Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-08-22

WISH To get "a Clue TO the peTpelrdtOT VI
this wicked crime. / will now take my
leave. that / may think the matter
over, and consider whether / have any
information that will serve me-"
He hastily bowed, in a way that
seemed to include everyone II hurried
from the room.
He had not gone more thar half a
dozen steps hen he was oyertaken by
Mrs. Martin.
Il know you will understand my mo-
tive in following you. Mr.. Hantlin." She
FASTENED to say. Il am the greatest
sufferer by the death of my poor broth
er, and / suppose 1t is natural that 1
should be the most anxious to aveng
him. There seems little enough dispo-
sition in this house to aid the cause of
justice; but If l can make up for the
lulke-warn interest OF others, let me
do so. 1t there nothing / can do to aid
you? l know you mistIust hat French
hussy, and so 10 1. Oh, / saw the
looks tina passed between her and her
mistress!'
A slight movement of the muscles
around the mouth, that might have
been a smile in any other man, was
Hantlin's first answer, as he stopped
. SiBoi am ohC a. hdll Il Z
in the face.
Il think / can understand your feel
ings, madam" he said. and 1 also
think you may be of use to me. You
noticed that Mrs. Grayson said her
maid a probably retired to her own
room?"
"Yes!" returned Mrs. Martin, eager
ly, but she hasn't. If she had lone so
4 Mra Cyra xy-nn mould ,,nt laN,n ,ffaral t,
send for her.
That's as may be. In these matters
nothing is certain, and all former pre-
cedents are c~outradicted. Now, If
Mademoiselle Leonce did retire to her
own room. she is probably there yet.
and If we can find out where her room
is, it will be easy ercugh TO find out if
she is in it,
II will know where it is in a very few
moments" declared Mrs. Martin, with
her usual promptitude.
Advancing to the head of the stairs,
she called to one Of the servants, who
happened TO be friendly toward her,
from interested motives; but she re-
ceiyed no reply, for the servants had
all betaken themselves to the lower
floor again, after having devoured the
wedding breakfast TO their own fun
content.
They were probably too deeply en-
gagged now in discussing the recen,
tragedy. and it's possible effects upon
their own individual welfare, to hear
my ordinary noise.
Mrs. Martin hastily ran down stairs,
seized the bell-pull in the front hall,
and wrung an imperious peal. The
4 SttypffNnnS NyaS q nGvyarad NV Tho Sraru
servant she had previously called.
Now, Susan" she said, addressing
the startled girl, II want you to tell me
where the room of Leoncs. the French
maid. is situated. or, better still. come
with me and show me the room"
The girl replied by obeying. and, hav-
ing followed Mrs. Martin up stairs again
to the hall where she had left William
Hantlin waiting her return, the girl
preceded them up another flight OF
stairs leading to the floor above, and
then, at the further end of the hall be-
yond it, halted at the door of a small
room.
This is II. ma'am. The French maid
was put in this room for the present.
How know II is because 1 happened TO
be the one hat showed her into it
/ Nnen Sne came lHlS IOIellOOH, after
poor, lear master had started for the
church. The room Is too far away
from missus' room, and was a-going to
be changed after our new missus got
back from across the ocean"
"oh. very well. Susan, thank you;
you may go"
Mrs. Martin waited a m until
| she was out OF hearing on her way
down stairs again.
Hantlin had already knocked lightly
on the door, but had received no an
swer. Mrs. Martin, unhesitatingly tried
the door, and found it locked.
shes In the room!" she whispered,
with a keen look at the detective. THE
, door would not be locked unless she was
on the other side of It,"
"or some one else concealed there
the detective returned, quietly. and in
the same low tone.
A look OF excitement came into Mrs.
Martins face-she thought of Shirley
Austin instantly-yes. at the instiga-
ton OF Clarice, he might be concealed
there.
I'VE must know without delay!' she
said. Some one is within. l hear
movements. Do you?"
The detective slightly inclined his
head, almost carelessly. IL seemed to
Mrs. Martin, and his calmness only in
creased her excitement. She seized the
door-knob and ratified II violently;
then. with both hands. beat violently
on the panel.
who Is there?" asked a voice, that
she recognized as the Frenchwonians-
"It is /. Mrs. Martin. Open the door
instantly. You are wanted
Almost while she spoke. the door
opened, and Leoncs s~Ipeared, holding q
white six handkerchief to her face. The
handkerchief was stained with blood,
and the woman o no pains TO con-
ceal the fact.
Mrs. Martin pushed aside the French
maid and rushed into the room. II
was a small. square room, containing
one closet, the dor OF which stood, os-
tentattously, open. showing that a few
dresses hung upon the hooks, and a
handbook with another smaller box.
stood upon the shelf.
Who have you concealed here?
Where is the wretch" Mrs, Martin de-
manded.
What does madam mean?" Leonce
i t.-.al - a., IIa-ttntS n atsn a. the