He was not wont to be dictated
to when his master was concerned.
And yet this masterful London lawyer
stood now so very close indeed to the
Deanshurst succession that he was
clearly entitled to take the command
In the present condition of affairs. SO
he led the way In silence to Sir Derek's
room, and, having announced Stephea.
retired as he had been hidden.
Sir Derek fixed his eyes intently upon
his visitor for seine moments. You
have come to tell me that my son is
dead" he said, with scarce a trace of
inquiry in his voice.
UNFORTUNATELY, that Is so, SIR m.
scented Stephen. somewhat staggered
by the old mans calmness.
Sir Derek haif-turned his head. and
his w;;thered lips moved tremulously
Nature could not wholly be Suppressed
IN the face Of death. !
tBs1lev2 me, sir, This terrible calanf