The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-12-05
IAPTER xLIII.-(Continued.)


physician: perhaps you can solve it..
He has committed suicide-that is. he
has made an attempt on his life. but
he has not quite succeeded"
"He was very foolish" remarked the
earl. Even the fact that his confiden-
tiai steward had attempted TO destroy
his own life seemed to him a matter of
less moment than the fact that his
wife loved him.
DIR. Randall looked uneasily at the
unconscious face.
May i speak on a private natter"
he said.
Certainly" was the quick reply. 81
have no secrets from my relative, Sir
Raoul"
II cannot quite understand it," con-
tinued the doctor. They sent for me.
and when reached the house found
that Blantyre had attempted to take
his life. / will not tell you Nowhere
is no need to add to a list of horrors
I found him dying, not dead: he is
dying now. His only cry was for
you. Lord Caraven; he wanted to see
you"
81 do not in the least desire to see
him. said the earl, quickly. Frankly
speaking. doctor, repentant sinners and
death beds are not much in my limo
could do him no good
Perhaps not-yet he gave me no
rest until / had promised to ask you to
go and visit him-no rest at all. The
strange part of the story has to come.
Lord Caraven. 1t was not a poacter
who fired the shot--it was himself We
have this time done the poachers an
injustice
The doctor was not prepared for the
effect of his words The earl sprang
from his chair, rushed across the room
and seized him by the arm.
Say that againn' he cried. John
Blantyre fired that shot?'
$50 he says" replied the doctor. He
gasped the story out to me in broken
words. i always hated her. he said;
hated her; and last night / shot her
by the edge of the lake. l shot her
through the heart, and / saw her fall,
and"
ct Is impossible!" cried the earl
~'The man must have been delirious!
He never saw Lady Hamilton in his
life-how could he hate herr"
THAT is the stransest part of the
story" said the doctor. He insists in
saying that he shot Lady Caraven. /
cannot understand the matter?"
II do" put in Sir Raoul, calmly
S'Blantyre was dismissed at Lady Car
.aven's desire, and he swore to be re-
venged upon her. This is his revenge
The has shot Lady Hamilton, believ-
ing her to be the countess.
1T is impossible!" repeated the earl
"They are so different Lady Hamilton
Is fair, the countess dark-he could not
mistake them"
Suddenly he remembered that it was
In the semi-darkness of the night that
the occurrence had happened, and Lady
Hamilton was wrapped in a silvery
veil. Could he have mistaken them?
The doctor shook his head.
II do not underestimate is, as have
said, riddle to me- should certain
ly advise you. Lord Caraven, to see the
man; that is the only way to clear up
the mystery"
There is no mystery" said Sir RIA
oul. 1T is as / say, the man intended
to murder Lady Caraven-by mistake
he has shot Lady Hamilton How he
mistook them is perhaps a mystery,
and that you can solve by going to see
him. Go, Uric"
Yes" responded Lord Caraven. Il
II will
you are ready. Raoul, it would be as
well not to mention this
you may rely upon me" said his
friend.
The doctor and the earl quilted the
room together. The carriage was or
dered, and they drove at once to Court
Raven.
They were not long in finding Blan-
tyres house. and before long the earl
stood by the death bed of his late
steward The mans dying face was
turned toward him, his dying eyes
cleaned as they recognized him.
My lord he said, you were always
kind to me. Her ladyship ruined me
she turned me away-and / hated
her. l would not harm one hair of
your head; but / have killed her; and
am not sorry, l am glad"
Whom have you killed." asked the
earl. calmly.
The dying man glared.
Whom? The countess of Ca2aven.
the beautiful. proud. imperious woman
who. with one wave of her hand, sent
me to ruin-I have. killed her.
How did you kill herr" inquired the
earl.