Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-09-16
An Invisible Hand |
: By FITZGERALD Awkes Of An Exesis At Knsvs. A TrAitors s
hOLL0r << Triumph. Etc. Copyright 1906 BY z. AoMoy )


Il will come with YOU" Dunstan said
to Godfrey, who, returning to his room,
hurriedly dressed himself, and again
and more closely Is seeking some
trace of the thief, some hint of his
Identity. But beyond the tossed and
tumbled state of the bed, there was no
sign of the desperate struggle that had
taken place.
AS he was leaving his eyes CHANGED
to fall on an object that, lying on the
carpet near the door. family reflected
the light. He instantly stopped to pick
a long, slender needle whose point al
stained by a greenish liquid.
In a flash he remembered the evil
dence of the diseolored puncture per-
ceptible in Richard Goffe's throat and
the doctors statement that his death
had been caused by an injection of pol
son.. The barrister's blood ran cold as
ne instantly realized that the same fate
had been Intended for himself; that,
had he not been startled from his sleep
by the Owls screech, the same murder
ous hand would, in the same subtle
way, have taken his life.
Horror at this cold blooded treach-
cry, fear of this unknown foe, for a
moment paralyzed him. Then came
burning indignation, desire for revenge,
and q resolution never to rest until this
criminal was brought to light.
He took the needle, which non had
seen him pick up, and locked it in his
dressing case. Dunstan was waiting
for hin outside the door, and together
with a couple of men they began their
search OF the rooms opening off the
corridor.
Most of them We're unoccupied, but
all of them were thoroughly searched,
then locked, and their keyes taken pos
session OF by Godfrey, until they came
TO that in which Urbano slept, when no
Key for the lock of its door could be
found. Godfrey felt convinced that the
valet had secretly removed and hidden
the key, but he was not to be thwarted,
so, sending TO the library for wax, the
door al sealed.
An adjoining apartment showed
signs Of having been occupied, but it's
bed had not been slept in that night.
Whose room is this 2" the barrister
asked a servant.
Mr.. Max's, SIR" the man replied.
Then, for the first time, and with
a certain misgiving, Godfrey remem-
bered that Max had not appeared in
answer to the alarm. He sought to
consult Dunstan's eyes, but they were
turned resolutely from him, and his
face CAV no expression of his opinion.
When the room had been carefully
examined and its door locked, the next
was visited in turn. Some minutes
later as they were about to enter an
apartment, seemingly like all the
others, Dunstan with a look of recog-
aition drew suddenly back. CHANGING
at him interrogatively, Godfrey saw
that his face had turned to a pale,
greenish hue INK that his eyes were
eull of terror; on which 1t struck him
that this must be the room where
Richard Goffe had met the CHASTITY fate
fhnf hIYt m hn.Tu rA hnl 49,
himself.
The scrutiny of the bedrooms ended
without discovery Of the HE or trace
Of his whereabouts and Godfrey, still
undaunted, was about to begin his
search on the loor above where the
men servants slept, when he saw Rob-
srts coming toward him, an air of agi-
tated importance visible in his move
ments, his eyes alert.
"Well?' Godfrey said impatiently.
well, sir, all the doors were locked
Just as / left them, and all the windows
bolted a v M in the drawing room,
and that was open, wide open, sir"
"Open?" said Godfrey in surprise.
Yes" said Max, who, fully dressed,
came behind his butler, his i'm
perturbably self-possessed. II left it
open when / went o u for a walk"
"A walk at this hour of the morn
lng?"
Have you any objection, sir, to my
taking a walk at whatever hour l
please? ?" he asked ~doggedly.
1T seems singular" muttered Geof-
frey.
I'm what way?"
There's no need to explain"
Max, Max" called out the count,
who at that instant came from his
room where his valet had been dress
ing him, lis that your"
Yes, father. Do you want me?"
No, no, my boy; but l missed you
Il have been out for a walk
"You-you-' began the count, but
his voice suddenly faltering, he could
say no more.
II was restless and feverish, and
knew exercise was the only thing tina
could cure me. When / came back
found Roberts at the window. He told
me of this internal business"
The counts lips moved as If he were
talking to himself. his eyes stared fix
edly. apprehensively, and a sudden tre-
NOR shook him Max looked at him
frowningly and turned away in silence.
A second later he returned, saying an
grily, MY bedroom door is locked.
Who has the key?"
81 have" Godfrey responded.
II will trouble you for it," came the
peremptory demand.
1Our IalleT mas gwen me permlS
sion to the lock the doors and keep the
keys until the detectives search them
tomorrow"
rs mine TO be included?" he asked,
with increasing anger.
Il told Mr.. Bysshe he was to make
no exception. My own room as well
as the others will be examined. You
see, if l don't object, nobody else car.
l am going to the library; will you
come with me?" said the count, in a
feverishly hurried manner.
Man gave his arm, on which Urbano
dropped behind and remained in the
corridor, his piercing eyes watching
every movement, his ears alert to
catch every word.
Godfrey, with Dunstan and the SER
wants, continued their search of the
wing in which the latter slept, and
would have examined the adjoining
part of the house but that a great door
communicating with and separating it
from the part occupied by the women
was locked, according to an i~nvariable
custom. =.
IT. was neal daybreak before the
weary and useless search ended; but
before resting. Godfrey wrote a taIe-
gram to New Scotland yard asking
that two OF Its shrewdest detectives