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

wish to get a clue to the pe~rpetrator OF
this wicked crime. l will now take my
leave, hat 1 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 and hurried
from the room. z
He had not gone more than half a
dozen steps when he was oyertaken by
Mrs. Martin.
II know you will understand my mo-
tive in following you. Mr.. Hantlin," she
FASTENED to say. II am the greatest
sufferer by the death of my poo broth.
er, and / suppose ii is natural hat L
should be the most anxious to avenge
him. There seems little enough dispo-
sition i'm this house to aid the cause of
justice; but If / can make up for the
lulke-warm interest Of others, let me
do so. 1t there nothing / can do TO aid
you? / know you mistrust that French
hussy. and so do L. Oh, / saw the
looks that passed between her n 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
short and locked Mrs. Martin directly
in the face.
II think / can understand your feel
ings, madam" he said, "and I also
think you may be of use to me. You
noticed hat Mrs. Grayson said her
maid had probably retired to her own
room?'
"Yes!" returned Mrs. Martin, eager
ly, but she hasn't. II size had m so
1 AI.0 Ctra ,rrNn ,-A.,lI s.~t La.,, 49, A..
send for her"
That's as may be. In these matters
nothing is certain, and all former pre-
cedents are coutradicted. Now, IL
Mademoiselle Leonce did retire to her
own room, she is probably there yet.
and If we a find out where her room
is, it will be easy ercugh TO find out if
she is i'm It."
II will know where it is in a very few
momentst' declared Mrs. Martin, with
her usual promptitude.
Advancing to che head OF the stairs,
she called to one OF the servants, who
happened to be friendly toward her,
from interested motives; but she re-
ceived 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 its possible effects upon
their own individual welfare, to hear
any ordinary noise.
Mrs. Martin hastily ran down stairs,
seized the bell-pull in the front hall.
and wrung an imperious peal. The
summons was answered by the very
servant she had prev iously 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 wher she had left William
Hantlin waiting her return, the girl
preceded them up another flight OF
stairs leading to the floor above, and
then, al the further end of the hall be-
yond 1t, halted at the doo OF a small
room.
This is 1t. ma'am. The French maid
was put in this room for the present.
How / know 1t is because I happened to
be the one that showed her into 1t
when she came this forenoon, after
poor, dear master had started for the
church. The room Is too far away
from missus' room, and was a-going to
be changed after Il new missus got
back from across the ocean"
"Oh, very well, Susan, han you;
you may 60"
Mrs. Martin waited a moment until
she was out of hearing on her way
down stairs again.
HartIin had already knocked lightly
on the door, but had received no an
swer. Mrs. Martin. unhesitatin Fly tried
the door, and found IL locked.
shes in the roomi' she whispered,
with a keen look at the detective. The
door would not be locked unless she vas
on the other side of It,"
"Or some one else concealed there
the detective returned, quietly, n in
the same low one
A look of excitement came into Mrs.
Martins face-she thought of Shirley
Austin in~stantly-yes. at the instiga-
ton of Clarice. he might be concealed
there.
1--WE must know without delay!' she
laid. Some n is within. / hear
movements. Do your"
The detective slightly inclined his
head, almost carelessly. II seemed to
Mrs. Martin, and hi, calmness only in
creased her excitement. She seized the
door-knob and ratified 1t violently;
then, with both hands. a violently
on the panel.
"who Is there asked a voice. that
she recognized as the Frenchwomans.
1T is l.. Mrs. Martin. Open the door
instantly. You are wanted
Almost while she spoke, the door
opened. and Leonce srpeared, holding a
white six handkerchief to her face. The
handkerchief was stained with blood,
and the woman took no pains to con-
ceal the fact.
Mrs. Martin pushed aside the French
maid and rushed into the room. II
was a small. squar containing
one. closet. the dor of which stood, os-
tentatiously. 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 here9
Where is the wretch" Mrs. Martin de-
manded.
What does madam mean2" Leonce