The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-05-01
By Fred M. Uhte
CHAPTER Nv.
In Extremis.

dleI upon the floor OF his conservatory.
Just then he was incapable OF consecu-
tive ideas.
His mind began to move at length.
The more he thought of IL the more alb
solutely certain he was that he fast
ened the door before leaving the house
True, the latch-key was only an ordin-
airy one, and key might easily have
been made to fit 1t. AS matter OF fact,
David had two. one in reserve in case
of accidents. The other was usually
kept in a Jewel drawer OF the dressing
table. Perhaps
David went quietly up stairs. 1t was
just possible that the murderer was in
the house. But the closest search re-
yealed nothing. He pulled out the jew
ell drawer in the dressing table. The
spare latch key was gone. Here was
something to go upon.
Then there was a rumbling of an
electric bell somewhere that set Davids
heart beating like drum. The hail
light streamed upon a policeman in uni
form, and an inspector in dark over
coat and a bard felt bat. Or the pave
E.ent was a long. shallow tray. which
David recognized, mechanically, as an
ambulance.
Something very serious. sir2" In
spector Marley asked, quietly. I've
brought the doctor with me-
David nodded. Both the inspector and
the doctor were acquGIrtances of his.
He closed the door and led the way into
the study. Just inside the conserva-
tory. and not far from the huddled fig
ure, lay David's cigar case Doubtless.
without knowing IL. the owner had
whisked IT. of the table when he had
sprung the telephone.
"'Um," Marley muttered. rs this a
clue. or yours, sir?"
He lifted the case. with its diamonds
cleaning like stars on dark night.
David had forgotten all about II for the
time. had forgotten where It came from
or that 1t contained ESQ in bank notes.
mot mine" he said. II mean to say,
of course. 1t is mine. A recent present.
The shock of this discovery has de-
prived me OF my senses pretty wel1.'
Marley laid the cigar case on the ia
BILE. 1t seemed strange to him, who
could follow a tragedy calmly, that a
man should forget his own property.
Meanwhile, Cross was bending over the
body. David could see a face. smooth,
like that OF woman. A quick little
exclamation came from the doctor.
"A drop OF brandy here, and quick as
possible" he commanded.
"You dor't mean to say" Steel began;
"you don't ="
Gross waved his arm impatiently. The
brandy was procured as soon as posi-
BILE. Steel. watching intently, fancied
that he detected slight flicker of the
muscles of the white. stark face.
Bring the ambulance here" Cross
said. CURLY. eff We can get this poor
chap to the hospital there Is just
chance for him. Fortunately, we have
not many yards to CO.
AS far as calculation went, Marley
naturally looked to Steel.
II should like to have your explana-
ton, sir" he said. gravely.
positively. have no exI lanation 70
Offer" David replied. about midnight
] let myself out to go for stroll, care
fully closing the door behind me. Nat
urally. the door was on the latch. When
/ came back. an hour or so later, TO my
horror and surprise. l found those
marks of a struggle yonder, and that
poor fellow lying on the floor of the
conservatory"
"Um. Was the door fast on your re-
turn"
mo: II was pulled to. but II was
open, all the same"
You didn't happen 10 lose your latch
key during your midnight stroll, SIR
mo; II was only when put my key
in the door that I discovered II TO De
open. have a spare latch key that !
keep for emergencies, but when went
TO look for It just now. the key was not
TO be found. When ! came back the
house was perfectly quiet"
What family have you, sir, and what
kind of servants"
There Is only myself and my moth
err with three maids. You may dismiss
any suspicion OF the servants from
your mind at once. My mother trained
them all I'm the old vicarage where
was born, and not one of the trio has
been with us less than twelve years"
"That simpIidss matters somewhat
said Marley, thoughtfully. Apparent
Iy your latch key vas stolen by some
body who has made a careful study OF
your habits. DO you generally go FOL
late walks after your household has
gone TO bed. sir?"
David replied, somewhat grudgingly
that he had never done such a thinf
before. He would like to have con
cealed the fact, but II was bound t.
come out, sooner or later. He haC
stroiled along the front and round
Brunswick Square. Marley shrugged
his shoulders.
"WeIl, it's a bit OF puzzle TO me-" N
admitted. You go out for n midnigh
walk--a thing you have never done be
fore--and when you come back you finS
somebody has got into your house b!
means OF stolen latch-fley and muir
dered somebody else in your conserva
tory. According to that two peopl
must have entered the house."
That's logic" David admitted Their
can be no murder without the slain an
the slayer. My impression is tina
somebody who knows the ways of tn
house watched me depart. Then n
Nared his victim in here. under pretenc
that II was his own house-he had tn
purloined latch key-and murdered him
Audacious, but a far safer way tina
doing 1t out of DOORS"
But Marley's imagination refused I
20 so far. The theory was plausibl
& enough. he pointed ous. respectfully.
q tha assassin had been assured that III
n ,v,,dnigbt rambles We're a matter of GU
N 49,, THE point was a shrewd one. al
CO., had TO admit II. He almost wish'