Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-05-26
sounded Ills vcic. as lie sped away In the
darkness.
III.

CHAPTER III.
Hardly had the outer doOr closed behind
Herman Craven when Hattie rcgained
consciousness, and with a long drawn sigh
her eyes opened.
My poor darling" exclaimed Robert,
as he placed one hand upon her brow.
Seemingly in very terror she recoiled.
and the cry escaped her lips: "Oh. God!
Murdered! My dear father murdered!
And-and by the man I lovcd!'
oh. Hattie, my darling.!" exclaimed
Robert. You cannot believe me guilty of
this terrible crime?"
The poor girl threw her hands before
her eyes as if to shut out some horrid
vision as she sobbed: You were standing
over him. Robert. with the bloody weapon
i'll our hand. when l, followed by Her
man. entered the room. How-how could
you have murdered my father. who loved
you we'll: No. no. will not believe it
ana yet Herman accused YOU"
Hattie. dearest, Il suspicion of the one
who loves you is unworthy of you. Not
five minutes before l found that fatal
blade driven to his heart he had consented
Willingly to our marriage. l loved your
father. Ask yourself if l could have MUIR
dcrcd him."
NO. no, will not believe it. Forgive
me. dear Robert. But the knife? How
came it in your hand-and bluoi-blool on
your hand and slcevc:"
II had just withdrawn it from your
fathers bosom, dear. I callct! on him ut
the bank today and made AN appointment
to see him here Tonight after ten O'Clock.
1 brought with me IL bag of coin. and had
paid Il note he held. have it cancelled in
my pocket. Just as l was about to take
my leave the door bell rang. Your faith
or. remarking that it Was IL late hour for
callers, requested me to see who was
there. l opened the door. Darkness con-
frontcd mo and nothing more. l walked
the length of the piazza and called out,
Who is hcre!' hut received no response.
1 descended the steps, wondering ut the
strange occurrence; for Il moment stood
with one foot Oh the lower step. the other
on the walk. Suddenly l heard IL stiiicl
groan cmanating from the house. ran
mp the steps. hastily entered the library.
and my heart stood still at the terrible
sight thai confronted lie. | cried ont
Help. Murder" and withdrew the sheath
knife from your fathers bosom. One
gasp. and he slid from the chair to the car
pctcd floor, II corpse
"Cl. my father. my father. Then it
was not his voice l heard"
You did not hear the pealins of the
door hell. dcarcsty'
NO, Robert. I-I-'
lily, Mars Robert! Fly! You got no
time to tarry here. You'll hang. Mas;
Robert, hang. jus lik' you'd killed ole
master. y niger can save yon. Go,
Mars ltobcrt-go. H."
1t was .Aunt Hannah who had re-entcr-
cd the room. who had spoken.
Are you crazy. Hannah? The mar
dcrcr of your master must be brought to
justice"
"-Nin't you see. Mars Robert? The evil
dcncc of Mars Herman will condemn YOU.
The young missile saw you with the bloody
knife in your hand. Mars Herman will
swear that Your cries were the cries of my
poor ole master. Fly, Mars Robert. while
you have time. know YOU is not the
murderer of ole MASTER; hut fly"
YES, yes, Robcrt..' said Hattie. quick
ly. II feel that you never dreamed of
this terrible crime: but Hannah has told
the truth. oh. my darling. and now-now
that l have only .or," and the fair girl
twincd her arms about him.
.Poor dear" said Robert, .you are agi-
tated, and little wonder. Robert Camp
bell shall be found by your side, even
though lie stand in danger OF the gal.
lows, and the murderer, the assassin, of
your father shall meet death on the gal
lows. Herman Craven may not he guilty
| of this murder. but on my soul 1 believe
he is. He has doubtless gone in search
of an officer with the intention Of dc.
nouncing me-"
mo, no." sobbed Hattie. MY cousin
surely would not murder one who has
been so kind to him. He could not have
committed the crime. Immediately after
l heard the voice, which l supposed was
my fathers, crying Help, murdcr!' Her.
man knocked on my door and exclaimed:
Your father, Miss Hattie: your father!!'
He had but just left his room. l had
thrown my wrapper on. and together we
descended the stairs"
''Thc murder had already been commit
ted. dear. when you heard those cries;
but. ah. 1 nave it," Fastening to the desk
of the dead banker, who lay beside it. his
wan face upturncd, he seized a pencil and
hastily OIL a slip of paper wrote these
words:
Lang Sellars, Detective.
"Plense come to the residence of Bank
err DeI9osettr at once. His dead face is
now before me. He has been cruelty muir.
dercd. Robert Campbell"
TO be continuedD