Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-05-01
By Fred M. Ohite
CHAPTER Nv.
In ExtremEs.

For some time-a minute, an hour
Steel stood over the dreadful thing hud-
died 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 it the more alb
solutely certain he was hat he fast
ened the door before leaving the house.
True. h latch-key was only an ordin-
airy ore, n a key might easily have
been made to fit it. AS a matter of fact,
David had two, one in reserve In case
OF accidents. Tie 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
h house. But the closest search re-
yeaied 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 David's
heart beating like a drum. The hall
light streamed upon a policeman In uni
form, and an inspector in a dark over
coat and a bard felt hat. Or the pave
n.ent was a long, shallow tray. which
David recognized, mechanically, as an
ambulance.
Something very serious, STRIP In
spector Marley asked, quietly. i've
brought the doctor with me-"
David nodded. Both the inspector and
the doctor were acquaintance 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 it, the owner had
whisked il off 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 a dark night.
David had forgotten all about il for the
time. had forgotten where 1t came from
or that 1t contained ESQ in bank notes.
Not mine" he said. "I mean to say,
of course. it is mine. A recent present.
The shock CT this discovery has de-
prived me OF my senses pretty we'll"
Marley laid the cigar case on the ta-
ple. 1t seemed strange to him. who
could follow a tragedy calmly, that a
man should forget his own property.
Meanwhile, Cross was bending yer the
body. David could see a face, smooth.
like that of a woman. A quick little
exclamation came from the doctor.
"A drop OF brandy here, and quick as
possible" he commanded.
"You don't mean to say" Steel began;
s'you don't -"
Gross waved his arm impatiently. The
brandy was procured as soon as possi-
BILE. Steel, watching intently, fancied
that he detected a slight flicker of h
muscles OF the white. stark face.
Bring the ambulance here" Cross
said. CURLY, 'If we can get this poor
char to the hospital there Is just a
chance for him. Fortunately. we have
not many yards t. CO."
As far as calculation went. Marley
naturally looked to Steel.
II should like to IA your explana-
ton, sir" he said, gravely.
positively, I have no exI lanation to
offer" David replied. about midnight
/ let myself out to go for a stroll. care
fully closing the door behind me. Nat
urally, the door was on the latch. When
] came back, an hour or Sc later, TO my
horror and surprise. I found those
marks Of a struggle yonder, and that
poor fellow lying on the floor OF h
conservatory"
"'Um. Was the doo fast on your re-
turn"
mo; IL was pulled to. but 1t was
open, all the same"
sYou didn't hapren to lose your latch
key during your midnight stroll, SIR?
mo; 1t was only when I put my key
In the door that I discovered 1t TO be
open. I have q spare latch key that
keep for emergencies. but when / went
to look for 1T just now, h key was not
to be found. When I came back the
house was perfectly quiet"
What family have you, sir, and what
kind of servants?"
There is only myself and my moth
er. with three maids. You may dismiss
any Suspicion OF the servants from
your mind at once. My mother trained
them all in the old vicarage where /
was born. and not one of the trio has
been with us less than twelve years"
THAT simplifies matters somewhat"
said Marley, thoughtfully. Apparent
ly your latch key vas stolen by some
body who has made a careful study OF
your habits. Do you generally go for
late walks after your household has
gone TO bed. sir?"
David replied. somewhat grudgingly,
hat he had neve done such a thing
before. He would like to have con-
cealed h fact. u 1t was bound to
come out, sooner or later. He had
strolied along the front and round
Brunswick Square. Marley shrugged
his shoulders.
well, it's a bit OF a puzzle to me" ne
admitted. You go out for a midnight
walk-a thing you have never done be-
fore--and when you come back you find
somebody has got into your hous by
means of a stolen iatch-fey and MUIR
dered somebody else in your conserva-
tory. According to that, two people
must have entered the house."
That's logic" David admitted. There
can be no murder without the slain AMI
the slayer. My impression is that
somebody who Knows the ways Of the
house watched me depart. Then he
&ared his victim In here, under p~retence
that 1t was his own house-he had the
purloined latch key-and murdered him.