Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-02-25
XII.
Better Than You'll"


The dagger he held clattered down
on the oaken floor. He flung out his
arms with a hoarse sob. Once more
he clasped her to his heart-once
more a mighty love knit soul to soul.
The servants, aroused by the girls
wild cry, had hurried up and stood in a
little knot at the further end of the
hall, trembling with superstitious
dread.
Master Clive!" they whispered.
The officers clustered about in blank
amazement. Baby's inquiring face was
looking out of the breakfast room.
For one moment, before Cynthia's WIS.,
ion the place and the people danced In
a black whirl.
Look" Laurie cried suddenly
look to Lady Darlington"
She had staggered to her feet and
vas lettering across the room 10
where her son stood. She would have
fallen had he not sprung forward and
caught her.
"Mother!" he said. and bent and
kissed her.
She looked up at him feebly, bewil-
deredly. Her face worked convulsive-
ly, but no word came from between
her pale lips. Her head fell heavily
bsck on his arm.
Quick" he called in alarm. "She
has fainted!"
He was surrounded in an instant.
away. Among the faces bending over
her was Cynthia's. She turned to hold
out her hand to Give.
Welcome home," she whispered,
and vanished with the rest.
No one had thought to close the hall
door. Without the snow had begun
to fall, and the feathery flakes were
whirling in.
Now that the first sharp confusion
was over, Mr.. Stack, accustomed to
exciting scenes, had sufficiently re-
covered himself TO proceed with the
official duty assigned to him.
Miss Lisle," he suggested, 81 am
waiting. Are you ready?"
The words struck Give likt the
thongs Of a whip. He wheeled round
quick as lightning. He flung N arm
about the trembling girl, and out
stretched the other In defiant COM
mand.
"How dare your" he cried. Keep
back!"
Little Mr.. Stack did nimbly fall back
a pace. He looked up, In meek terror,
at the superb, lofty figure before him.
my duty, sir" he began.
you are quite right. l respect your
n of duty, sir. In this case, how
ever. believe me, you are mistaken as
to it's proper fulfllment. You shall
not arrest her! She Is innocent. You
must take mel"
"You?"
"Yes-Ii"
But our warrant is for"
you must have 1t revoked and a
new one made out. You have no eyr
dence against her."
I'VE have none against you"
II give myself up to justice. I can
prove that arrived al Blackcastle be-
fore the murder. Look here!"
He stopped and picked up the weap.
on which had fallen from his hand at
sight Of Laurie.
A servant had brought a great can
delabra and placed It on a pedestal.
They gathered around 1t. quite u
group.
Mr.. Stack took the proffered weap-
on. and holding 1t full in the light ex-
amined 1t closely.
A curious handle of beaten gold-a
long, slim. shining blade. with dark
blotches staining 1t at intervals from
point to socket
"The very dagger" he cried-"the
very dagger with which the deed was
done! The cash was peculiar-this
blade Is peculiar. The very one!"
He passed 1t over to his colleague
and looked up at his self-surrendered
prisoner with alert interest.
"Clive, what are you doing. dear?
What are you saying?"
But for answer he only bent and
kissed the sweet, anxious face Laurie
lifted to his.
"HalloI" came q rough voice from
down the hall, "ef that amt Give
Stuart! How do ye do, mate?-how
dye dot"
And the Sailor Mr.. Bowers had
brought down to Blackcastle ran up
and shook Gives hand in fervent II
circulating friendship.
For q minute the latter looked at
him blankly. Then . light broke over
his face.
why. Of course. ! remember you
now. You were one Of the crew Of the
| Dolphin-Cicero Stubbs."
that's 1T" the salt cried. In hearty
approval. why. We thought you'd
gone to kingdom comet
mo. ! certainly was not 90 foBtunats
- you But . portion Of the old hulk,
which had escaped the Ore, was shat-
tered from the remainder In the gen-
eral collapse. and foated-I with it.
Next day . steamer-America bound.
picked me up and carried me . free
passenger to New York"
Say" the other chuckled, In gleeful
recollection. as . sudden thought
struck him. dye remember that Eel
low Bracken-him as | understand was