The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-16


mouth Lying all around him, scattered in
every direction, and with some still held in
his clenched' fingers was a pack of playing
cards-kings and queens, knaves, plain cards,
and aces seeming to grim with silent scorn
at the death that had overtaken their votary
in their company
Good God! My lord is dead! He is dead!''
Mrs. HodgSon Shrieked.
Bellairs knelt down besides the body, but
the man was quite dead, and had been so
for some short time, for the corpse was rigid
could do. Mrs. Hodgson's screams had
aroused the household, and very soon the
room was full of people.
The first to enter was the man from the
library, and Mrs. Hodgson fastened to him,
wringing her hands.
"Oh, sir-oh Count Solsk my lord-my
lord is dead!" she walled. Hes dead! He's
dead!"
Dead" The count seemed startled from
his usual calm. Dead! Has he committed
sulcide?" He spoke in a very low voice, more
TO himself than as questioning the others.
Suicide! Sucide!'' His words were
echoed by the others almost unconsciously.
one OF them pushed from the background
a. qulet-looking man of forty, evidently
valet, from his especial neatness of his per-
son.
"Suicide not it, it's murder, says I-mur-
der!' he said fiercely, looking at the trio,
MRS. Hodgson the count and Bellairs and
tnen turning to the servants; my lord would
never nave lifted finger against his life
In take my oath. It's murder-that's what
it is!' He looked at the body, and. with a
snudder, moved away. Its murder"-look
himself in the midst of game. IT'S murderi
and it's got to be found out who's done it!'
CHAPTER III.
Count Solski came forward and hendins
down, drew the dagger from the dead mans
breast. 1t had been struck so fercely into
MS heart that it required great force on the
will droxr h,,t
the stra1ning of the muscles of his hand, he
gave no sign of the exertion. He lowered his
ear for minute, and then raised his head,
shaking it gravely.
Il fear he is beyond help but one of the
grooms had better ride for the nearest doc
Tor: ne said to the housekeeper, who was
Wrlnglng her hands. and appeared perfectly
dazed, and unable 20 do anything
She started.
Jim-Wiliam!" she cried, looking at the
servants
.Jim's gone sir; Jims gone, Mrs Hodgson,"
said the valet. Il went and told him to 90
at once"
"Ah, that right" she said, in relief
And Mrs Hodgson, had we not better have
my lord moved into his room?"
Il think it would be more advisable to
leave him here, at any rate till the doctor
comes said Alured. s.t5a,5 @aafs-9 = JsD1,.
Quite so,' said Count Solski, with another
OF his courtly bows, the courtly polish Of
which seemed to be a second nature with
him, for the present scene had in no whit
detracted from the calm courtesy with which
he had bowed on the other occasion of his
seeing Alured.
and Mrs. Hodgson! Mrs. Hodgson!" in
terjected the valet, in quick, high voice;
you'd best send for the police at once"
THE poce?" said Count Solski in an in
terrogative voice. "Ah. yes of course, that
will be the best, will it not?"
Yes sir" Mrs. Hodgson answered, tremb-
1ingly. 1--WE don't know if the person who's
done it mayn't be hiding about now Oh,
dear, oh, dear!" She wrung her hands do
some of you go and fetch the police. Good
son'-naming the village constable-"was
here little time ago. He called his way
to the Dale about those poachers, but I
didn't disturb my lord for him; he can't have
gone far. Some of you go for him.
There was stir among the servants, and
they went out of the room.
He was going round by Fencott's'' she
called after them, and then she sat suddenly
down on chair, and began shaking in every
limb. my poor master my poor master!
Oh, whatever shall we do? Whatever shall
we do?"
Alured went towards her, and held out his
arm
Let me take you away" he said, compass
sionately; you can do no good now, and the
sight unnerves you. Come
She rose obediently. and he led her out of
the room. AS he was opening the drawing
room door for them to go out Lord Wildhays
valet ran after them aid put his hand on.
Alured's shoulder to detain him.
You must not leave this house till the po-
lice come We've got to find the murderer"
he said, excitedy
Bellairs shook his hand off angry and
turned and confronted him, his eyes blazing
with wrath at the situation.
Il beg pardon, sir; didn't mean that you
had done it--only to beg of you not to go
until it had been seen into,' said the valet in
moment
This gentleman couldn't have done it,