Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-01-28

They examined the scattered papers
ell of which were of no special impor
lance. They were about giving up tho
search for a clue when one Of the mer
brought forward a half-written letter
which he had found under a marble
console where It had huttered and lay
concealed.
They read II. II ran:
my Dearest Dollie: How glad I was
10 receive your letter! But you must
not address any more care OF my law
yer W Is dangerous 7 explained all
this 70 yc- long asc. or course ! lore
you dearly, but I cannot acknowledge
you Just yet. Every one else in this
eristocratic old barracks is asleep long
ago, but appreciate II, pet!-am up
writing to you. tried two cigars and
a chapter OF a story; but no! they will
not act as a sporlhc; but perhaps
this may. II Is hard work-confound-
eddy hard work-making love. Dollie.
or course. | mean on paper.
There. don't get madl II you were
here your own self 1t would be differ
ent. In fact. everything here is slow.
That is about the only word which ap-
plies to the cas- In question. They are
all more or less In the dumps over the
loss OF their precious son and heir.
oh, they're downright patriclans, you
know-the genuine article, as different
erom the bogus specimens as chalk Is
from cheese. II they do put on an
Internal lot OF style and dignity. You
shout have been here last night, pet.
You would have enjoyed it. There
was the devil to pay and no pitch hot
l stalked into the historic library as
unconscious as a lamb, and-Hark--"
There was a series OK blotted splash
&C, ard then the epistle recommended.
Il broke of at the cry OF Fret AS
the rest OF the folks are scurrying out,
| guess III stay here and talk to you.
dare say they will have 1t out within
Eve minutes and 1t Is disappointing,
you know, to see a fire put out. l have
drawn the curtains wide and there is a
fine view OF the feeble flames from my
desk as l write. All, those gaping rus
tics, how they come crowding up the
n They think they are In for a
big free show. Well, as I was about to
tell you, whoever do you suppose I
walked right into but Laurie Isle?
Think of 1t! or course | denied her,
and fought II out and gained the battle.
as I always do; but 1t was a tight
squeeze. She threatened vengeance
ver geance very dramatically, and ell
that sort"
But here the letter ended. There
was an indescrlbable autographed
grimace, a blot, a red streak and splat-
ter OF blood.
When they bad finished perusing the
epistle. for awhile. at least. no one
spoke.
Then the chief OF police looked up
sharply.
"Who Is she Of whom he speaks
she whom he met here the evening be-
fore last-she who threatened ven
geance-who is she?"
There was a young woman" DR..
Adams began, who arrived here quite
mysteriously several weeks ago, and
who. I believe. departed just as mys-
~teriously."
The official investigation had not yet
thoroughly begun. SO Cyril Darlington,
passing along the corridor, paused at
the fateful words so lightly spoken.
and looked In at the open door.
you must not drag her through this
mire. because she Is poor and friend
less. She was a lady and a guest Of
Blackcastle, and as such her name
must be held q. owe the coarse breath
Of calumny Or r~eproach."
"Mr. Darlington. I was only saying
Hero, read this letter!"
But he declined the offered CORE
spondence with hasty aversion.
mo. I do not care to. Hark!"
rue urazen knocker below was beat
ing a m
They could hear the doors opened.
Then came the sound Of footsteps
: astily ascending the stairs.
God bless us. Mr.. Darlington. what
does all this mean?" cried Mr.. Bowers,
excitedly. Murder at B~lackcastlel It
sounds incredible. We came down on
the lightning express the moment the
news reached us-that Is. as soon as
possible after the news reached us-I
always like to be exact. Mr.. Stack
his fame has probably preceded him
gentleman. the great Mr.. Stack. detec-
tive from Scotland Yard!"
The great Mr.. Stack, \ little. quiet.
cold.faced. gray-eyed man. bowed to
those present, and then walked over
% where the corpse lay and stood look
ing down upon It. curiously, critically,
but In silence.
Mr.. Bowers came over and stood be-
side the detective.
~poor Bracken!" he said. and nod
led IN reflective OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Brxckeni wonder II she had any
ming to do With this affair?"
~Whof" some n questioned.
why. OF course" he said. without
efanclns ur. shat girl-that lmposter
-rnnrGnce Iislel"
CHAPTER xxxiii.
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