Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-03-24

"Hush..' slir says holding up her hand
and looking at him with the pallor of
death on her own checks and brow.
Don't pity me. l drove him to his death
that day. Oh! heaven be mcrciful: for |
a'n indeed his mnrderess.."
"iolandc.." But the sharp cry in it's
asonizcd dread is silenccd and cut short
by another: for through the dark. close
trunks of the trees a figure glidcs. and
Il white face. with Il cruel smile on the
parted lips. comes between the girl and
her lover.
"Iixclsc me. Mr.. Stapleton. Sorry to
Srr you here. sir. under such %circu:n-
stances. Again l must request you to bear
in mind the words YOU have Just heard.
The ease against Miss Mcrvyn was grave
enough before: bnt her own words Just
".Aw make it dnubly So"
"N.N honhd." shouts Lance Stapicton
!i":ecl.y. "Iou i.:cc"ss.! spy. How dare
son nmc logging my steps and listening
behind trees. Get out of my sight. unless
.."ii wish"
TAX" %carc-takc care. Mr.. Staplctnn!."
says tho inspector. drawing hnck Il few
yards from the infatuated yo,,n. man.
Don't make matters worse. sir. 10y as
S~aiilting mc in the exercise of duty. It'll
Only make things all the blarkcr for you
and the young lady that you stand M
f""--of course that lring only natural. for
M the countryside knows that you're
swrc: OH Eer: hut if she's innocent"
He never finishes that sentences: for.
with Il tirrcer oath than ever his brave
young lips have uttered. Lance Stapleton
%tiiri,s,s lis fist into the hul!y's face. and
liz falls 10 the ground like IL fcllcd log.
"%L.ancc-nh. Lancet"
That pitifNl cry recalls him to his senses.
The frightened face. the clinging arms.
nnncrvc him as nothing else could have
done. He draws the girl away. and hur-
ri"s her homcwards.
This is Ito place for you. Yo!andc,' he
says. 'Oh. my dear. my dear. what pos
scs>c.l sou To say those wild. rash words:''
Because l felt them" she answers SOL
cmnly. "lf it had not bccn for me this
would never have happened"
"Oh. hnsll-for heavens sake. hush!." he
cries in agony. "Yolande. you little know
what IL horrible network of suspicion that
wretch is weaving round your innocent
head. Now. mind. dear. what I'm going
to say. Keep up Il brave heart. and don't
he alarmed. no matter what rumors and
stories get atioat. All will come right in
the cnd-it must. There's the house. Now
run in. there's Il dear! Don't forget what
I've said. and heaven bless you..'
lie wrings her hand hard as he speaks.
and then suddenly Il thought Gems to
come to him. He turns and stops her
trembling steps.
"Yolandc." he whispers hoarsely. elf
you have still the dress you worc-that
day-destroy it tonight And. ere she
can recover from the ainaZemcnt caused
by lis words. he hurries away and returns
to the avenue where he has left his sense
less foe.
He finds it vacant. Evidently Budd has
recovered more speedily than his assailant
deemed likely. for there is no trace of him
now. Lance hurrics on, and in
contact with Arthur. They both stop.
whats the row now?" asks that hope
full youth. you look as if you were pur-
sued by Tam o Shantcr's witches,
Lancet"
FLUSH. Arthur: I'm in no mood for
fooling." says the young man sternly.
Listen. Affairs are getting serious. That
idiot of an inspector. Budd. has taken it
into his added head that because Yolande
was last with Charters she must know
something a%bout-about his death. In any
case. l fear she will be called as a witness
at the inquest Tomorrow
"Oh. come. 1 say" interrupts Arthur.
Its a beastly shame to mix her up in
the affair"
II fear I've already complicated mat
ters." says Lance. "1ou see he insulted
your sister to her face, and my blood was
up. and l forgot all about his being a
sacred being, as / suppose a guardian of
the peace is. l therefore gave him a taste
of my fists that l don't think he'll soon
forget. I suppose he'll accuse me of as
sault tomorrow. But 1 don't care"
"Wherc are you off to now" Arthur
asks.
ooh. I've lots to do. answers Lance
cyasiyely. you go home now, Arthur.
like a good fellow. and break the news to
your governor as gently as you can; and.
for heavens sake. don't let them worry
Yo,ande With questions! She's got n hard
time before her. moor girl: and she'll want
all the sympathy and encouragement she
c,n rat"
Amozemcnt and horror are rife for tho
sn,no of tho newt hour. and Arthur is