The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1905-12-22

) by q blow, probably given Win u
: spade or some blunt instrument. His
z hand, all muddy and bloodstained, still
held a revolver. The other hand was
stretched out toward Eta, who lay
across his feet, crouching against the
wall. Death had found and left her In
an attitude of fear, shielding her bow
ed head from a blow with her up
raised hands. Her loosened hair fell
In a long wave of gold down to the
b~loodstained hand outstretched toward
her. She was kneeling in De Chaux-
ville's blood, which stained the stone
floor Of the passage.
Paul leaned forward and laid his
fingers on the bare arm just below a
bracelet which cleaned in the lamp
light. She was quite dead. He held
q lamp close to her. There was no
mark or scratch upon her arm or shout
der. The blow which had torn her
hair down had killed her without any
Disagreement. The silken skirt of her
dress, which lay across the passage,
was trampled and stained by the tread
of a hundred feet.
Then Paul went to Claude de Chaux-
Vile. He stopped down and slipped
his skilled fingers inside the torn and
mud stained clothing. Here also was
death.
Paul stood upright and looked at
them as they lay, silent, m~otionless,
with their tale untold. Maggie and
Steinmetz stood watching him. He
went to the door, which was of solid
oak four inches thick. and examined
the fastenings. There had been no
damage done to bolt or lock or hinge.
The door had been opened from the
inside. He looked slowly around, meas
uring the distances.
What IS the meaning of it?' he said
at length to Steinmetz in a dull voice.
Maggie WINGED ut the sound Of it.
Steinmetz did not answer at once,
but hesitated. after the manner of a
man weighing words which will never
be forgotten by their hearers.
ut seems to me-" he said, with a
slow, wise charity, the best Of its kind.
"quite clear that De Chauxville died in
trying to ave her. The rest must be
only guesswOrk."
Il suppose" he went on after a
little pause, that Claude de Chaux-
vile has been at the bottom of all our
trouble. All his life he has been one
of the stormy petrels of diplomacy.
Wherever he has gone trouble has fol-
later. By some means he OBJ
tanned sufficient mastery over the
princess to compel her to obey his or
ders. The means he employed were
He had 1t in his power to
make mischief, n in such affairs a
woman is SO helpless that we may we'll
forgive that which she may do in a
Of panic. l imagine that he
frightened the poor lady into obedt-
'nce to his command that she should
'pen this door,"
He spread out his hands In depreca-
ion. In his quaint Germanic way he
leld II hand out over the two mo-
ionless forms in mute prayer that they
night be forgiven.
" all have our faults" he said.
Who are we to judge each other? If
re understood all we might pardon.
he two strongest human motives are
mbition and fear. She was ruled by
9th. l myself have seen her under
ne influence Of sudden panic. 1 have
oted the working Of her great ambi-
She was probably deceived at
very turn by that man, who was a
oundr She must have repented Of
er action when she heard the clatter
the rioters all round the castle.
N sure she did that. 1 am sure she
lme down here to shut the dOor and
'und Claude de Chauxville here. They
ere probably talking together when
lie poor mad fools who killed them
me round to this side of the castle
Id found them. They recognized her
the princess. They probably mis-
ok him for the prince. 1t is what
en- call a series Of condolences.
onder what God calls tt?"
He broke off, and, STOPPING down, he
the lapel Of the F~renchman's
gently over the married face.
And let US remember" he said, that
tried to save her. Some lives are so.
the very end a little reparation Is
ade- In life he was her evil Genius.
hen he died they trampled him IN
rfoot in order to reach her. Made
will you come?'
he took Maggie by the arm and led
gently away. She was shaking au
er, but his hand was steady n
kind.
lie led her up the narrow stairs tn
own room. In the little boudoir
fire was burning brightly; the
nps were lighted, just as the maid
left them at the first alarm.
laggie sat down, and quite sudden
she burst into tears.
.teinmetz did not leave her. He
cd beside her, gently stroking her
'ulder with his stout fingers. He
nothing. but the gray mustache
y half concealed his lips, which
re twisted with a little smile full Of
derness and sympathy.
was the first to speak.
l am all right now" she said
ease do not wait any longer and do
think me 81 vprv u-aoI- r,{,Iz