The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-02-11
CHAPTER xxxvIi-continued.

furnished, because Of a man who was
nothing TO us? How could we tear up
the grave we had so carefully c!odded
for a chivalrous impulse--a mere
Qulxotic resolution? Besides, we were
got smart enough, or bright enough, to
cope with him. Young as he was, he
could battle us and beat US with our
own weapons. To be brief, In consid.
Grafton OF a certain sum OF money, he
went away, and for years we lost sight
OF hin &c be exact, soyer years.
"My husband had come into my
room-this very room-to consult me
about some matter OF Importance,
when suddenly the door was flung
open and he walked in. However he
managed to enter the house and reach
our room unobserved by the servants
Z never knew, but such he apparently
did. He was looking old and seedy
and dissipated. There was the strang.
est look In his face had ever seen on
any human. countenance. He seemed
to enter the place as matter OF
course and with the air OF one who
had met us only yesterday.
INV yOu tOibO hNAV III was
state?' my husband cried. You are
drunk, sr!'
But he did not appear to hear or
heed the words. He sat down and
burst out laughing, as he had done that
other night in the library.
"'You remember that fellow l told
you about, he said--'Laure1ce LisleY
Well, he's clear OF Toulon. He has a
wife and youngster too. ! found out
he had told her nothing about the
three years spent at Toulon, as a
guest Of the French government. so
thought would enlighten her. wrote
the story of the theft, arrest and i'm.
prisonment out in full, signed my
name and sent Il to her. Oh and he
laughed again gleefully, and rubbed
his hands. 1T was grand joke on Lau.
rence!'
"'When did that happen?' asked.
He put his hand to his head, in con.
fused recollection.
"It was a few days ago, few
weeks ago, or few years ago. he an
swered, gravely.
"A dim suspicion OF the truth began
30 break on us.
HE got up and commenced walking
on tiptone around the room. peerlng
everywhere.
"T want him. he said, the lad who
flIls my place at Blackcastle. / have
stood this quite long enough. ! am
going TO kill him and assert my
rights!'
81 laid my hand on the bellrope. but
paused as he spoke:
Don't ring! I'll turn your precious
son out sooner than you dream, IL you
don't take care! oh, this is no idle
threat I've been to France, and have
brought from there copies of the GER
tifcate of my mothers marriage and
of my birth. | dug hole In the park
and hid them there. Where can he
be?'
He was taking up little ornaments,
and statuettes, and toilet articles. and
was looking under them for Give.
"My husband looked at me. and
at him, In nameless terror. He made
a sudden bound to reach the bell-rope
and arouse the house. But the crea-
lure, creeping stealthily around, with
trembling hands and glittering eyes,
saw the motion. and was upon him like
q flash.
"'Ha. hat he cried. you would,
would you? You don't want me to find
him! Well. will! But III begin with
you'll"
II uttered scream OF terror as a
dagger flashed In the lamplight. and
made one more frantic effort to reach
abe bell.
"'The moment you touch that bell.
he shouted. this goes into his heart
you hearY
"His threat overwhelmed me.
sank back, halfswooning with fear
Then began terrible struggle. Give
fought against fearful oods, for ht
fought against mailman! He had In
herited his mothers insanity--hii
mothers murderous mania.
al have q dim remembrance OF see
ing those muscular, writhing figures
reeling round and around In frantic
combat. And all the time the maniac''
wild, discordant laugh was chucklinl
OFT IN hideous exiitatiehl
eft would be as good joke as tina
on Laurence Lisle, wouldn't it--is l.
succeeded in--killing you? First yol
then your son-then--take that, an.
that, and
4 saw the dagger flash upward. an,
nescend--upward again.
"sOpen the panell' Give painted.
Z staggered forward pushed tn
epring--it Gid back. He heard tn
sound. It seemed to give him renewe,
wigor. With strength which appear
ed superhuman, a strength born of Ges
peration. he fought the mailman bacl
back into the narrow, dark passage
way the open panel discovered. III
thrust him In. The secret door slam
med to its place. He was prisone
An the eastern tower!"
She paused. A coal fell from tn
crate. The clock above the stable
struck one. A ray of ghostly moor
Sight filtered IN between the curtain
and blended with the dying freight.
Then, for awhile. no sound broke tn
silence. heavy with Its freighted hol
Eor.
"How--long ago was that?" Cynthi
asked at last, In voice hoarse wit
Fepnls!on.
about twelve or thirteen years."