The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-09-16

from sleep by the owls screech, and
had family head movements near his
bed. He had little doubt that his un-
known visitor had intended to inject
a swiftly acting poison into his blood
With the needle found; but on seeing he
was aroused, the scoundrel, fearing de-
lection and determining to murder, had
selected the rougher method of stran-
gulation.
How he had managed in the pitch
darkness of the room to jump on his
chest and clutch his throat, without
feeling his way. without hesitation. but
with surprisingly prompt d%irectness
and gertrude. and had afterward es-
capped without stumbling or overturn-
ing the furniture, or making the slight
est noise, surprised his victim. 1t wa
q point that seemed wholly ineXplicahle.
n III was evident TO the barrister
that the mar who had attempted his
LIE Was the same Who had killed Rich
ard Gotfe. Both had been robbed, and
two would have been murdered but
ior Geofirey's p~rovidential awakening.
And that this was some inmate of the
hall appeared certain.
No n knew of his having the jewels
but the family and Urbano. The bar
%rister's thoughts conferred themselves
on the man, whom he considered to
have a f%orbidding and evil countenance.
He had always regarded him with a
dislike thai now deepened to distrust.
The comparatively small sum stolen
from COTE would seem a large amount
to a servant, while the jewels, if sue
%cessfully disposed of, would mean a
fortune.
The Wallets broad shoulders were a
sign of great strength, and it was a
powerful man who had pinioned Geof-
frey to his bed; while Urbano's long,
claw-fke fingers We're capable of "a
aea~th-dealing clutch: 1t was possible
he was acquainted with the use of poi
sons. for there was no knowing what
experience a man With as repulsiye
an exterior had passed through, and
there We're few Italians VITO did not
know the uses and abuses to which
herbs could be applied. The rascal
must be closely watched by detectives.
Then came the question as to wheth-
er there were two persons in the room
at the time the attack was made on
him. AT the instant he started from
sleep he had certainly imagined that
he had heard movements 1T either side
of his bed. On the other hand. he knew
sound In the dark. The thought oc-
Cured that while he was being we'll
nigh s%trangled by one man, a second
might have carried off the jewels.
1t was readily seen that Urbano's
devotion to his master was extended
to his masters son. AT Goffe's inquest.
MaS's debts had beer mentioned. His
habits were extravagant, he was a
gambler, and no doubt he was pressed
for money. That he was reckless and
violent was shown by his attempt upon
his life when refused by Edith. And
that he was Jealous of his successful
rival was plain. it might follow that he
was r~nVPnpafl1 Tha r,o, rr1,D~,
Edith loved would have to be removed
before another could hope to stand in
his place.
Then Max was absent when the
alarm had been given and had stated
that he went out for a walk. Though
in justice 1t might be said that the ex-
PLANTATION Of his restlessness accounted
for it; but could 1T possibly be that he
had gone out Of doors to secrete what
he had stolen?
1t was a terrible suggestion, but in
his mental Investigations Geoffrey
seized and examined every supposition
that presented itself to his mind
MOI did he forget that the man who
had been tried for Richard Gofre's muir
der had seen the Jewels. Though Geof-
frey had been his counsel, and as such
had been brought into a constant COM
munication that ought to have begot
intimacy With him, yet the barrister
felt he had eve gained his confidence,
never fathomed, never really UNDER
stood him. 1t may have been Dun
STAINS natural reserve, a reserve that
almost amounted to secrecy regarding
himself, that had foiled and perplexed
Godfrey, but at all events nothing like
friendship had ever established be-
tween them.
And he also had been rejected by
Edith.
In the morning. the whole household