Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-03-31

me. oh. dear ones. whom I leave 90 sor-
rowfully now, and whom ! love 90 dear
y! A thousand words can say no more.
Farewell. YOLANDE."
For an instant Lance stands with the
letter in his hand. all the color and life
gone from his young healthy face, his
terrible despair: then he thrusts the pa
per into Miss Symptoms hands, and turns
to the waiting lawyer.
'She 10 gomez" questions that impertur-
bablc person, with a rapid glance at the
changed and suffering face before him.
"Yes." is the brief response. MAY
heavens curse fall on the hound who has
driven her forth in her defenseless youth!'
CHAPTER X.
1t is all very desolatc and quiet now at
Mcrvyn Court. The shadows of sorrow
and suffering have fallen heavily around.
The girls so about with soft footballs and
fearful eyes; all sounds of merriment and
laughter are hushcd. The old man sits
in his lonely room, and babbles cheerfully
of bygone days and long-past events,
knowing nothing of the cloud that has
settled on his household, nothing of the
fate that has banished his best-loved child
from her home.
Even Arthur has lost all his gay spirits,
and is ceaselcssly pcrplexcd us to what is
to he done with regard to YOlande. Lance
comes over on the morning after the
funeral, and together the young people
discuss plans of future action, but all
without any tangible result. No one has
the slightest clue to the girls present
abode. or her means of support, and all
attempts to trace or follow her are rem
drrcd unsafe by the knowledge of Budd's
intentions, and the dread that, were she
found. his malice might be once again
put in force.
"For Il time ut least we can make no
movement to follow her." says Lance
drcarily; "slic has fled to evade the hor-
hnrs of further publicity in this sad mat
tc:. 1t would be cruel and unwise to
prevent her finding the safety and peace
she needs"
"Most persons will say she has run away
because of her actions. 1t would
have been far better to brave It out"
His words arc cut short by the opening
of the door and the voice of the old but
Ter announcing sobcrly:
MIR. Budd."
For a dead silence reigns
among the little party. Then they all
rise. as il by one common impulse, and
face the enemy of their peaceful home,
the smiling spy. who has been the cause
! of all the suffering and misery they have
lately endured. None of them address
him. and. as his eyes turn from one to an
other of the pale. indignant young faces,
even his calm, serene visage looks slight
~ iiscompOscd.
"Sorry TO disturb you. I'm sure, young
ladies'" he says. with n grave bow; ''but
business must he attended to. you know"
II a:n at Il loss to imagine what bust
ness you can have in this house, Mr..
Rudd.' cSclai,ns Arthur Indignantly.
An almost Scyaphic smile breaks over
the fat face of the police inspector.
ut can Ec soon explained" he says
softly. Il am here to arrest your sister,
Miss Yolandr Mcrvyn. on n charge of
murdcr.."
The silence that follows those horrible
words is not long; hut it is Lance Staple
ton who breaks it, with his scornful
laugh, Lance Staplcton. whose steady
hand arrests Arthur Mervyn's impetuous
arm, which in another moment would
have levclled the ~insulter of his sisters
honor to the ground.
Come, come. Mr.. Mcrvyn," says Budd
b%lis;cringly. confident now i'll the protec-
tion OF his two men, this tri1ing won't
do with the law, you know! l require
instant and correct information as to tho
whereabouts of Miss Mc.vyn."
"lror what purpose!' asks IL gruff, quiet
voice that makes Mr.. Budd jump as
though he had suddenly stepped on II rcd-
hot coal-tlc voice of Lance Staplcton's
friend. Mr.. Hcrrick.
"l'or the purpose of arrcsting her"
stanmcrs the man, his white, fat face
turning CHASTITY.
"In,!ccd! That is a strange proceed
ing!." replies MIR. Hcrrick, cynically.
"You arc quite sure you have justitiable
grounds for it this time, Buddy"
IL have nj time to waste OH idle words"
rctorts the inspector, furiously.
what is your charge against Miss Mcr-
vyn?'
"Willful murder!" said Budd, shortly.
"And the person murdered?" continues
the old lawyer. with perfect sang froid.
II should hardly think you needed to be
told that" answers the man, with a bru-
tai laugh. Haven't you heard Of Mr..
Dcnzil Chnrteris and his strange death"
"Assuredly! And so you conclude that
Miss Mervyn has-Murdcred-him? And
You have actually gone so far as to take
out Il warrant"
ITO be continucd.)
Sorfs.h CT initiate.