The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-11-25


falling and Jastiee TNiNley, stood At
the head and front 81 their profession;
that MackWorth the detective was a
man who. in the course Of years of eN-
perfence. had trained his natural gifts
to a rare point OF perfection, and she
strove TO inspire herself with hope at
the thought that they were working
for her with might and viii. MOI was
she wanting friends. No day passed
hat George Bostock did not VISIT heE'
bringing words of cheer and counsel.
And many OF those who in the past
professed TO esteem her, now called
upon her. though TO none of them was
she visible; While her cousin Victorious
had telegraphed to her from Brtndisi
that. having just heard the terrible
news, he was on his way back TO Eng
lnad.
1t was late one evening-while Olive
Dumbarton and her daughter We're IN
the drawing room, the former seated IN
a high backed easy chair gazing alb
sently into the fire, her thoughts full
of the future-that dreaded unknown
future which might hold untold terrors
for her. the girl striving to read, but
being unable to contine her nina 70
her subject, her eyes raising themselves
continually. ~anxiously, p~itifully toward
her mothers pale face when Nalerius
GaIbraith was Both started
at the sound of his name, and looking
up, kept their eyes fixed on him with
something of surprise in their express
sion; for even in that first glance they
saw how changed was the man before
them from him who had parted from
them little more than a week before.
The freshness and buoyancy which
had been his chief characteristics had
given place to IN expression of pain
and anxiety: his prominent blue eyes,
which had ever sparkled with pleasure.
We're now clouded by grief; lines We're
for the first time visible In his face,
that sedulous care of his personal APP
pearance, which formerly gave the inn
preston of elegance, was now conspicu-
Gus by its absence, and he looked every
year of his age.
"Olive," he exclaimed, grasping her
extended hand in both his own, and II
the woman he addressed had not all
ready recognized In his altered aspect
the deep concern he felt for her, she
would have heard 1t in the tremulous
tones of his voice, and understood.
Her heart was touched with graft
Jude because of the grief he felt for
her, and she remembered with a sad
satisfaction the affection he had ever
shown her since the days when they
were young together, and life that
seemed uuclouded then lay bright be-
fore them.
II knew you would come back, and l
am glad you have she said.
.'Of course, I returned the moment
| heard of--of this terrible affair." he
replied, heSitating, perhaps out of deli
cacy to her feelings to use the stronger
word which described David Dunbar
toms M
II sent g telegram to Paris the day
after it happened"
Il had left by then. 1t was in Brin-
dist | first read of his death. You can
imagine the shock l received. I have
hardly slept since. Then 1 came back
as soon as l could, and only reached
town a couple of hours ago."
II suppose you have heard all?"
"All that the newspapers could tell
verdict she said in a troubled voice.
Yes yes he answered, struggling
with lis emotion. Its terrible to think
that YOU should suffer this-you who
would not injure any living thing; you
who nave already endured SO much"
Tell me, Valerius,' she sale In a
hesitating voice. did you at first, ever
for a moment, think 1 was guilty?'
You guilty?" he cried out. Never
never. l knew you We're innocent"
1T makes me almost happy to heal
you say SO; to know that my friends
don't believe me guilty. You are aware
of course, that circumstances are al
against me?"
$50 gather. But let me hear all.
There Is little to tell that you have
not already read" she began by saying
and she went over the details of thu
case which We're ever present in he.
mind, dwelling on the narrow compass:
which surrounded the case and seemed
to fasten the guilt upon her.
Then there's no absolute clew
Not that l know Of, at least" Div
pumbarton replied.
Except the knife" suggested Nero
Mica.
The knife?' valerius repeated, turn
ing toward the girl.
Il had forgotten that" Olive re
marked. "Mackworth, the detectiv
hopes it may be help him to discove
the owner"
But there is nothing else TO E
upon?" he asked
Nothing at present" Olive answere
and something in the sound of her voic
and in the expression of her face be
trayed the depths of that despair t
which at moments she was driven.
He who was sensitive to every afflic
ton in her tones to every change i
her expression, heard and saw, an
now understood clearer han before tn
keeness of the pain she secretly sui
fcred beneath the bravery of her mar
ner. His heart was wrulg. and oNel
come by a sudden wave of feeling, Il
buried his head in his arms, which wei
folded on the table before him. The
who watched him Will dim eyes an
roubled minds saw this strong man
lioS civ ioih 80 Wv ~ u a
with himself for mastery of his emf
lions, and Veronica, unable TO bear Il
sight. left the room abruptly. that 81
might cry more freely when alone.
Olive Dumbarton, deeply touched
what she saw, with much difficulty 7
Trained from breaking down complete.
She had known her cousin loved h.
though she had not returned his loN
but had not previously suspected t
fulness of it's strength which he no
though by no word Of his revealed
her. Before she had regarded him
merely a man Of the world, who pc
sistently sought pleasure and avoid
pain; one of a kindly and gentle disp
sition, pleasant and sympathetic, who
feelings. lying on the surface. had
deep roots stretching down and TAXI
q firm grip in the heart. Now, in o
of these unexpected moments of EN-
ton, when the soul is suddenly !
vealed, she saw how wrong was
superstition, and she recognized h'
little she had understood him.
"Valerius.' she said gently, placi
one hand on his shoulder.
He quickly raised his face, viii
was quivering from excitement a
pale from suffering. He rose and fac
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