Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-08-24
cuArrNi: NNv1I.-Montinuc.i.)

stead of heirg left ut the hotel. III the
care of my fri"nds!"
The nurse remained silent. while Il look
of commiscration came into her face.
You do not ANSWER" said Duninorc;
"alid why do you regard me- in that odd
way? Heaven and cnrth." he suddenly
added. after II littlc reflection: lit can't
he possible that I am Il prisoncr-tl,at
they suspected me of numbering that fcl-
low?'
".No. no; prcpostcrous.!" said the nurse,
sootliingiy. .'flie situation in your room,
together with your own condition. Mr..
Dunmnrc. explained the state of affairs
to the satisfaction of almost every one:
though, as Il matter of course, the author
of Sir Philip nalzicl's murder is as vet
unknown"
What do you meant" exclaimed Dun
more. in II daZcl sort of way. state of
affairs. indeed? Well. then. be good
enough to mention villa; state OF affairs
so easily explained ITSELF"
''.rhat is readily done" said the nurse.
"4Aftrr you had retired TO your room on
Saturday night. yon must have received
Il visitor. Some time or other. your Wis
!tor and you were attacked 10y Il villain.
Dr by villains: il is generally supposed
that several of them rushed into Your
room mt once. You, being partly uM,lrcsS-
cd md lying down. We're easily ovrrpow-
cred, chiefly through the use of chloro-
form. Your visitor, however, made IL
desperate resistance. and was only over
powered after receiving several fatal
stabs. Something must then have occur
red to brighten off the thieves before they
could secure the plumber for which they
made the assault. AZ amy rate. nothing
was missing from your room. or from the
person of your poor friend. \ search of
his remains revealed diamonds and money
In large amount. together with il packet
of letters and papers establishing his
identity as Sir Philip Dalziel."
''4And is it possible that this theory of
the murder is the one generally accept
ed?' exclaimed Dummorc. in amazcmcnt.
Certainly, sir; and what better one
can he otfered!" said the nurse. quietly.
''It was first preached by the magistrate,
Mr.. Chelmsford. | believe, and hr is con-
sidered Al competent authority. having
ona. bccn Sir Philips man of business,
us he is now for Sir Luke DalHirl. whose
possession of the title and estate is now
considered as permanently set mt rest"
And did Chelmsford identify the body
of the murdered man as that of Sir
Philip Dalzicl!'
"rndouhtcdly. as did Sir Luke. like
wise. Il few hours after the discovery of
The MURDER
NOW tell me. if you please" said Dun
more. who had gradually succeeded i'll To-
covering something of his customary
cuuanimity. why is it that was
brought here. instead of being permitted
to-. remain at the hotel along with my
friends"
"Cannot YOU guess the r%cason?' said
the nurse. with IL return of her former re-
luctancc.
For the life of me | cannot
We'll. them said the nurse. cit WIS
discovered. sir. that YOU were altogether
pclniless. There WIS not enough found
in your effects even to pay your hotel bill
up to tina, time"
"%IIumph. to be sure. | had forgotten
that. by the way. have you heard any
thing of Il young lady who was at the
same hotel under my escort-a certain
Miss Muir!"
oh. yes: Il %littlc.'' was the reply. "She
tainted when informed of what had hap
pencd. and quilted the hotel on the fol-
lowing day, in Company with IL Mrs.
Nascby. who had been travelling with
her
You don, know whore she went?"
NO. sir"
aid has no one called to inquire about
my condition since | WAS brought ~l,ere:"
ooh. .y,s. sir. Mr.. Chelmsford has been
to see yoa several times. He said once
that Ii" didn't Know who You were. hut
that he couldn't help taking IL f~atlcrly
intercS; in yoi. Once he was accompan-
icd by two physicians. who examined
You. | think, in respect to yo,.r lunacy,
sir"
My good woman" said Dunmorc, 81
thank yon ever 50 much for the infor-
imation you have afforded me. III were
able. l would reward you. hut. as YOU
say, l am ut present penni!ess; so YOU
must Ierrorce content yourself with bare
thanks. by the way. are those my clothes
hanging just opposite the foot of my bed
yondcr!'
"Yes. SIR"
"Obligc me, then. by leaving me to my
self for a few moments, madam. I am
about to get up and dress"
"Oh. sir. but this will never do.!' cried
the nurse, in much alarm. You are not
yet well enough. sir. Besides. no patient
ever leaves the hospital without being
regularly discharged"
II shall. then. institute an innovation
in the rules by discharging myself" said
Dunmore. coolly lcaping out of bed,
which action caused the nurse to dart to-
ward the one door which the room con-
tanned. though apparently less out of
modesty than with the intention of rails
ing an alarm.
Dunmore, however. felt a return of
something like his customary vigor as
soon as his feet touched the floor. barring
"a slight dizziness. and he Mt once began
to dress himself III IL good deal Of haste.
The nurse re-entcred the room. She
was accompanied by a tall, portly gentle
man, whom Dunmore rightly conjectured
to he the chief physician in charge. and
by two male attendants.
''Sir,'' said the physician. you are act
ing most imprudcntly. 1t will be forty
eight hours yet before I can discharge
you as cured"