The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-01-28

tempted to defend and shield from sus
picion; and now Mr.. Bowers, but this
moment arrived and wholly unaware
Of what had transpired, instantly con
nected her name In some indefinite
way with the tragedy so lately enact.
ed.
who is she?" Mr.. Lynn demanded,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS is she-this Lau.
renee Isle? / think we have ample
warrant for further investigation.
Read this, Mr.. Stack. 1t was written
by Mr.. Bracken only last night, or
rather early this morning, and In 1t he
speaks of the same person Mr.. Bowers
has just mentioned.
The detective took the sheet of pa
per offered him and read 1t slowly
through.
Mr.. Bowers had broken out in excit-
ed protest:
"You are mistaken, Mr.. Lynn; or
rather, / fear l did not make myself
understood. I may have called her
Laurence Lisle-the name may have
slipped from me, as / do not really
know her correct cognomen-she is
not Laurence Lisle!"
Good Lord, man, what are you driv.
ing at?" queried Mr.. Lynn. In fever
! Of mystefied evaporation. "I called
her Laurence Lisle-but she is not
Laurence Lisle.' Who is she then?
What the deuce do you mean, any.
| how?"
What the deuce do I mean, any
how?" repeated Mr.. Bowers, In digni-
fed reproof. This is what mean, IL
! you will only give me time to explain.
The young person of whom spoke ap-
peared at my Office in London, early
this autumn, endeavoring to secure an
inheritance which Mr.. Bracken had
| just claimed. The estates and for
! tune of the well-known millionaire, Mr..
| Allen Atherton, had been bequeathed
! by him to his granddaughter, Laurence
| Isle. She persisted on board the ves-
sci Dolphin. The legacy reverted to
Cuthbert Bracken-there was no other
heir. Judge of my establishment when
| this girl presented herself before me,
claiming to be the lawful heiress, Lau-
renee Lisle. If had been thirty years
younger and possessed Of any degree
of susceptibility, might have lost my
head and lent an ear to her ridiculous
statements, for she was certainly a
wonderfully lovely little creature-as
pretty as picture. As 1t was, soon
disposed of her claims, and she dis
appeared. did not see her again till
Christmas eve, when to my very great
surprise l came face to face with her
in the library at Blackcastle. Bracken
was proving rather conclusively what
an arrant imposter was my lady's
dainty guest"
Mr.. Stack, still holding the open let
ter in his hand, interrupted him:
"He was trying to prove that she
was other than the person she repre-
sented herself to be, was he?"
Eyes. You see, she claimed to be
really Laurence Isle"
Every well. Read this!"
He held out to him the lines Cuth-
bert Bracken had written.
Mr.. Bowers took the paper and
glanced hastily down the page.
The others stood around, listening
end looking on.
A quick cry broke from his lips as
he finished reading. The letter flut-
tered to the floor. He staggered back
step, and stood looking at them in
wild CONSERVATION.
"What-what do you make Of It,
Stack? Did you read 1t, Lynn" he
! cried, his voice full of excited dismay.
"He speaks OF having met Laurie Lisle
| he calls her that! Why, ne did not
believe such person existed. / have
heard him assert so hundred times;
and yet--ard yet here he virtually ac-
knowledges that she actually does en-
ist-that she was present then-not,
not the counterfeit, hut Laurence Isle
and that he denied her! lt-oh, II
isn't possible. And yet that's Brack.
ems writing, and might it be-could II
have been that--that-"
No one spoke; no one could help
him out of so deep a pit of bewilder.
ment and embarrassment. His agita
ton. born of vague. Overwhelming
doubt, was painful to witness. Every
vestige of bis usual calm, professional
suavity had vanished.
Gentlemen" he began. impressive
ly, al believe" But here he broke of
and sat down feebly. Il don't know
what do believe unless 1t is that
am a confounded old fool
And no one disagreed with him.
However this may influence Mr.
Bowers in his legal transactions,
Stack remarked, with cold concise
ness, "we must remember that 1t in nc
way affects our case at present-the
question as to the identity of the per
son referred TO. would suggest that
che inquest be Immediately held"
And the inquest was held, In com
pliance with all formality and the de
tails authorized by custom.
It was over at last. The jury had
come to a harmonious, is indefinite, de
cision. They found that the deceased
had come to his death from dagger
wound. inflicted by person or per
sons unknown, and suggested that the
woman calling herself Laurence Lisle
be held to await the result OF further