Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-02-17

You will see him at once
yes. I win drive TO his place WITH
cut delay"
.sThenI will leave the matter to you.
I Don't forget TO explain it was impos-
sible for me to call on him this even
ing"
II will not forget. sir" Mackworth
replied.
Meanwhile Headwick, deeply grieved
at heart and sdll overcome BY aston
ishment by Bostock's confessions stood
by the bedside and looked mournfully
! at the man who had been his
the ~manE,whom he had admired, es-
teemed, yAiued for his. honor, human
ity and integrity: the man whom ne
found 1t difficult TO believe had taken
the life OF a fellow creature. From no
| othersiips thar Bostock's own would ne
have credited the statement which had
overturned all the ideas andSshattered
! all the ideals Headwick had enter
tanned and formed regarding George
Bostock.
There Is no knowing what may be
| buried in d mans heart he thought
tThose nearest and dearest to him may
twalk by his side throughout all his
| days without ~suspecting the secrets
| his life may hold"
AS .if reused from the stupor into
which he had fallen by the steady gaze
fixed upon him. he lifted his eyes TO
Headwick's face, and then in a voice
unlike his own--a voice without modu-
| lation. infection, or pause said:
Il nave saved her-I have saved her
II ave saved her"
Even now. with the knowledge that
his friend was a murderer.
did not shrink from him. Pity for the
| man who, in a moment of ungovern-
able passion had been guilty of blood7
shed; for the man h punishment
had followed SO quickly on his, deed.
stirred Headwick, who, berdingt above
HIM, said:
You feel better, I hope, now that
you have relieved your conscience OF
its load?'
yves, yes, / have saved her" Bostock
exclaimed in the same hasty, feverish
manner.
You did well to speak h truth no
matter at what cost" .Headwick re-
marked, striving to soothe him.
THE truth-yes; 1T will save her, It
will save her. the wretched man re-
piled. repeating IN the same eager tone
Sthe words which expressed the domi-
ant idea OF his mind.
You must strive to keep quiet" the
surgeon said.
Yes; the excitement is all over now.
Mackwortn sal they would find her
guilty. but he was mistaken. He did
not know what / could ssdp. He was
wrong; have proved that / can save
her--that I can save her
He is becoming delirious.' the sur-
gecn whispered to Headwick.
"But>uow there will be no trial; the
jury will say he saved her--he has
saved her."
The surgeon. thinking it is his duty
to prolong, if possible, a life he con-
sidered doomed, went to the far end
of the room that he might procure some
Fllnpphia fh0f xrn1YfI aJi.xsE fhAA axrn;3o II
ment, n perhaps ward off the fever
which threatened the patient.
Meanwhile Headwick listened with
intense eagernesS TO the words that
escaped these parched lips, while a
thought that scared n electrified,
flashed on his mind.
But it was you-you and none other
who killed David Dumbarton?" hi al
most whispered in B~ostock's ear.
AS the patient listened a change
Owe him. His eyes were turned
on the speaker with a startled, wistful
expression. While an effort was visible
in them to retain his fast fleeing con-
seriousness.
Have l not confessed? % he asked in
her after all? Was it but a dream
this confession-the lawyer-the sig
nature"
1T was reality" answered Headwick,
anxious to soothe his increasing ex-
element. But tell me-" he added In
a voice which the terrible fear tha
he vas gradually possessing made i'm
pressive. Tell me, was it you who
killed Dumbarton?''
She never killed him." he replied
In that dull monotonous voice which
was as a ghost OF his own. II will not
believe it-never. She is not guilty"
Then who is? Tell me, in Gods
namai"
Not she; no, she is saved, and 1
fBut at what cost p urged Headwick,
his mind now fully alarmed, the
thought which a moment ago had
flashed on him ~momentarily gaining
ground.
Il tell you she is saved, and by me-"
This must be stopped" said the sur
.geon severely.
Headwicks n then ne paused. un-
willing to express his fear.
He is quite deIirious."
You are c~ertain?"
Surely you hear for yourself? ?" re-
piled the surgeon sharply.
"But-- n again Headwick
paused and hurriedly examined his
mind TO ascertain If had sufficient
grounds on which to base, a statement
thai must seem extraordinary. And
concluding he had not, he held his
peace. while interiorIy suffering from a
conflict in which doubt, and fear, and
hope and despair took active parts.
Ultimately he resolved to confde his
thoughts TO Mackworth and hear what
the inspector would have to say on a
point of such Importance.
Just as I expected" exclaimed the
surgeon, who had Bostock's wrist in his
hand. Pulse has mounted up to
ninety"
Then letting Bostock's hand fall, the
medical man administered some NOR
phi~ after watching the effects OF
which he said:
You had better leave him alone for
the present.
When do you expect--how long can
he liver" Headwick asked, his heart
heavy at the thought that the mar he
had known IN daily intercourse for
years would soon have passed away
| forever.
He may 1--we for another day or
two
II may come again tonight"
II you. Ike" the replied
with ar air OF indifference.
do you think he Will then be con
~scious?"
IT'S not probable. Brain fever has
already set in
Then he may never be able to think
clearly again."
THAI. is possible"
NHTx&t<N x.x@&rM. ~~- ~ 80 -