Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-05-26
Darkness alone confronted him.
"Wrho is herc." he asked.

'N'' ANS XIV AANCStlSSNNs NtlOISIil lIN
young man. and leaving the door ajar he
stepped out on the broad piazza.
He hastily passed from one end of the
same to the other, but encountered no n
II cannot understand it," he exclaimed
rs lie descended the steps to the gravelel
walk. What could have been the object:
Some one bent OH mischief, perhaps"
Robert stood for Il moment with one
foot on the lower step and the other OH
the walk. listening.
Suddenly he heard Il sound as of n
smoihered groan behind him. He hurried
lN ram up the steps, pushed opcn the door,
and i'll Il moments time stood in the Ii
brary.
n cry of horror broke from his lips.
Still seated in his chair was the form
of the banker; but his head had dropped
over to his left shoulder. His slaring eyes
were hSed on vacancy, and Il look of hor-
rnr was on his livid countcnance.
He had sunk lower in the chair. 4. rivu-
let of blood was tracing its Way down his
shirt front, dyeing it rod. and the handle
of Il sheath knife stood there, the keen
blade buried in his bosom.
Help! help! There has been murder
done! Help. help"
In an instant he had seized with his
right hand the bloody haft of the knife,
while with his left he c%n,leavored to re-
strain the body from sinking 10 the floor.
Help. help" He drew the weapon
forth. the rcd blood dyring his sleeve as
he did SO.
"Unclc Alvin. Uncle Alvin. Oh, tell
me. Tell me-"
There was II groan. Il twitching of the
limbs. Il cnntortion of the features, and Il
dead man slid from the clai to the blood
soaked carlpet of the library.
"0h. God. what iienl has lone this
docd?' cried hobart. as lie bent over the
still form on the carpet.
y picrrin. cry answered him. and Hat
tie. who had been reused by the cries and
hastily descended the stairs. unk on her
knees by the side of her murdered father.
At the same instant Herman Craven
rushed into the ROOM.
y cry of horror broke from his white
lips as his eyes fell on the scene before
him.
"Mcrciful Cod. My uncle murdered.
You. Robert Campbell. you standing over
his lifclcSs remains. and with that rocking
weapon in your hand? Fiend! Assassin!
give you his loved daughters hand in mar
ihtSNs NoN navy ulS IN ENlIINI
back from my loved Cousins side. or. red
handed as you are. l will attack you. Oh,
my loved uncle. 1t was your death cry
that reused me from my slumbers!!"
Herman Cravcn!' cried Robert, as he
Strengthened to his full height. "has this
terrible scene crazcd you? You cannot
believe the words you have uttered to he
true; but rouse the servants and send for
help. Tho assassin must not escape"
Nor shall he, Robert Campbell. You
are the murderer here! Little did I
dream what my unclc's cries foretold.!'
MARS Alvin! Mars Alvin! Murdered!
Murdered! And by you. Mars Robert!'
Old Uncle Duke. who had entered the
room, walked to the side of his young
mistress, who was caressing the dead
form of her father.
ut was l, Herman Craven, who an
swered the summons of the door bell. 1
had been here for IL half hour: was here
10y appointment, as you know. to take up
my note. l brought with me a bag of
coin and received it cancelled ere the door
bell rang. l."
where is this bag of coin?"
why, there upon your uncle's desk,
where l placed it,"
There is 40 bag of coin there! Villain,
you plotted WE'LL"
NO bag of coin there? Robbery has
then been added to murder. Your mis-
tress, Hannah. your mistress.'
Aunt Hannah stood i'll the door leading
from the library to the bankers cham
, her. Her mulatto face was of an ashcn
hue and she was shaking as with palsy.
Dead! Dead! My own darling papa.
Murdered, murdcred!'
The cries of poor Hattie were frantical-
~ r%esounding through the house.
"Poor darling" said Robert. and as he
stopped. the bloody weapon fell from his
hand and struck at her side.
What wonder that she tainted.
Robert was STOPPING. with IL view to
raising her to a sofa that the room con-
taincd.
Hands off my cousin, murderer cried
Herman. But already Robert had her
i'll his strong arms. and in Il seconds time
her white form. clad only in n wrapper
| she had hastily donned over her long night
robe, had placed her on the sofa, where
the quaking Hannah and her daughter
Millie, who had joined them, We're soon
striving to revive her.
Uncle Duke had reused Adam, the car
| riage driver, whom lie had sent for DR..
Norcum, W blocks away, and he now
rc-entered the room.
Had we not best lay the body of your
uncle on the bed in his chamber, Her.
MANI" asked Robert.
Murderer. leave him where he fell be-
meath your blow until those arrive who
will take you in charge. Do not attempt
tiight-you are too well known. Watch
him, Uncle Duke. aud you, Hannah and
Mile; he is your masters murderer"
'Impossible." exclaimed Uncle Duke.
while Hannah dropped the bow of waite.
from which she was sprinkling her young
mistress face, md in very terror ran
screaming from the room.
Infamous wretch!" cried Robert. "You
know Your words are false. For ausht I
know yours may nave been the hand that
welded this knife"
Here he stopped and raised the weapon
from the floor.
Help! Help" cried Herman. "You
would assasinate me as you did my uncle"
He dashed through the door, and in an
instant his slippcred feet were descend
ing the piazza steps.
AK s.