Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-01-02

HM
I .It.s h~orrible!" calculated Mr.. Reeks,
But / cannot understand the murdei
OF the servant; 1t WASH. Tor the mon
ey--or why should Leathwood be SC
anxious to give 1t to meY" .
"No-it wasn't for the money" said
Gilbert. slowly. "It was because he
took the servant for the master; be-
cause ne thought that the Ia who
went there at the appointed time, and
with nv card in his hand, was the mar
who had promised to be there at tnat
hour-Gilbert Rickerby. Doubtless ne
still believes that the mar he killed
was Gilbert Rickerbv."
II see. And i think I understand
why he followed that stranger to the
grave and buried him as Gilbert RICK
erby. It was to owe his W crime
Exactly" responded Gilbert. the
man was someone, probably. known
only to Leathwood; he may have seen
the crime, and, lying near death in the
hospital, the name of the mar he sup
posed to have been murdered was al
ways on his lips: more than that, ne
had the card / gave to Holden clenched
tightly In his hand. He may have
picked 1t up in the room where the
muruer was cOtnIlittcC.
Mr.. George Reeks sat for a long time
in silence, his chin resting on the
knuckles of his right hand, deep In
thought. Gilbert Rickerby watched
him ~anxiously. From time to time the
little man shook his head. doubtfully;
once or twice he nodded it, slowly.
Come" said Gilbert, at last, L am
quite sure you will help me in this. l
- - Alg- -Aalft. hin Or
in the house tonight" f..
.To-nightl' Mr.. Reeks sat upright,
with the remains of his scanty han
bristlihg. Had there been a reasonable
prospect of delay the little man would
probably nave been willing to promise
anything, on the chance Of getting out
Of ii when 1t came to a matter of per-
Torrance. But to be expected to tackle
dead bodies on the instant was more
than d~isconcertirg.
Certainly; why not?' exclaimed Gil
bert, stopping, impatiently, before him.
THE fact of the matter is this: / do
not know who committed the murder,
although / nave a shrewd suspicion
that II was my cousin; and / have de-
termined to lie hidden here as long as
possible, until 1 can solve the mystery.
More than that, I want TO know If what
my cousin said about the girl was true;
If she loved him, as he asserted, h
should be his reason fer putting me out
of the way? Yes; that body must be
got rid of tonight"
1t this moment. Gilbert observed, to
his surprise, that Mr.. Reeks was sitting
perfectly still, with one hand raised,
listening intently; drawing, instinct
lively, nearer to him, Gilbert whispered,
hurriedly: What is it? What DO you
hear2"
Someone is coming, slowly and qui-
city, toward that door, whispered Mr..
Reeks, pointing TO a door which stood
at the farther end of the room.
Without a word, Gilbert Rickerby
crept. cautiously, across the room and
stood close against the door, listening.
In an instant he was back again; as
he passed the table, on which a lighted
candle stood, he blew 1t out; the room
was in darkness at once. Mr.. Reeks
felt a strong hand grip his arm. and
heard the voice of Gilbert Rickerby in
his ear:
This way-quietly!"
Gilbert Rickerby appeared to open
another door, almost Immediately be-
hind where they stood; and Mr.. Reeks
felt himself drawn through and stun
bling on a stairway. Then the whisper
at his ear again:
Hush. Whoever 1t is, is in the room
now; they've brought a light with
them. Keep still; I am going to peep
out"
The door was opened a very little
way, and Mr.. Reeks could see the big
form of Gilbert Rickerby standing close
against the aperture. Then, in a mo-
ment, the door was shut; and Gilbert
Rickerby was leaning against the wall
beside him, breathing heavily, and
gssping as though he had received a
blow.
What is 1t? What's the matter?"
whispered Mr.. Reeks, eagerly.
Its the grill" came the whispered
reply. She mas found her way here
again! Oh! If I might only speak to
her!"
Very cautiously, he opened the door
a very little way and peered out. Mr..
Reeks, drawn UP close against the wall,
could see nothing; but when a voice
came from the room he could lear 1T
distinctly. 1t was The voice of the girl,
and h called, clearly, distinctly, and
without fear:
"Giltert! Gilbert!'
A moments hesitation, and then Gill
bert opened the door-squeezing Mr..
Reeks most unceremo,. iously behind 1t
land passed out into the room. Mr..
Reeks. peering through the cracks
where the hinges were, saw the girl,
who held a candle in her hand, advance
fearelssly towards the young man. She
set the candle on the table and held out
her hands towards him. And, oh, the
look upon her face! The little mar
could not have withdrawn his eyes
however much he had wanted to 20 so
.Gilbert-my love." cried the sweet
girlish voice. You don't know what q
long journey / have come tc s.eet you
So-let me hold your hands. Do ycg
know what place this Is where we meet
again.
Mr.. Reeks, peering through the crack,
saw Gilbert take the girls hands in his
heard him speak. mo, dear olive
said h young man, what place is Il? 2
They told me you We're dead, dear
Gilbert" she said. That must be true,
because I have come through sucf