The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-01-21


about--the origin of the fire, or-or
the--person who persisted there. She
is too weak just now to endure fur
Their excitement"
II have told them! The servants
and townspeople think he was a burg
lar, who had managed to secrete him
self in the eastern tower In the hope
of successfully reaching the occupied
apartments. The theory / heard them
discussing In snatches, was to the ef
feet that his lamp must have exploded
and set fire to the place Miss Earle,
Miss Dent and VIII Warren are, |
think, the only ones WHO have any
deeper suspicion, and they are, of
course, SILENT"
THANK you'll" she said, quietly.
But the words were warmly CRATE
full.
Good gracious! OF all the people
that eyer-well, you just ought to see
how funny you look!" laughed mer-
ry, familiar voice from adown the
hall.
well, you just ought to see how you
look, Baby!" called Della Dent, In
| prompt response.
do ], really?"
And she did.
She wore pretty party dress OF
scarlet surah. all billowed with dainty
valenciennes-the first thing which
| came 10 hand in her Enthusiastically
topsy-turvy room. On her feet were
CInI1, nd ,.,thh Ia
! too large; and over her bobbing, re-
beliious curIs, plumed, broad.brim.
| med Leghorn sun hat.
LET us have a roll-cail." she sug-
gested. "I'll be colonel"
"Oh, we're all here" said Cynthia,
smiling, despite herself, at her pets
irrepressible light-heartedness.
We'll, to be sure, you know! First
on the list" reading from an imagin-
airy document, Lady Darlington
present; second, Cynthia, present;
third, Mr.. Bracken-absent Where is
Mr.. Bracken?"
YES" Cyril Darlington echoed,
that is SO. Where is Bracken?"
II saw him in the upper corridor
when we first rushed from our rooms
not SINCE" volunteered Will War
rem.
Nor T." said Della; mot since
then"
I'VE must find him." Cyril cried, a
sudden nameless dread darting
through his brain. Call the servants
quick"
Cynthia seized the bell and rang it
sharply.
They came hurriedly in, in obedience
to her first imperative command, half
dozen well-trained servanes.
Watt" she said, as Cyril would
have ordered general search. LET
them flrst-one of them-go up to his
room. He may have gone back to bed
and slept through it."
At another time they would have
paid no attention whatever to his abb
sence; but now-now with their brains
on fire with fierce excitement-every
trifle assumed portentious importance.
"You, James," she said to footman
you go up to Mr.. Bracken's room
and see If he Is asleep"
The man departed on his errand. My
lady awoke YEARLY and looked around
her.
at is broad daylight. Let me go to
bed"
"In moment" Cynthia answered.
A clatter Of swift feet down the
stairs, dash across the hall, and their
messenger stood before them. He was
| dumb and trembling, and white as
| death.
"Well?" they cried, indef1nable fear
taking slow shape in every soul; but
still he did not answer them-on,y
stood and stared ct them In terrified
and Irritating silence.
why don't you speak?' Miss Len
| nox cried, sharply. What are you
afraid of? Is he asleep2"
The grayish daylight crept in through
the mullloned windows and fell upon
their eager, questioning, weary faces.
"Confodnd you'll" Cyril Darlington
cried, in sudden, angry Impotence, and
striding up to the fellow, himself a big.
splashed, dripping Titan, ARE you
deaf? Can't you," with a fierce shake,
''hear yourself spoken TOT Is he
asleep?"
"Aye!" the man answered, In a
voice that was qulyering shrek, 'he
is asleep-asleep forever!"
what do you mean" they painted,
and closed around him.
what say. He is deadi"
"Dead?"
Eyes. dead! Stark In the middle Of
his room. with cash in his throat ye
could put your hand through. an all
splashed an dabbled with blood!"
"Murdered?" gasped Cyril.
"Aye-murdered!"
CHAPTER XXI.
A Crimson Crime.