Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-02-11

1--WE did no such thing. How could
we drag our name through the public
courts, and have IL mud-splashed and
tainished. because of a man who was
nothing to us? How could we tear up
the grave we had SO carefully clodded
for a chivalrous impulse--a mere
Quixotic resolution? Besides, we were
rot 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 him-tc he enact. seven 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
7 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, c~ountenance. He seemed
to enter the place as a matter OF
course and with the air Of one who
had met us only yesterday.
"'How dare you come here In this
state?' my husband cried. You are
drunk, sir!'
"But he did not appear to hear or
burst out laughing. as he had done that
other night In the library.
"'You remember that fellow I told
you about he sald-'Laurelce Lisle?
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 Toulor, as a
guest of the French government. so |
thought | would enllghten her. Wrote
the story of the theft, arrest and i'm
prisonment out In full, signed my
name and sent II to her. Oh, and he
laughed again gleefully. and rubbed
his hands. it was a grand joke on Lau-
~rence!'
"'When did that happenT l asked.
He put his hand to his head, in cor
fused recollection.
at was a few days ago, a few
weeks ago. or a few years ago. he an
swered, grayely.
"A dim suspicion of the truth began
60 break on rs.
"He got up and commenced walking
on tiptone around the room. peering
everywhere.
81 want him. he said, the lad who
nils my place at B~lackcastle. l have
stood this quite long enough. I am
going to kill him and assert my
rights!'
Il 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
tiicate of my mothers marriage Sud
of my birth. dug a hole In the park
and hid them there. Where car he
be?'
He was taking up little ornaments,
and ~statuettes. and toilet articles. and
was looking under them for Give.
Nly AbSuauQ tOOhCQ dt nlCf III !
at him. in nameless terror. He made
a sudden bound to reach the bell-rope
and arouse the house. But the crea-
tnre, creeping stealthily around, with
trembling hands and glittering eyes,
saw the motion. and was upon him like
q fash.
"'Ha, hat he cried. you would,
would you? You don't want me to find
himi Well. l will But I'll begin with
you'll"
al uttered a scream of terror as =
dagger flashed In the lamplight. and
made one more frantic effort to reach
tho bell.
"'The moment you touch that beil,'
he shouted, this goes into his heart
o hearY'
Ills threat overwhelmed me. I
sank back. half-swooning with fear.
Then began q terrible struggle. Give
fought against fearful ouds, for he
fought against a madman! He had In
herited his mothers insanity-his
mothers murderous mania.
II have a dim remembrance Of see
ing those muscular, writhing figures,
Keeling round and around In frantic
combat. And all the time the manIac's
Wild. discordant laugh was ~chuckling
out In hideous emulation.
1T would be as good . Joke as that
On Laurence Isle, wouldn't tiff L.
ucceeded in-killing your First you
--then your oon-then-take that and
mat and