The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-03-03

however was probably due to his
change of dress. All doubts regarding
the perpetrator OF the crime were now
set aside forever. and Mrs. Dumba:lon's
innocence was proved before the
world
This knowledge filed Quinton with
intense relief. The woman for whom
he entertained deep affection, the
mother of the girl he dearly loved. was
freed from the horrible suspicion of a
terrible crime. Il fact that made him
feel happy and light hearted once more,
but at the same time the intelligence
that the author of the deed was George
Bostock came to him as a surprise and
! disappointment, for the young man. in
his frequent intercourse with him at
Mrs. DumbartOn's house had come to
like the publishers quiet reserved man
ner and to appreciate his scholarly
knowledge and old world book lore.
That one so self controlled, gentle
and kindly could commit such a crime
was a shock to Quinton's faith in out
ward appearances, and deuacted in
some measure from the satisfaction
he felt in having the mystery eX-
posed and the suspected woman
! cleared.
With such thoughts in his mind he
turned into the HiXton road and was
drawing near his fathers house, when,
looking at the opposite side Of the
way he was astonished to see a figure
Quinton withdrew a step, not know
ing what to say or how to explain his
, conduct; then, without pausing to con-
slider his words, he remarked:
Il was quite startled at first by see
! ing you here
Indeed. May 1 ask Why" Valerius
coolly asked.
We'll. l could have sworn, and yet
| could swear, it was you | saw here on
the night Dumbarton was killed. that
is, If didn't know you were then in
Paris"
THAT shows how readily you might
be mistaken, and how easily you could
bear false Witness" answered Nalerius,
in the same deadly calm and emphatic
manner he had assumed from the first,
Il suppose it does; and yet"
"Well?" Galbrath said, as Qunton
hesitated and stared.
The likeness between you and him
| seems remarkable"
Yet you see how you have blum
dered."
of course" replied Quinton. but his
voice failed to express the conviction
Of his error.
why you see me here tonight" Va
lerius explained, lis because l am anxi-
Gus about my cousin. When l brought
her news Of Hostocks confession she
naturally received a great shock, from
which she had not recovered before
left When l was able l return tc
make inquiries, and found, as it was
later than l thought, that the house
was in darkness. l therefore remained
here a few minutes to make sure al
was quite we'll"
Il see" replied Quinton, who had a:
yet been unable to overcome hi:
anazement or to recover from hi:
! nf, Sto~> \, ifGf
ing inspired him.
If Valerius saw this, his behavior be
trayed no sign Of his perception. Judg
ing from his manner there was nothing
more unusual in this encounter thar
:, If it had happened at midday instead
: of at midnight, and been the result o
, expectation instead Of the cause o
= surprise.
And now" he said. that l hav
satisfied myself no grounds for un
easiness exist, l will go: I dare say
!, shall find cab as l walk homeward.
!. He had moved forward as he spoke
! and as he approached the lampligh
Quinton saw that he looked pale an
troubled. And when they had sal
I good night. and parted, Quinton, stand
y ing at the entrance of the garde
' fronting his fathers house. watche
Valerius as his figure disappeare
:, down the road and into the darkness!
IL
- face, perplexing thoughts rising in hi
y mind, a sense of something onlinou
chilling his blood.
CHAPTER XXX
!. Quinton Quave slept little that nigh
8 and when he did his mind was sti
, occupied by his meeting with Naleriu
# under various and extraordinary cil
II cumstances, to all of which were al
a tached an impenetrable and distressin
II mystery, the Clew TO which the dream
- err was forced to seek through a SUI
e prising maze of difficulties witho,
e ever being able to discover.
Awaking suddenly from such nigh
Il mare fancies in the cold and sobt
10 light Of early dawn, silent save fer II
,e twitteling of sparrows in the caves ar
t, in the lea1ess branches. Quinton re,
IS ognized the exaggerated and absul
ID fashion in which thought may shaJ
in and spread itself throughout such
st dream. Seen in the clear light of da
t. he strove to persuade himself the
I'd was nothing remarkable in his havir
Id mistaken one man for another. or
Nalerius being outside his cousin
is house under the circumstances he hs
i'll explained.
r That the man Qulnton had seen