Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1904-02-18

arrived there, I alighted at station to
4 procure some refreshment, and found
the murder at Blackcastle. news OF
which had of course been telegraphed
along the line, the chief topic of con-
4 versation. While there another train
! dashed up from an opposite direction
to that in which lay my intended route.
/ And among the passengers who serged
into the waiting room was-this mani"
4 With graceful wave of his hand,
/ MIR. Bowers Indicated the hufking fig
ure looming behind him, who aciSnowl-
I edged the introduction with nod and
/ a grin.
We'll, the talk went on among the
j group by the bar, and one word caught
the. newcomers ear.
| "'Did you say Bracken?' he asked
| stepping forward.
"'Now you've struck it. The ramo
| Of the murdered man was Bracken-
Cuthbert Bracken, mate they an
! swered him.
81 knew him. he cried. We es-
| capped together from the Dolphin when
! she burned last September
THAT was enough for me. / felt
| like a detective when jumped up ana
! grabbed HIN.
/ you're my mani said I, or rather
| I'll make it worth your while to be.
! What women We're aboard the Dolphin
! during the trip you speak off??'
Only two ne answered. An old
| lady named Mrs. Grey, and young
lady named Miss Lisle. You see it
was a. sailing vessel which belonged TO
the young womans grandfather
! "'Was there only one young lady"
l asked, for you remember Mr.. Bracll-
en- lad told me there were two. He
asserted positively that there was only
one. Would you know her again if
you were to see her?' l asked.
"'Yes, he said. I saw but very lit
tie of her till after the ship blazed;
but had a good look at her then, ana
I'd know her among a thousand
$50. there, Miss Lennox, you have
| the case in q nutshell. This man can
cerainly identify her-the new claim
ant" !
Miss Lennox smiled inyeluntarily as
he paused, red in the face and quite
breathess. A very capacious and
well-flled nutshell, his!
There was the sound Of woman's
footsteps descending the stairs.
Mr., Bowers turne chastity to the
sailor
"Hark! Draw back and watch"
The man stepped behind the statue
of a mail-clad knight.
pohy Ear1o,r tr;r,, S,,,,a o,u,. i-t.
sight, crossed the hall and entered the
breakfast room.
The sailor stepped forth again.
"Was that she?" Mr.. Bowers cues.
toned.
He shook his head emphatically.
NO." he declared, decidedly, il I'm.
dramatically; that warn't her!"
From the corridor above came the
tones Of sweet, silvery voice, evil
IDENTIFY in response to question.
mo, am not looking for Miss Dent.
am trying to find Miss Lennox. She
must be down stairs!"
"That's her!" the son of Neptune
cried, promptly and confidently.
That's"
"Wait!" the lawyer whispered. mot
| so loud! Wait till you see her!"
| A girl was coming down the stairs
a girl small, slender, dark-clad, with
| two long, bright b~aids Of heavy hair
| falling below her waist, and lovely,
childish, high-bred face.
! "Oh, that's her" the man repeated,
in a tone OF perfect conviction, "By
George! it's not hard to remember
that facet! Young women like she
don't grow on every BUSH. That's her.
! sure!". u.
'.Very WE'LL" Cynthia said. "ryow
go down the hall to passage which
!. turns to your right. Keep straight
along till you reach the servants d.
| vision. Say Miss Lennox sent you
down to dinner
He started off obediently, nothing
10th at the prospect Of a comfortable
meal.
I Mr.. Bo7ers went forward to the foot
/ of the stairs and Intercepted Laurie.
| She started as he addressed her.
Miss Isle" he stammered, 81 want
to speak to you!"
She stood and listened as he con
I :tinued his embarrassing explanation.
Out of his extreme confusion she was
| beginning rat last to elicit the real
/ state Of affairs. when a carriage
! whirled past the window and drew up
| before the door.
A moment later there came brisk
knock.
They drew back little--the ladies
and Mr.. Bowersas a footman flung
back thesportals to admit Mr.. Stack,
4 hisfellow, official and a policeman.
Il, The frst-namad. held a folded paper
in his hand. The wide, rugged, raj.
tered hall was growing shadowy with
i declining daylight, as Cynthia Lennoz
4 stepped forward TO meet them.
+ Mr.. Stack deliberately unfolded the
document he held.
II am very sorry, Miss Lennox. to
be obliged to resort to extreme meas.
lures in this most peculiar case.
have been as lenient as possible But
L have to-day received instructions
I 10 49, /.